Objective 4
- At the end of this topic, you will be able to state the origin of false religions and sinful practices and describe the progressive nature of sin.
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Lesson 2: Man's Need of Salvation (Rom 1:18-3:20)
Topic 2: Gentiles Condemned (Continued)
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What is the natural consequence of rejecting the truth? Believing what is not true. If we refuse to believe what God tells us about the origin of the world and the power that controls it, then God gives us up to our own ideas about these things. In Romans 1:19-23, we see that the Gentiles became guilty of idolatry after rejecting the revelation of God. They rejected the Creator and found themselves worshipping things that He had created! This seems unthinkable, but as it has often been said, man is incurably religious. If he rejects God, he will always find some other object or ideal to worship.
Enter your answer for the question in the "Course Life Notebook Questions" page found in the "Personal Life Notebook" section.
Can you think of some objects that people worship (or give first place to in their lives) instead of worshipping the true God? List them in your Life Notebook, then reflect on and interact with the following statement: "Sin in the life of the believer reveals that he or she is not fully satisfied in God." Do you agree or disagree? In what ways can Christians be guilty of idolatry?
In Romans 1:24, we see that men's idolatry causes God to give them up to immorality. Turning away from God and His holiness, they do what is unholy. Having rejected the revelation of God in nature, they become involved in sinful acts that are against nature (Rom 1:26-27). In this we see how the wrath of God continues to operate as the principle of retribution. Man makes his choice and takes the consequences. The words God gave them up are terrible words indeed! The worst judgment God can give sinful men is to lift His restraining hand and let them do as they please.
The picture that Paul paints in Romans 1:18-32 explains why there is so much sin in the world today. We learn an important lesson here about the nature of sin: it is progressive. It grows stronger, increases, spreads, and becomes worse and worse. One sin leads to another and on to others. Can you see the progressive, corrupting influence of sin in Romans 1:18-32? The rejection of God's truth is the starting point for this progressive immorality.
In order to help you remember the steps in the downward path of sin and the results, you can write the verses on a piece of paper, distinguishing between the steps and the results with different colors of ink. You can keep this paper with your Bible.
Romans 1:18--They held the truth of God in unrighteousness (pushed away the truth). Result - The wrath of God is revealed.
Romans 1:21--When they knew God they did not honor Him as God; were not thankful; became vain in their imaginations. Result - Their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:22--They boasted of their own wisdom. Result - They became fools.
Romans 1:23-24--They changed the glory of God into worship of created things, which is idolatry. Notice the degeneration: from God to man, birds, beasts, creeping things. Result - God gave them up to their own lusts and impurity.
Romans 1:25-26--They changed the truth of God into a lie. They worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator. Result - God gave them up to vile affections and their sexual perversion.
Romans 1:27--They practiced homosexuality. Result - They suffered physical consequences from their depravity.
Romans 1:28--They did not want to acknowledge God or even think about Him. Result - God gave them over to a depraved mind so they could follow their sinful ways.
Romans 1:29-- They were filled with unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, fighting, deceit, malice, gossip.
Romans 1:30They spoke evil of one another, hatred God, were disrespectful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents.
Romans 1:31They were without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.
Romans 1:32--Knowing the judgment of God, that those who do such things are worthy of death, they continued to do them and took pleasure in those who practiced them. Result - They were worthy of death.
We see in Romans 1:32 the terrible final results of rejecting God's truth as the sinner becomes completely defiant toward God and is glad to see others rebel against Him and His laws. Have you ever seen anyone like this?
Can you understand better now the seriousness of rejecting the revelation of God's truth? In light of this passage, what do you feel about the importance of evangelism among children and youth? Does your preaching and teaching help people see the deadliness of sin?
God has used this passage many times to convince people of the basic sinfulness of human nature and to show them their need of salvation. Do you plan to use it sometime in your preaching or teaching?
Enter your answer for the question in the "Course Life Notebook Questions" page found in the "Personal Life Notebook" section.
Suppose someone says, "I live a good, clean life and don't harm my fellow man. Why do I need God or religion?" How could you use what you have just studied about the nature of sin to answer him? In your Life Notebook, write a two- or three-paragraph response to this person.
Paul has shown us in this chapter that apart from God we cannot resist sin's corrupting and degenerating influence. Only by faith in God's revelation, the gospel, can men be delivered from sin's power. We need the righteousness that only God can give us. The Gentile world needs the good news of a Savior because it has been tried, found guilty, and pronounced worthy of death.
