SCOTUS ruling & Romans 1
Our Supreme Court here in the U.S. has just made a terrible ruling that defies nature, God, and the majority of citizens in our country. After reviewing the reason behind the 5 justices’ decision, I believe that decision in bases on several serious premises. For the last 30-50 years, there have been hints on media, educators, and our government to have areas of social reform. These were considered are the concept that “all men are created equal, with certain inalienable rights…”. What these have not understood was what did the authors of our Constitution mean by this phrase? Darwin at least understood that inequality exists in nature. Thus his “survival of the fittest” theory. We have to remember the time and generation that the founding fathers of our nation were living in. NONE of them would have believed in a total equality between all people, but they did write of equality among men. There is equality between a man and man, woman and woman, employer and employer, an employee that produces a certain amount of work with another employee that does the same amount of work, etc. But a man and woman are not equal, any more than a dog and care are equal. Nature understands the inequality of animals, including mankind. Nature establishes the male of the species being dominant.
The other premise I believe they made in error, is their supreme authority. They really believe they have the final authority. They have authority over the determinations of the Creator. There is no doubt that the founding fathers did believe in the Creator as God in the Bible. These were Bible believing men that instilled God into the fabric of our nation. God’s principles became the underlying concepts of our Constitution. Our Justices have ruled ignoring these concepts and have ruled listening to the voices of a few men and women, who have turned their hearts from God, and touted their wisdom over God’s wisdom. Thus we have the ruling by the court, ruling by the rule of the people. Doing so has set the wisdom of men against the wisdom of God, therefore, we have the issues of the ruling in conflict with the 1st amendment and the 2nd amendment, “freedom of speech” and “freedom of religion”. Again, as we review these, remember they were written with the philosophy of God being sovereign. Speech was not including vulgarity, nor religion being outside of the Holy Bible. While someone might think these are serious, take a minute to note the changes made in our country since the writing of our Constitution.
Let me just name a few: women taking an active part in the work force and leaving the home as a housewife (I understand this was needed during the WWI. They were help-meets doing so.) The quest for man to experience everything in the world, good or bad. Solomon did so, and God called him the wisest man in the world, but he said this quest was folly, and left mankind void in life. Today, we publicize our quests. These resulted in disrespect for authority and disrespect for moral values. Next we have the moral revolution which created a need for abortions. Now we have a generation of justice that can’t execute justice according to God’s laws, overseeing a nation established “under God”. Who have taken the Bible out of schools, and activities, and the political systems as they convene. There’s no wonder people don’t know God. There have been attempts to remove this from our money, from the pledge of allegiance, and courthouse steps, anything dealing with God seems to be taboo. Now our justice system has authorized acts against nature as acceptable behavior of mankind. They have ignored historical facts that no nation that support homosexual activities have ever survived God’s wrath. Where is the wisdom in this? Now look at our text.
Our text is Romans 1:15-2:9.
"15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
1 ¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;"
Friend, notice the text gives a progression of digressing from God. Paul is writing to explain the only hope for men was the gospel of Christ. He set his mind on the preaching of that gospel, and that resulted in persecution, even to the point of death for those contending for the faith. Allow me to go verse by verse in our text, and I realize Paul was speaking in regards to the Roman Empire of the 1st Century. But there is a huge similarity between our nation today and that empire. Both believed they were invincible and the greatest power on earth. The philosophy of the day was centered on the knowledge and wisdom of men. The result was man thought he knew more than any god, including the creator, Jehovah God. They knew better about everything. Note Acts 17:16-34.
Vs. 15- Paul was delivered by God from the hands of wicked Jewish leaders by his appeal to Caesar. So he is under guard but at the same time intends to preach to those in Rome. This is found in Acts 25. For information of the Gentiles society, look at Ephesians 4:17ff and 1 Thessolonians 4:5. Ie. Galatians 5:19-21 refers to such activities as "works of the flesh".
Vs. 16- Since these people didn't know of God, he realized the importance of preaching to them the gospel of Christ, that they might have the opportunity to obey it and be saved, regardless who they are. All are amenable to God's law of Christ. Ignorance of God's law is not an excuse.
Vs. 17- This verse mentions 2 faiths. It is not saying 2 different faiths, rather that the faith in the Bible is transferred to our mind as now "our faith", as Ephesians 4: 1-6. So to be justified before God, we are required to know this faith, and live it.
Vs. 18- The wrath of God is for the unjust in opposition to vs. 17's just. These are those who walk after the flesh, we noted above. These refer to the "truth" as being "unrighteousness". Note here that because of the way they desire to live, they see "truth" as "error". They reject the "truths" given by God, to live their lifestyle. Think! Is this not what just happened regarding same-sex marriage? God does not make an equality between a marriage between a man and a woman, and same-sex unions. As we look later in the text they are referred to as reprobate minds who have rejected God and perverted natural laws also.
