These are the original teaching notes from this passage.
- The Division…
- FIRST – The doctrine of Grace – Chapters 1-8
- All have sinned – Chapters 1-3
- Saved by faith alone – Chapters 4-5
- Victory over sin – Chapters 6-8
- SECOND – Example of Grace [Israel] – Chapter 9-11
- THIRD – Living by Grace – Chapters 12-16
- Introduction to Rome…
- Paul – first a BONDSERVANT [δοῦλος] – also an APOSTLE [ἀπόστολος] chosen by Jesus…
- Jesus – promised by God in the Scriptures – fully MAN [son of David] and fully GOD [resurrection]
- Rome – called to be SAINTS – because of the LOVE [ἀγαπητός] of God…
- GRACE and PEACE to them – always in that order!
- Desire for Rome…
- Paul prayed CONTINUALLY for the believers in Rome…
- His prayer was if the timing was right in will of God for him to go to Rome…
- Because Paul desired to give them his GIFT – to STRENGTHEN [στηρίζω] them in sound doctrine…
- He owed a DEBT [to God] to preach the Gospel everywhere…
- For he was NOT ashamed of the Gospel – it is the POWER of God to save…
- Because the ONLY way to be RIGHT with God is through FAITH…
- That is why it was WRITTEN – the JUST [δίκαιος] live by FAITH – Habakkuk 2:4
- FIRST – The doctrine of Grace – Chapters 1-8
- 1st – No excuse… vs. 18-21
- 1st – Why Grace… vs. 18
- First…
- Having given his INTRODUCTION – and DESIRE for Rome…
- And the defining statement – the righteousness of God is REVEALED from faith to faith…
- Paul jumped right into the DOCTRINE of GRACE…
- FIRST – he needed to paint the picture of why we need GRACE!
- Wrath of God…
- Wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men!
- REVEALED [ἀποκαλύπτω] – is the KEY word [first word in the sentence]
- Because just as God has REVEALED those who are RIGHTEOUS live by FAITH…
- The WRATH of God is also NOT a secret – it is well KNOWN…
- Anyone [πᾶς] who is UNGODLY – those who do NOT worship the Lord…
- Everyone who is UNRIGHTEOUS [ἀδικία] – those who do NOT live by FAITH…
- Are NOT forgiven of their sins – and will experience the WRATH of God!
- EVERYONE will have to stand one day before Jesus – either in GRACE or WRATH…
- GRACE – means we have received the GOSPEL and been FORGIVEN…
- WRATH – means we have rejected the GOSPEL and will be JUDGED…
- SINCE we know there are ONLY two ways the story ends – we need to warn EVERYONE!
- II Corinthians 5:11 – “Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord – we persuade men.”
- 2nd – Hiding the Truth… vs. 18-20
- God Exists… vs. 18-19
- Who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.
- Because what may be known of God is manifest in them – for God has shown it to them!
- People KNOW what will happen in the END – we all will stand before the JUDGEMENT seat…
- And they even KNOW who it will be that JUDGES them [Jesus] – John 5:22
- No one needs to tell them – because God has already MANIFEST [present] it to them…
- God has put ETERNITY into our hearts – Ecclesiastes 3:11
- Yet they try and SUPPRESS [hide] the TRUTH by doing what is WRONG [ἀδικία]!
- The Lord placed a GOD [eternity] shaped HOLE in each of our hearts…
- Yet people inevitably try and fill that hole with the things of this world…
- They will try and fill it with MONEY – POSSESSIONS – RELATIONSHIPS…
- And it seems to work for a WHILE – but it never brings LASTING contentment!
- Creation… vs. 20
- Since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen.
- Being understood by the things that are made – even His eternal power and Godhead.
- So that they are without excuse!
- God has revealed Himself to us through His creation…
- His INVISIBLE characteristics – are easily VISIBLE [only here NT]
- His eternal POWER [δύναμις] – and GODHEAD [θειότης]
- GODHEAD [only here NT] – noun form of the adjective DIVINE [Trinity]
- Therefore [εἰς] men have NO excuse for rejecting God!
