Tag: Romans 1-3
Given over by God!
Scripture reading for November 18th: Romans 1-3
My wife and I have raised five children and discipline has not been easy. Children are born with a sin-nature and they want what they want, when they want it! Part of the job of parenting is to set boundaries and discipline. Sometimes, having their own way could lead to injury or possibly death. As parents we instruct our children to make wise choices that bring God’s blessing and favor.
God makes Himself known to all men through nature. (Romans 1:20) When men refuse to acknowledge the truth about God as creator of all life they come under God’s wrath. God’s wrath is His holy anger against sin and rebellion. God’s wrath is happening on a continual basis and experienced eternally by those who die in a lost state.
As a result of suppressing the truth that was made clear to them by God through nature, men become darkened in their hearts and their thinking becomes futile and empty. They imagine themselves as the center of all things and think they are wise and intelligent. When man chooses this route, against all evidence to the contrary, God’s response is to give them over to what they desire in their darkened hearts. “Have it your way!” might be another way to say it!
As a result of being given over, men exchange the truth of God for a lie and begin to worship created things rather than the creator. (Romans 1:25) They give themselves to sexual immorality. The sexual immorality sometimes takes the form of homosexuality and lesbian activity. When God withdraws His light from their minds because they ignore His truth, every kind of sin and wickedness comes from their darkened minds! Those under God’s wrath are ‘given over’ not only participate in this wickedness but they encourage others who also practice this same evil! (Romans 1:32)
In our nation God has given many people over to their own lusts and darkness. Much light is available, but God forces no one to follow truth. He wants none to perish and has made provision for all who will choose salvation. The power of the Gospel message offers righteousness by faith to all who will believe! (Romans 1:16-17) Lord, have mercy on our nation!
God gave them over!
Scripture reading for November 16th: Romans 1-3
My wife and I have raised 5 children and discipline has not been easy. Children are born with a sin-nature and self-will. Part of the job of parenting is to set boundaries and instruct them in wise choices. We wanted them to enjoy God’s blessing and favor and avoid the traps of sin and destruction that fill our world.
Initially, God makes Himself known to all men through nature. (Romans 1:20) The truth about God as creator is evident to all who will pay attention to the marvelous detail and order of our earth and universe. But godlessness and wickedness cause men to suppress the truth about God as creator and God’s wrath against their willful ignorance is set in motion.
As a result of suppressing the truth about God that was made clear to them by God through nature, men become darkened in their hearts and their thinking becomes futile and empty. They imagine themselves as the center of all things and think they are wise and intelligent. This foolish thinking leaves God out and puts man at the center of everything. When man chooses this route, God’s response is to give them over to what they desire in their darkened hearts. “Have it your way!” might be another way to say it!
As a result of being given over, men exchange the truth of God for a lie and begin to worship created things rather than the creator. (Romans 1:25) They pursue sexual immorality and sin. Their immorality takes the form of homosexuality and lesbian activity. Every kind of sin and wickedness flows from God simply withdrawing His light from their minds because they chose to ignore truth! Those who are ‘given over’ not only participate in this wickedness but honor others who also practice this same kind of wickedness! (Romans 1:32)
As we look at our nation, we can understand why we are in such sad shape. Because many have suppressed the knowledge of God, He has given them over to their own lusts and darkness. Sexual sins are off the charts and many do not blush at their own participation. Their consciences are seared. They encourage others to join them and vote into office those who will make their sins legal. Lord, have mercy on our nation! How we need the power of the Gospel to break the chains of selfishness and sin!
Steps to Hell!
Scripture reading for November 18th: Romans 1-3
God doesn’t want any man or woman to end up in hell. Ge has done everything necessary to bring salvation to each person. His amazing plan of salvation was to send of Jesus Christ to become sin for us and bear its penalty in His own body on the cross. This gospel message was the power of God unto salvation for all who would believe, Jew or Gentile! (Romans 1:16-17)
Paul recounts the path that many take in rejecting the gospel and bringing God’s wrath upon themselves. The first step is to suppress the truth about God and who He is. (Romans 1:18-20) God makes His eternal power and divine nature evident through creation. “The heavens declare the glory of God; . .There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the end of the world.” Psalm 19:1, 3,4) God is evident through nature and in the conscience of man. This truth must be suppressed to be avoided.
After the truth about God is suppressed, the next consequence is an internal darkening of their understanding. Only the light of Jesus Christ can drive out this type of darkness. They refuse to honor God as creator or give thanks to Him as the source of all things. Instead of worshiping God Almighty, the creator, they begin to worship images or idols made to look like created things.
The next step is the worship of self. God gives people who reject truth about His person over to lust and belief of lies. Darkness overtakes the soul and gross immorality fills their lives with more darkness and misery. Consequences of sexual immorality include broken human relationships, aids and venereal disease, and even demon possession. The final state of these people is a depraved mind and a character filled with all kinds of evil. (Romans 1:26-31) They not only do these wicked things, but encourage others to do them too in spite of God’s wrath on these sins.
It is not hard to see that America is on this path to destruction. Many have suppressed the knowledge of God and have fallen for lies and idolatry. They know God’s decree against these sins, but commit them anyway and encourage others to accept them as normal. The wrath of God is being revealed–get right or suffer!
God Gave Them Over!
Scripture reading for November 18th: Romans 1-3
My wife and I have raised 5 children and discipline has not been easy. Children are born with a strong sin-nature. They want what they want, when they want it! Part of the job of parenting is to set boundaries and not allow the children to have their own way. Sometimes, their own way could be dangerous and lead to injury or possibly death. As parents we want to instruct our children to make wise choices that will enable them to go through life with God’s blessing and favor. We use various means of discipline to help them out but when they become old enough, they must find out for themselves.
In Romans, the Apostle Paul describes God’s discipline on those who refuse to acknowledge Him and His right to direct and discipline their lives. God makes Himself known to all men through nature. (Romans 1:20) When men, made in God’s image, refuse to acknowledge the truth about God as creator and sustainer of all life they come under God’s wrath. God’s wrath is His holy anger against sin and rebellion. God’s wrath is something that is happening on a continual basis and also something experienced by those who die in a lost state after the final judgment.
As a result of suppressing the truth about God that was made clear to them by God through nature, men become darkened in their hearts and their thinking becomes futile and empty. They imagine themselves as the center of all things and think they are wise and intelligent. This foolish thinking leaves God out and puts man at the center of everything. When man chooses this route, against all evidence to the contrary, God’s response is to give them over to what they desire in their darkened hearts. “Have it your way!” might be another way to say it!
As a result of being given over, men exchange the truth of God for a lie and begin to worship created things rather than the creator. (Romans 1:25) They go into sexual immorality and sin. The sexual immorality takes the form of homosexuality and lesbian activity. Every kind of sin and wickedness flows from God simply withdrawing His light from their minds because of their choice to ignore plain truth! These under God’s wrath of being ‘given over’ not only participate in this wickedness but honor others who also practice this same kind of wickedness! (Romans 1:32)
As we look at our nation and it’s spiritual state, we can understand where we are in God’s sight. He has given many people over to their own lusts and darkness. Much light is available, but when men refuse light and choose darkness, God gives them over. He forces no one to follow truth, but offers truth to all. He wants none to perish but has made provision for all who will choose salvation. The power of the Gospel message offers righteousness by faith to all who will believe! (Romans 1:16-17) Lord, have mercy on our nation!