Vs. 19- Here is how it starts? Men choose to reject the obvious knowledge. Ie. What man/man union will ever produce a child by the law of nature? Or, for that matter a woman/woman relationship? God has shown the world how it works!! We see it all around us. Sometimes, we refer to the "rabbits" as to multiply children. But to close our eyes to this law of nature, doesn't change it period. Let's see them put tw0o male rabbits together and see how prolific they will be. God has used nature to teach us and everyone knows that law. But we can ignore the obvious laws when we desire something totally in opposition to that law. It's like going fishing on dry land, and expecting at some time to catch a fish. It is foolish to think it will work. God made woman to go with man, and reproduction works. (Genesis 2:20-25)
Vs. 20- We may not see the actual law written down in black and white, but we do see the results in everything that God made. These laws prove that there was a mind organizing nature, from the planets and solar system, to life itself, both plant kingdom and animal kingdom, representing life. Both kingdoms require the male and female to reproduce. Today, we think different and want to circumvent this law of nature, to allow homosexual unions to raise children to believe that such relationships are approved. They can't do it on their own, so they fight to have the right to adopt natural children, and teach them the un-natural. So let's go fishing in the Sahara Desert and find someone to stick a fish from a market on the hook. That way I can tell everyone what a great fisherman I am. I can even catch them where there is no water!! Let everyone think it is better fishing where there isn't water, OH! and while at it, make that fish a 100 lbs. catfish, so everyone will think the bigger fish are on dry land instead of water. Bottom line, the natural law continues because it is govern by an eternal God who created it Nature is a testimony to God the Creator and it is a perfect law for His purpose. Man can't leave it alone and tries to alter it.
Vs, 21- Man knew God, but didn't like His way, and went about to develop their own way about everything. They sought options to what God purposed for man to do. This has been to course of error/sin from the beginning with Satan and Eve. This path grew to the point God had enough in Genesis 6:5-9, but He spared Noah, his sons, and their wives. Don't forget God spared Enoch, chapter 5:24, because they were righteous before Him. The rest of mankind, and all but a "male and female" of the animals outside of water, and the seven of those clean animals (allowing for sacrifices) perished from God's wrath and destruction. NOW let's hear you convince people that God won't care about our marrying man and man, or woman and woman together. "He doesn't care, after all He is dead"! (So nature has stopped being nature?)
Vs. 22- Now this verse illustrates where we are today. Men decide to alter things because many believe it CAN be different from the laws of nature. Man decides it can alter and create a different natural law, and manipulate the laws of nature. "We are so smart!" "We know a better way of doing things!" So they put things now from thinking to believing and now in action. We have Bruce Jenner, who was a sports hero, mentor to many, but he wasn't happy as man, and altered the natural body to be a woman. God doesn't give us the choice in this. He is still a man in God's eyes, a rebellious man. Who knows, maybe he'll marry another woman in a same-sex relationship. Shame! We've sought equality between the genders, But Genesis 3:16 teaches inequality, she will give birth to children in pain, not man! Her purpose would be to please her husband, in submission to him, not equal to him. AND it had nothing to do with how smart they are compared to their husband, or ability they had more than the husband. IT was a law of God as a punishment for her sin. It stated the course for women's lives. By the same token, man was to work for his livelihood, with the "sweat of his brow". I know we don't like it, but we can't change it. We might use air-conditioning our tractors, etc. but take the machines away, and that sweat will appear again. That's our natural law, we know it, and accept it. So we adjust to it, because we can't change things. When we think we are smart and put our imaginations into action, these laws of nature prove as a reminder, how foolish we really are. And the worst part is yet to come; because God is the TRUE JUDGE of the world, and will judge all mankind according to His LAW, not the laws of our imagination and invention. We may choose to do what we want, but that does have its consequences. Vs. 23- Man to do this, had to make God the Creator, equal to man, to treat God with the same lack of respect as they do other men, to make God a created being instead of the creator. God becomes nothing more than another man and his opinion. And religions today have created their own god/s who will teach them exactly what they want to hear and live the way they want, and are, to live. So let's change what and who God is!
Vs,.24- Because of the actions of vs. 23, God chose to let men go about their foolishness, and dishonor their bodies amongst themselves. NOTE: God didn't change the natural laws, but He allowed them to live outside of that law. This shows their foolish ways. He still holds them amenable to His Law and His Purpose for man and creation. Think! Man is the only factor in all of Creation that can alter things his way, The rest of Creation knows to obey God's purpose/laws. They don't rebel, they don't question, they just do what they are suppose to do. God let's us do it, but in judgment we will stand before Him as the Judge, to answer how we lived according to HIS purpose. (Note Ephesians 1) We are allowed choice, but know whichever choice we make there will be a consequence. We are here according to His purpose, to serve HIM.