- The IDEA is we KNOW there is a GOD because of the CREATION…
- Down to the building blocks of LIFE [DNA] – which we call a CODE…
- We see the DESIGN in our WORLD – SHOWING us there must be a DESIGNER…
- We call this GENERAL revelation – the PROOF there is a God!
- When we look up at the stars at night – when we see a picturesque sunset…
- In our heart we know – there is someone who CREATED this…
- We know God is there – NO one can claim they are IGNORANT…
- No one will be able to before God and have the EXCUSE they did NOT know!
- Everywhere…
- Psalm 19:1-4 – “The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his… craftsmanship. Day unto day utters speech – and night unto night reveals knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard. Their line has gone out through all the earth.”
- DAY after DAY – and NIGHT after NIGHT creation is speaking…
- There is NO [אֵֽין] speech [dialect] or language where the VOICE of creation is NOT heard…
- In ALL [בְּכָל] the earth – to the END of the earth – His MESSAGE [word] has gone out!
- Over 90% of the world believes in some kind of god – less than 10% are ATHEISTS …
- So the message is HEARD – creation PROVES there is a GOD!
- We might ask – since Jesus is the only way to heaven – I Timothy 2:5
- How can someone call on His NAME – if they have NEVER heard of Him…
- God sent Philip into the desert to share with the Ethiopian – Acts 8:26
- God sent and Angel – and then Peter – to share with Cornelius – Acts 10:3
- If someone is SEEKING – the Lord will always come and FIND them!
- Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
- 3rd – Not Thankful… vs. 21
- Although they knew God – they did not glorify Him as God – nor were thankful!
- Even though men KNOW [γινώσκω] God exists – they do NOT give Him glory or thank Him…
- They give NO credit to God for His amazing creation – are NOT thankful for their life…
- Instead they hide and deny what they KNOW – because of their SIN!
- Suppose we STOLE some money – and another person saw us do it…
- Then the next day when we saw them – we would feel extremely embarrassed…
- Unless we CONFESSED – we would likely try and avoid them!
- That is what happens to those who do NOT come to God in repentance…
- God sees their SIN – therefore they are extremely embarrassed to be around Him…
- They try and avoid Him – some even try and DENY He exists…
- Because by denying God – they can fool themselves into denying their SIN!
- 1st – Why Grace… vs. 18
- 2nd – The consequences… vs. 21-32
- 1st – Perverse spirit… vs. 21-23/25
- Becoming a fool… vs. 21-22
- But became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened.
- Professing to be wise – they became fools!
- BUT [ἀλλά] – when men reject God there are CONSEQUENCES [three kinds]
- FIRST – their MIND becomes [passive] EMPTY [useless] – and their HEARTS become DARK…
- While claiming to be WISE – they become [aorist] FOOLS [μωρός]!
- The common convention today is – if we want to be WISE we need to go to UNIVERSITY…
- Yet often – the UNIVERSITIES are turning out FOOLS…
- Because they are NOT teaching the Bible – about the NATURE of God…
- Instead the students are told there is NO right or wrong – it is all RELATIVE!
- Judges 21:25 – “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”
- Do not mistake knowledge for WISDOM – UNIVERSITIES have LOTS of knowledge…
- But the knowledge of men – if we listen – can BLIND us to our need for Jesus…
- That is NOT wisdom – that is FOOLISHNESS – because it keeps us from God!
- Psalms 14:1 – “The fool has said in his heart – there is no God.’”
- Evolution… vs. 23
- And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man.
- Birds and four-footed animals – creeping things!
- Because of their EMPTY minds – and DARK hearts…
- Men took the glory of an INCORRUPTIBLE God [eternal – immortal]
- And replaced it with an image like a CORRUPTIBLE man [temporary – mortal]!