Vs. 25- Where do I begin here? We look at God as an equal, as someone that is powerful enough to be at my beck and call and do what I want! We take His perfect, righteous truth, and twist them to be a lie, after all he is my god. I am his creator. So he is to serve ME!! And IF I can create God, I can also create the "church" to my own liking too. Note the billboards across the country: "Join the church of YOUR choice." It is either the Lord's church according to His specifications, or it isn't! YOUR church may fit your lifestyle and allow people to live beyond these laws of nature and the law of Christ, but remember vs. 16, only His gospel will save you in the judgment day!! Knowing and not obeying won't help a bit. A life of sin brings death in Hell. James 2:19 says the devils believe in God, but tremble. They just don't obey! Friend, don't trust in men (not even a preacher), but in God's word. Acts 8:31, the eunuch sought help in understanding the Bible passage he was reading, just as a preacher might do today, but we must check these explanations out with God scripture to make sure the preacher isn't wrong, after all, he is a man too. We CAN make mistakes. These men in scripture were guided by the Holy Spirit and could not make mistakes as they gave scripture. It is called "the perfect law of liberty", freeing us from sin.
Vs. 26- What can I say? No, God doesn't use the term "homosexual" in the Bible, but what would you call this, if not lesbianism? It's a woman that uses her body, because of her affections, in an un-natural way. He allows the regression from Him, but don't believe He approves it!! He called it "VILE" affections. Pornography encourages this in men and women. To seek pleasure and affections in ways that are against God's laws.
Vs. 27- Then we turn to the men! Note he addresses the natural law of a man and woman, but states the un-natural of a man seeking such pleasure with a man, "SODOMY". Like vs. 26, He may allow it, BUT it does have consequence. Most Bible believing people have accepted that the consequence is our common disease today, AIDS. This lifestyle is against nature, and the natural use of the body, and AIDS fights back against the un-natural use of the body. For those of us, who don't live such a lifestyle, we really don't have to fear the AIDS, because we don't do those things which would transfer it from an infected person. That's why blood infusions are so critically checked. We must respect God's Law for man, and His Law of Nature. It can't be improved upon.
Vs. 28- These people choose to forget and ignore God and His laws. They have disregard to them. So God turned them over to listen to debased, reprobate minds, to learn from them how to live. That way they can use their bodies in ways that are not fitting. It will not work!! A man and woman doesn't have the same fittings. Have you ever tried to glue to male ends of pipe together (of the same size and type), or two female ends together? It is not fitting, but you take the male end and female end, and glue them together with ease. That is what we would call "a fit". Thus, one version of scripture calls it "not convenient".
Vs. 29-31- I've grouped these together, because they are a list of the types of lives people live, that live these ways as a result of disregard to God and His laws. I don't know of any of these activities that don't exist today. And our nation approves of these lifestyles. We, as a nation, have been set apart from the nations of the world, because our "Constitution" founders respected God, and referred to our nation as "under God", and is confirmed in our "pledge of allegiance", and our money. It is spread throughout the world. BUT, now our government has turned their backs on God and His laws, and seek to alter our land, first with the changes in the "Constitution", then the pledge, and our money. They are setting laws against those who live "under God", forcing faithful men to the saving Gospel of Christ, to compromise and reject its teachings. Those faithful men, including the apostles, died and were imprisoned because they didn't compromise their faithfulness to God, with that Roman government. Are we any different??? Can we accept and approve of people committing these sinful atrocities against God? Note: some of the religious institutions today (over the last few weeks since the ruling) have done so, espousing and approving of these same-sex unions, calling them a marriage. So-called "churches" teaching love and acceptance, equality! They have altered their teachings to adapt to the will of men. Just as God said in these verses! They may even rewrite their own bibles, to reflect their decision, by their creed books. These books are simply men's writings reflecting their ideas of what the Bible should teach and doesn't. Thus, with this simple act, they have created their own god, faith, churches, and unrighteous men, according to God's Law. Let me illustrate, many also teach "baptism" is not necessary. Due to their creed books (written by men), they have denied the necessity of baptism because "there isn't a verse in the Bible that says baptism is for salvation". Preachers of denominations preach this doctrine. There have been debates on the subject, but they get silent when told to read 1 Peter 3:21, which says "baptism doth also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience before God". It washes away the sins from our lives, and we have a good conscience before God, Acts 22:16.
Vs. 32- Here the writer reminds us that there will be a judgment, and mankind is aware of that fact. They may disbelieve it will happen, they may disregard the warnings. But it will happen. These people who do these things just simply don't care! There attitude is to do what they want, PERIOD! They know that God said they were worthy of death, but so what! Mom would tell me when a boy, not to do something, and even what would happen if I did it. I knew the punishment, and she'd say, "Go on! You're going to do what you want anyway." Many times I did, and guess what... I got the punishment she told me I'd receive. My disregard to my mother didn't change a thing.
Vs. 2:1- Men divided up the written inspired text into chapters and verses. So the thought continues here. We, also can be judges, and do make judgments. Every day we make judgments as we make choices in our lives. As we judge others, understand that the judgment is also applicable to me also. Isaiah 5:20 issues a warning to those who call evil as good, and good as evil.
Vs. 2- teaches how to determine between right and wrong, good and evil, and to know the difference. This comes from God through His Word, the TRUTH. Men have tried to make truth relative, from one man to the next. Truth as we've taught before is absolute, just like the natural laws. We must make our judgments of other men according to His Truth, not mine or other men. When governments make judgments by men's will, not God's, they rule in error. That is the case of this recent ruling calling the union of men and men, and women with women, erroneous. God's law nullifies that law for those living under His Law. In essence, the line is crossed between church and state now.
Vs. 3-Smple here. If we judge another according to God's law, that is righteous judgment, and that person does those things above we read, we must find them guilty before God. AND, if we are commiting those things, we have in principle judged ourselves as guilty also. There isn't two laws that God will judge us by. We are all judged by the same law. I know that no one wants to be judged, but like it or not, we are by God. The beauty of God's salvation is seen when I know the judgment and why, I am given another choice, a chance to do something about it. My dearest friend would be the one who came to me with God's Word and judged me as being condemned due to my sin, and convicted my heart to repent and turn back to living God's purpose. That person has just saved you from an eternity in Hell.
Vs. 4- This is addressed to the one doing the judging in vs. 3 particularly. Knowing truth to judge another, I should know what will happen to me for sin in my life. I won't escape that judgment of God. Some say, "Well God must be dead! Under the old law, when men turned against Him, they died at God's hand or guidance of the nations. He doesn't do that today. " This is true and this verse tells us why. God hold His judgment to a later date. A date even Christ doesn't know. It is because of is goodness, forbearance (meaning His tolerance, noted above, He allowed them to be un-natural.), and God's longsuffering. It is those things which hold His wrath against us today. Under the Old Law, you sinned and remained in sin, Under the Law of Christ, there is repentance, and sin is removed in baptism. We can change from these wicked ways, be redeemed by Christ's blood in baptism, and worthy of service to God. John 3 called this the new birth. Ephesians 2:10 says we are created in Christ Jesus to do the works God ordained before the foundation of the world.
Vs. 5- We have a choice, to either change and be the servant of God, OR, we can ignore the facts of truth from God. But understand there IS a DAY OF WRATH from God! It will happen, and by doing so this reveals and confirms what righteousness is by GOD. God determines righteousness and wickedness, not men.
Vs. 6-9 - This is really one complete thought. God renders the reward for a man according to our deeds, our life. Whether we did good (by His will) or bad, right and wrong. If we have done good, because of forgiveness according to obedience to His law (including faith, repentance, confession, and baptism) or innocence, as in Christ and young children who can't learn His Will yet. Again, I'll illustrate: My sister was 3 years old when she started to drive. A friend came to visit and parked beside the house, on a hill, that intersected with a major state highway. Back then, folks didn't lock their car doors. My sister climbed in their car, and standing up in the seat, put the car in neutral. Down the hill she went, I saw it and ran after her, opened the door, but she wouldn't scoot over and let me in. Thus, she entered the intersection, crossed it, with a tanker truck approaching, (scared us to death!) and proceeded to hit the concrete and block plant on the corner. No one was hurt, and she ran a stopped sign, was an under-aged driver, damaged a block wall building, etc. But the police that came to help, did not hold her amenable to man's traffic laws. Now, at 16 they would. She didn't know the wrongs she committed. She was having fun the whole time, but she was wrong, nonetheless. But she wasn't held as wrong. Everyone was thankful she was safe. The same is true here. There is a time that a child grows up and is able to know right and wrong. At this time, God holds them accountable to His law. Some have the incapability of knowing because of handicap. They just don't and can't know. God knows their hearts.
Friends, I hope that you can realize by the text, that we all are accountable to God, having the ability to know God and His Will. We may choose to ignore it and think it a myth. As some have said, "You have your opinion and live by it, and I have mine." If neither of our opinion happens to be God's opinion as stated in scripture, we are both wrong and condemned. Only God's opinion counts in the judgment. We either believe and obey it or else be lost and face His Wrath!
I want to make a final comparison, one with the people of God under the old law of Moses. In Jeremiah, the weeping prophet of God, tells the people and kings that they would fall under the Babylonian rule. We read of their cry for help from the nations around the, and Egypt chose to assist them fighting the Babylonians with them. Unfortunately, for His people, there was no salvation for them. The Egyptians were the losers. Again, Judah was alone to deal with Babylon. Jeremiah told them why, "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?", Jeremiah 5:3`. These people were in captivity as God told them through Jeremiah for 70 years. Our preachers/prophets today are doing the same, not with truth. Thus the various faiths among men instead of the "one faith" mentioned earlier here in Ephesians 4. Our leaders/priests today rule by their own rule. And lastly, we see the real problem, the result that people like it this way. They want change, but not for the better with God. They want change that fits their lifestyle. So we are preparing for an election to vote for a person to lead our country. Many are looking for someone that will say "I will give you all the food, and a house to live in, and you won't have to work for it. We'll rob the rich and the rewards of their hard work, and give that to the poor, who are poor for not wanting to work." We want government assistance so we are not forced to work to pay our bills. We want a government that views everyone equal, even though God says we are not. We will fix all our laws to equate everyone the same. There wisdom again is foolish, because when everyone is on government assistance, there will be no one to pay the taxes, and no money to send out the checks to those who are really needy. Next, we decide of those, how bad is their infirmity, and decide who should live and who should not. So the circle of our passage is made complete. Our leaders create themselves as being the God of our nation.