- The smartest – most educated men in the world – believe in EVOLUTION…
- But there are only TWO possibilities for the origin of life – DESIGN or ACCIDENT…
- Because they choose to DENY their creator – they instead believe life is all an ACCIDENT…
- They chose to IGNORE all the evidence – and deny the God who created us!
- The Lie… vs. 25
- Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie.
- And worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen!
- They EXCHANGED [active] the TRUTH of God for THE lie [τῷ ψεύδει]
- The same LIE that has been deceiving men from the beginning…
- WORSHIP what was CREATED – rather than the one who did the CREATING!
- EVE ate the fruit from the TREE of Knowledge – Genesis 3:6
- Because she believed the LIE – she thought she could be LIKE God…
- She chose to exalt herself [creation] above the one who created her [God]
- But why put the TREE of Knowledge in the Garden – CHOICE…
- God does NOT force anyone to worship Him – He gives us the choice!
- Love requires a choice – and God loves us enough to let us choose…
- But if we choose NOT to love [worship] God – we are in danger of SPIRITUAL death….
- But there are also immediate consequences – both physically and mentally!
- 2nd – Perverse body… vs. 24 / 26-27
- Unclean hearts… vs. 24
- Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts.
- To dishonor their bodies among themselves!
- SECOND – therefore [Διὸ] those who reject God – will follow their LUSTS
- LUSTS – carries the idea of being CONSUMED [ἐπί] by LUST [θυμός]
- As a RESULT their UNCLEAN hearts cause them to DISHONOR [ἀτιμάζω] their bodies
- Without God in their lives to GUIDE them – people are left to their own desires…
- God created us with a NATURAL design for marriage [one man one woman]
- But LUST leads people to REJECT His design – give them over to the UN-NATURAL…
- A perversion of the sexual desires – DISHONORING their bodies!
- Homosexually… vs. 26-27
- For this reason God gave them up to vile passions.
- For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
- Likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman.
- Burned in their lust for one another – men with men committing what is shameful!
- Because of uncontrolled LUST – driven by UNCLEAN hearts…
- God gave people over to their DISHONORABLE [ἀτιμία] passions…
- WOMEN [θῆλυς] – emphasizing GENDER – not the typical word [γυνή]
- Rather than doing what is NATURAL [φυσικός] – the DESIGN that God created them with…
- They do what is AGAINST nature [lesbian relationships]
- MEN [ἄρρην] – again emphasizing GENDER – not the typical word [ἀνήρ]
- This is meant to connect us back to the original DESIGN [LXX] – Genesis 1:27
- In the same way – leave the NATURAL [φυσικός] use of the woman…
- BURN [passive] with LUST [to reach out] for on another…
- Men with [ἐν] men – doing what should ONLY be done with a woman [ἀσχημοσύνη]
- Homosexuality is a result of people following LUST – without God to correct them!
- A knew a man in college – he was caught up in pornography – at first just women…
- Over time the picture could not satisfy his lust – and it perverted into pictures of men!
- We are pressured today to accept homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle…
- There are even some churches that are ordaining homosexual pastors…
- There are those who try to argue people are born that way [no scientific evidence]
- Yet God makes it VERY clear that it is a WRONG – and it is sin…
- Homosexuality according to the OT – is a sin punishable by death – Leviticus 18:22
- It is the physical result of a HEART that has REJECTED the knowledge of God…
- We are NOT to conform – we are NOT to condone sin – through we LOVE the sinner!
- The price… vs. 27
- Receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due!
- As a result of their UN-NATURAL sexual relationships…
- They get the REWARD [ἀντιμισθία] they MUST receive in themselves for their ERROR [πλάνη]
- The inevitable TOLL of violating the biological design of the CREATOR!