Our Supreme Court here in the U.S. has just made a terrible ruling that defies nature, God, and the majority of citizens in our country. After reviewing the reason behind the 5 justices’ decision, I believe that decision in bases on several serious premises. For the last 30-50 years, there have been hints on media, educators, and our government to have areas of social reform. These were considered are the concept that “all men are created equal, with certain inalienable rights…”. What these have not understood was what did the authors of our Constitution mean by this phrase? Darwin at least understood that inequality exists in nature. Thus his “survival of the fittest” theory. We have to remember the time and generation that the founding fathers of our nation were living in. NONE of them would have believed in a total equality between all people, but they did write of equality among men. There is equality between a man and man, woman and woman, employer and employer, an employee that produces a certain amount of work with another employee that does the same amount of work, etc. But a man and woman are not equal, any more than a dog and care are equal. Nature understands the inequality of animals, including mankind. Nature establishes the male of the species being dominant.
The other premise I believe they made in error, is their supreme authority. They really believe they have the final authority. They have authority over the determinations of the Creator. There is no doubt that the founding fathers did believe in the Creator as God in the Bible. These were Bible believing men that instilled God into the fabric of our nation. God’s principles became the underlying concepts of our Constitution. Our Justices have ruled ignoring these concepts and have ruled listening to the voices of a few men and women, who have turned their hearts from God, and touted their wisdom over God’s wisdom. Thus we have the ruling by the court, ruling by the rule of the people. Doing so has set the wisdom of men against the wisdom of God, therefore, we have the issues of the ruling in conflict with the 1st amendment and the 2nd amendment, “freedom of speech” and “freedom of religion”. Again, as we review these, remember they were written with the philosophy of God being sovereign. Speech was not including vulgarity, nor religion being outside of the Holy Bible. While someone might think these are serious, take a minute to note the changes made in our country since the writing of our Constitution.
Let me just name a few: women taking an active part in the work force and leaving the home as a housewife (I understand this was needed during the WWI. They were help-meets doing so.) The quest for man to experience everything in the world, good or bad. Solomon did so, and God called him the wisest man in the world, but he said this quest was folly, and left mankind void in life. Today, we publicize our quests. These resulted in disrespect for authority and disrespect for moral values. Next we have the moral revolution which created a need for abortions. Now we have a generation of justice that can’t execute justice according to God’s laws, overseeing a nation established “under God”. Who have taken the Bible out of schools, and activities, and the political systems as they convene. There’s no wonder people don’t know God. There have been attempts to remove this from our money, from the pledge of allegiance, and courthouse steps, anything dealing with God seems to be taboo. Now our justice system has authorized acts against nature as acceptable behavior of mankind. They have ignored historical facts that no nation that support homosexual activities have ever survived God’s wrath. Where is the wisdom in this? Now look at our text.
Our text is Romans 1:15-2:9.
"15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 ¶ Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
1 ¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;"
Friend, notice the text gives a progression of digressing from God. Paul is writing to explain the only hope for men was the gospel of Christ. He set his mind on the preaching of that gospel, and that resulted in persecution, even to the point of death for those contending for the faith. Allow me to go verse by verse in our text, and I realize Paul was speaking in regards to the Roman Empire of the 1st Century. But there is a huge similarity between our nation today and that empire. Both believed they were invincible and the greatest power on earth. The philosophy of the day was centered on the knowledge and wisdom of men. The result was man thought he knew more than any god, including the creator, Jehovah God. They knew better about everything. Note Acts 17:16-34.
Vs. 15- Paul was delivered by God from the hands of wicked Jewish leaders by his appeal to Caesar. So he is under guard but at the same time intends to preach to those in Rome. This is found in Acts 25. For information of the Gentiles society, look at Ephesians 4:17ff and 1 Thessolonians 4:5. Ie. Galatians 5:19-21 refers to such activities as "works of the flesh".
Vs. 16- Since these people didn't know of God, he realized the importance of preaching to them the gospel of Christ, that they might have the opportunity to obey it and be saved, regardless who they are. All are amenable to God's law of Christ. Ignorance of God's law is not an excuse.
Vs. 17- This verse mentions 2 faiths. It is not saying 2 different faiths, rather that the faith in the Bible is transferred to our mind as now "our faith", as Ephesians 4: 1-6. So to be justified before God, we are required to know this faith, and live it.
Vs. 18- The wrath of God is for the unjust in opposition to vs. 17's just. These are those who walk after the flesh, we noted above. These refer to the "truth" as being "unrighteousness". Note here that because of the way they desire to live, they see "truth" as "error". They reject the "truths" given by God, to live their lifestyle. Think! Is this not what just happened regarding same-sex marriage? God does not make an equality between a marriage between a man and a woman, and same-sex unions. As we look later in the text they are referred to as reprobate minds who have rejected God and perverted natural laws also.
Vs. 19- Here is how it starts? Men choose to reject the obvious knowledge. Ie. What man/man union will ever produce a child by the law of nature? Or, for that matter a woman/woman relationship? God has shown the world how it works!! We see it all around us. Sometimes, we refer to the "rabbits" as to multiply children. But to close our eyes to this law of nature, doesn't change it period. Let's see them put tw0o male rabbits together and see how prolific they will be. God has used nature to teach us and everyone knows that law. But we can ignore the obvious laws when we desire something totally in opposition to that law. It's like going fishing on dry land, and expecting at some time to catch a fish. It is foolish to think it will work. God made woman to go with man, and reproduction works. (Genesis 2:20-25)
Vs. 20- We may not see the actual law written down in black and white, but we do see the results in everything that God made. These laws prove that there was a mind organizing nature, from the planets and solar system, to life itself, both plant kingdom and animal kingdom, representing life. Both kingdoms require the male and female to reproduce. Today, we think different and want to circumvent this law of nature, to allow homosexual unions to raise children to believe that such relationships are approved. They can't do it on their own, so they fight to have the right to adopt natural children, and teach them the un-natural. So let's go fishing in the Sahara Desert and find someone to stick a fish from a market on the hook. That way I can tell everyone what a great fisherman I am. I can even catch them where there is no water!! Let everyone think it is better fishing where there isn't water, OH! and while at it, make that fish a 100 lbs. catfish, so everyone will think the bigger fish are on dry land instead of water. Bottom line, the natural law continues because it is govern by an eternal God who created it Nature is a testimony to God the Creator and it is a perfect law for His purpose. Man can't leave it alone and tries to alter it.
Vs, 21- Man knew God, but didn't like His way, and went about to develop their own way about everything. They sought options to what God purposed for man to do. This has been to course of error/sin from the beginning with Satan and Eve. This path grew to the point God had enough in Genesis 6:5-9, but He spared Noah, his sons, and their wives. Don't forget God spared Enoch, chapter 5:24, because they were righteous before Him. The rest of mankind, and all but a "male and female" of the animals outside of water, and the seven of those clean animals (allowing for sacrifices) perished from God's wrath and destruction. NOW let's hear you convince people that God won't care about our marrying man and man, or woman and woman together. "He doesn't care, after all He is dead"! (So nature has stopped being nature?)
Vs. 22- Now this verse illustrates where we are today. Men decide to alter things because many believe it CAN be different from the laws of nature. Man decides it can alter and create a different natural law, and manipulate the laws of nature. "We are so smart!" "We know a better way of doing things!" So they put things now from thinking to believing and now in action. We have Bruce Jenner, who was a sports hero, mentor to many, but he wasn't happy as man, and altered the natural body to be a woman. God doesn't give us the choice in this. He is still a man in God's eyes, a rebellious man. Who knows, maybe he'll marry another woman in a same-sex relationship. Shame! We've sought equality between the genders, But Genesis 3:16 teaches inequality, she will give birth to children in pain, not man! Her purpose would be to please her husband, in submission to him, not equal to him. AND it had nothing to do with how smart they are compared to their husband, or ability they had more than the husband. IT was a law of God as a punishment for her sin. It stated the course for women's lives. By the same token, man was to work for his livelihood, with the "sweat of his brow". I know we don't like it, but we can't change it. We might use air-conditioning our tractors, etc. but take the machines away, and that sweat will appear again. That's our natural law, we know it, and accept it. So we adjust to it, because we can't change things. When we think we are smart and put our imaginations into action, these laws of nature prove as a reminder, how foolish we really are. And the worst part is yet to come; because God is the TRUE JUDGE of the world, and will judge all mankind according to His LAW, not the laws of our imagination and invention. We may choose to do what we want, but that does have its consequences. Vs. 23- Man to do this, had to make God the Creator, equal to man, to treat God with the same lack of respect as they do other men, to make God a created being instead of the creator. God becomes nothing more than another man and his opinion. And religions today have created their own god/s who will teach them exactly what they want to hear and live the way they want, and are, to live. So let's change what and who God is!
Vs,.24- Because of the actions of vs. 23, God chose to let men go about their foolishness, and dishonor their bodies amongst themselves. NOTE: God didn't change the natural laws, but He allowed them to live outside of that law. This shows their foolish ways. He still holds them amenable to His Law and His Purpose for man and creation. Think! Man is the only factor in all of Creation that can alter things his way, The rest of Creation knows to obey God's purpose/laws. They don't rebel, they don't question, they just do what they are suppose to do. God let's us do it, but in judgment we will stand before Him as the Judge, to answer how we lived according to HIS purpose. (Note Ephesians 1) We are allowed choice, but know whichever choice we make there will be a consequence. We are here according to His purpose, to serve HIM.