- The TOLL is EMOTIONAL – for those who reject God and turn to homosexuality…
- Unlike the contentment and fulfillment that comes from a marriage relationship…
- Homosexuals burn with lust – are NEVER satisfied – NEVER content…
- Because that is NOT how God has designed intimacy to work…
- The TOLL is PHYSICAL – very apparent today [sexually transmitted disease]
- Often incurable – sometimes lethal – STDs runs rampant in the Homosexual community…
- Homosexual men [small population] make up almost half of the common STDs [aids – syphilis, gonorrhea]
- All because they rejected the knowledge of God!
- 3rd – Perverse mind… vs. 28-32
- Filled with evil… vs. 28-29
- Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.
- God gave them over to a debased mind to do those things which are not fitting.
- Being filled with all unrighteousness!
- THIRD – those do NOT recognize [δοκιμάζω] – importance of KEEPING the knowledge of God…
- God gave over DEPRAVED [ἀδόκιμος] mind to do EVIL things…
- Since they chose NOT to fill their lives with the knowledge of God…
- The VOID that should have been for God – is FILLED with wickedness…
- They become [passive] filled [perfect] with ALL [πᾶς] unrighteousness [ἀδικία]!
- 14 Nouns… vs. 29-31
- NOUNS that define the outward NATURE of the one that rejects God:
- SexuaL immortality [πορνεία] – any sexual act – thought outside of marriage – Matthew 5:28
- Wickedness – a desire to do evil – to do things we know are wrong…
- Greed – always wanting more – no matter what they have it is NOT enough…
- Maliciousness – the desire to hurt others – either by words or by actions…
- Full of envy [genitive] – desiring things – denying God has given what we need…
- Full of murder [genitive] – killing someone – or hating them – Matthew 5:22
- Full of arguments [genitive] – argue for the sake of arguing – being difficult…
- Full of Deception [genitive] – lying – cheating – stealing to get what they want…
- Full of an Evil minded [genitive] – having a bad character – rotten to the core…
- Gossip – whispering in the ear [slander] – tearing down one another…
- PROUD – hurling verbal insults at others – mocking…
- Boasters – bragging about who they are – what they have done [exaggerating]
- Inventors of evil things – come up with NEW ways to sin…
- Disobedient to parents – they do not obey their parents [rebellious]
- 8 Adjectives… vs. 30-31
- ADJECTIVES that define the inward CHARACTER of the one that rejects God:
- Backstabbers – speaking evil of one another when they are not around…
- Hate God – because they do NOT want to be accountable for their sin…
- Proud [arrogant] – thinking they are better than others…
- UNDISCERNING – they are unwilling to admit the foolishness of their lives…
- UNTRUSTWORTHY – they break promises – do NOT keep their word…
- Unloving [ἄστοργος] – they do NOT care about their family…
- Unforgiving – they will NOT let go of the past – they hold on to their hurts…
- Unmerciful – unwilling to help others who are in need – no mercy!
- The list is NOT exhaustive – it represents what happens to a MIND without God!
- Our mind is going to be FULL of something – and if we do NOT choose to fill it with God…
- Then it is going to fill up with EVIL and filth of this world…
- NOT that we wake up one morning and plan to dive headlong into sin…
- It is a gradual slide into more and more sin – as farther and farther we get from God!
- Encouraging… vs. 32
- Knowing the righteous judgment of God.
- That those who practice such things are deserving of death.
- Not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them!
- People KNOW [ἐπιγινώσκω] the JUDGEMENT of God…
- They KNOW that those who DO [presents] these things are worthy of DEATH [hell]
- Yet not only to they keep DOING them – they ENCOURAGE [συνευδοκέω] others to sin as well!
- It is NOT enough that they are going to be judged – they drag others down with them…
- They want you to join into their wicked ways – so they are NOT convicted…
- Because if we are following Jesus – it reminds them of their sin!
- The images of girls on the cell phone…
- The videos on social media with people doing things we know is WRONG…
- The MOVIES with content that is questionable – because although we may NOT be doing it…
- By NOT standing up against these things – we are in fact supporting them!
- 1st – Perverse spirit… vs. 21-23/25