Vs. 25- Where do I begin here? We look at God as an equal, as someone that is powerful enough to be at my beck and call and do what I want! We take His perfect, righteous truth, and twist them to be a lie, after all he is my god. I am his creator. So he is to serve ME!! And IF I can create God, I can also create the "church" to my own liking too. Note the billboards across the country: "Join the church of YOUR choice." It is either the Lord's church according to His specifications, or it isn't! YOUR church may fit your lifestyle and allow people to live beyond these laws of nature and the law of Christ, but remember vs. 16, only His gospel will save you in the judgment day!! Knowing and not obeying won't help a bit. A life of sin brings death in Hell. James 2:19 says the devils believe in God, but tremble. They just don't obey! Friend, don't trust in men (not even a preacher), but in God's word. Acts 8:31, the eunuch sought help in understanding the Bible passage he was reading, just as a preacher might do today, but we must check these explanations out with God scripture to make sure the preacher isn't wrong, after all, he is a man too. We CAN make mistakes. These men in scripture were guided by the Holy Spirit and could not make mistakes as they gave scripture. It is called "the perfect law of liberty", freeing us from sin.
Vs. 26- What can I say? No, God doesn't use the term "homosexual" in the Bible, but what would you call this, if not lesbianism? It's a woman that uses her body, because of her affections, in an un-natural way. He allows the regression from Him, but don't believe He approves it!! He called it "VILE" affections. Pornography encourages this in men and women. To seek pleasure and affections in ways that are against God's laws.
Vs. 27- Then we turn to the men! Note he addresses the natural law of a man and woman, but states the un-natural of a man seeking such pleasure with a man, "SODOMY". Like vs. 26, He may allow it, BUT it does have consequence. Most Bible believing people have accepted that the consequence is our common disease today, AIDS. This lifestyle is against nature, and the natural use of the body, and AIDS fights back against the un-natural use of the body. For those of us, who don't live such a lifestyle, we really don't have to fear the AIDS, because we don't do those things which would transfer it from an infected person. That's why blood infusions are so critically checked. We must respect God's Law for man, and His Law of Nature. It can't be improved upon.
Vs. 28- These people choose to forget and ignore God and His laws. They have disregard to them. So God turned them over to listen to debased, reprobate minds, to learn from them how to live. That way they can use their bodies in ways that are not fitting. It will not work!! A man and woman doesn't have the same fittings. Have you ever tried to glue to male ends of pipe together (of the same size and type), or two female ends together? It is not fitting, but you take the male end and female end, and glue them together with ease. That is what we would call "a fit". Thus, one version of scripture calls it "not convenient".
Vs. 29-31- I've grouped these together, because they are a list of the types of lives people live, that live these ways as a result of disregard to God and His laws. I don't know of any of these activities that don't exist today. And our nation approves of these lifestyles. We, as a nation, have been set apart from the nations of the world, because our "Constitution" founders respected God, and referred to our nation as "under God", and is confirmed in our "pledge of allegiance", and our money. It is spread throughout the world. BUT, now our government has turned their backs on God and His laws, and seek to alter our land, first with the changes in the "Constitution", then the pledge, and our money. They are setting laws against those who live "under God", forcing faithful men to the saving Gospel of Christ, to compromise and reject its teachings. Those faithful men, including the apostles, died and were imprisoned because they didn't compromise their faithfulness to God, with that Roman government. Are we any different??? Can we accept and approve of people committing these sinful atrocities against God? Note: some of the religious institutions today (over the last few weeks since the ruling) have done so, espousing and approving of these same-sex unions, calling them a marriage. So-called "churches" teaching love and acceptance, equality! They have altered their teachings to adapt to the will of men. Just as God said in these verses! They may even rewrite their own bibles, to reflect their decision, by their creed books. These books are simply men's writings reflecting their ideas of what the Bible should teach and doesn't. Thus, with this simple act, they have created their own god, faith, churches, and unrighteous men, according to God's Law. Let me illustrate, many also teach "baptism" is not necessary. Due to their creed books (written by men), they have denied the necessity of baptism because "there isn't a verse in the Bible that says baptism is for salvation". Preachers of denominations preach this doctrine. There have been debates on the subject, but they get silent when told to read 1 Peter 3:21, which says "baptism doth also now save us, not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience before God". It washes away the sins from our lives, and we have a good conscience before God, Acts 22:16.
Vs. 32- Here the writer reminds us that there will be a judgment, and mankind is aware of that fact. They may disbelieve it will happen, they may disregard the warnings. But it will happen. These people who do these things just simply don't care! There attitude is to do what they want, PERIOD! They know that God said they were worthy of death, but so what! Mom would tell me when a boy, not to do something, and even what would happen if I did it. I knew the punishment, and she'd say, "Go on! You're going to do what you want anyway." Many times I did, and guess what... I got the punishment she told me I'd receive. My disregard to my mother didn't change a thing.
Vs. 2:1- Men divided up the written inspired text into chapters and verses. So the thought continues here. We, also can be judges, and do make judgments. Every day we make judgments as we make choices in our lives. As we judge others, understand that the judgment is also applicable to me also. Isaiah 5:20 issues a warning to those who call evil as good, and good as evil.
Vs. 2- teaches how to determine between right and wrong, good and evil, and to know the difference. This comes from God through His Word, the TRUTH. Men have tried to make truth relative, from one man to the next. Truth as we've taught before is absolute, just like the natural laws. We must make our judgments of other men according to His Truth, not mine or other men. When governments make judgments by men's will, not God's, they rule in error. That is the case of this recent ruling calling the union of men and men, and women with women, erroneous. God's law nullifies that law for those living under His Law. In essence, the line is crossed between church and state now.
Vs. 3-Smple here. If we judge another according to God's law, that is righteous judgment, and that person does those things above we read, we must find them guilty before God. AND, if we are commiting those things, we have in principle judged ourselves as guilty also. There isn't two laws that God will judge us by. We are all judged by the same law. I know that no one wants to be judged, but like it or not, we are by God. The beauty of God's salvation is seen when I know the judgment and why, I am given another choice, a chance to do something about it. My dearest friend would be the one who came to me with God's Word and judged me as being condemned due to my sin, and convicted my heart to repent and turn back to living God's purpose. That person has just saved you from an eternity in Hell.
Vs. 4- This is addressed to the one doing the judging in vs. 3 particularly. Knowing truth to judge another, I should know what will happen to me for sin in my life. I won't escape that judgment of God. Some say, "Well God must be dead! Under the old law, when men turned against Him, they died at God's hand or guidance of the nations. He doesn't do that today. " This is true and this verse tells us why. God hold His judgment to a later date. A date even Christ doesn't know. It is because of is goodness, forbearance (meaning His tolerance, noted above, He allowed them to be un-natural.), and God's longsuffering. It is those things which hold His wrath against us today. Under the Old Law, you sinned and remained in sin, Under the Law of Christ, there is repentance, and sin is removed in baptism. We can change from these wicked ways, be redeemed by Christ's blood in baptism, and worthy of service to God. John 3 called this the new birth. Ephesians 2:10 says we are created in Christ Jesus to do the works God ordained before the foundation of the world.
Vs. 5- We have a choice, to either change and be the servant of God, OR, we can ignore the facts of truth from God. But understand there IS a DAY OF WRATH from God! It will happen, and by doing so this reveals and confirms what righteousness is by GOD. God determines righteousness and wickedness, not men.
Vs. 6-9 - This is really one complete thought. God renders the reward for a man according to our deeds, our life. Whether we did good (by His will) or bad, right and wrong. If we have done good, because of forgiveness according to obedience to His law (including faith, repentance, confession, and baptism) or innocence, as in Christ and young children who can't learn His Will yet. Again, I'll illustrate: My sister was 3 years old when she started to drive. A friend came to visit and parked beside the house, on a hill, that intersected with a major state highway. Back then, folks didn't lock their car doors. My sister climbed in their car, and standing up in the seat, put the car in neutral. Down the hill she went, I saw it and ran after her, opened the door, but she wouldn't scoot over and let me in. Thus, she entered the intersection, crossed it, with a tanker truck approaching, (scared us to death!) and proceeded to hit the concrete and block plant on the corner. No one was hurt, and she ran a stopped sign, was an under-aged driver, damaged a block wall building, etc. But the police that came to help, did not hold her amenable to man's traffic laws. Now, at 16 they would. She didn't know the wrongs she committed. She was having fun the whole time, but she was wrong, nonetheless. But she wasn't held as wrong. Everyone was thankful she was safe. The same is true here. There is a time that a child grows up and is able to know right and wrong. At this time, God holds them accountable to His law. Some have the incapability of knowing because of handicap. They just don't and can't know. God knows their hearts.
Friends, I hope that you can realize by the text, that we all are accountable to God, having the ability to know God and His Will. We may choose to ignore it and think it a myth. As some have said, "You have your opinion and live by it, and I have mine." If neither of our opinion happens to be God's opinion as stated in scripture, we are both wrong and condemned. Only God's opinion counts in the judgment. We either believe and obey it or else be lost and face His Wrath!
I want to make a final comparison, one with the people of God under the old law of Moses. In Jeremiah, the weeping prophet of God, tells the people and kings that they would fall under the Babylonian rule. We read of their cry for help from the nations around the, and Egypt chose to assist them fighting the Babylonians with them. Unfortunately, for His people, there was no salvation for them. The Egyptians were the losers. Again, Judah was alone to deal with Babylon. Jeremiah told them why, "The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?", Jeremiah 5:3`. These people were in captivity as God told them through Jeremiah for 70 years. Our preachers/prophets today are doing the same, not with truth. Thus the various faiths among men instead of the "one faith" mentioned earlier here in Ephesians 4. Our leaders/priests today rule by their own rule. And lastly, we see the real problem, the result that people like it this way. They want change, but not for the better with God. They want change that fits their lifestyle. So we are preparing for an election to vote for a person to lead our country. Many are looking for someone that will say "I will give you all the food, and a house to live in, and you won't have to work for it. We'll rob the rich and the rewards of their hard work, and give that to the poor, who are poor for not wanting to work." We want government assistance so we are not forced to work to pay our bills. We want a government that views everyone equal, even though God says we are not. We will fix all our laws to equate everyone the same. There wisdom again is foolish, because when everyone is on government assistance, there will be no one to pay the taxes, and no money to send out the checks to those who are really needy. Next, we decide of those, how bad is their infirmity, and decide who should live and who should not. So the circle of our passage is made complete. Our leaders create themselves as being the God of our nation.
RSS Feed