05 The Wrath of God – Part 2

In Romans chapter one, Paul continued to show that he wouldn’t “pull any punches” as he was very upfront in confronting the issues of various sins. However, before addressing those sins and God’s judgments against them, Paul would continue laying a very important foundation.

Paul had previously discussed those who essentially knew “about” God, without really knowing Him, and thus they never gave Him the glory He was due.

Because these individuals had refused to glorify the Lord, Paul stated that their thoughts had become futile, with their hearts (minds) being darkened.

Paul would continue showing the downward spiral of these individuals, who were attempting to live on their own terms:

1 Life on Their Terms

Romans 1:22-23

Paul made the point that these individuals desired to appear wise, but in reality they had become fools.

Those who attempt to live on their own terms, invariably marginalize or deny the Lord, therefore refraining from addressing the most important question which everyone must answer; “How do I address the issue of God?”

The Bible is clear, that those who deny God’s existence, are simply fools:

Psalm 14:1

In verse 23, Paul addressed the issue of those who desire to appear as being wise, by not outwardly denying God, but still desiring to be in control of their lives (refusing to submit to Him).

These individuals often attempt to bring down to their level, often attributing human, or even animalistic attributes to Him.

Throughout human history, many cultures have attempted to attribute those attributes to God.

As the passage asserts, they are fashioning the incorruptible God into something which is indeed corruptible.

In verse 22, word we see translated as “fools” is the Greek word < emōranthēsan> which also means: stupid”.

This shows the utter futility of creating something to rule over you.

2 Results of Defiant Living

In the next section, Paul addressed the tragic results which are felt, when one attempts living life on their own terms:

Romans 1:24-25

Throughout history, one of the ways by which mankind has frequently expressed their rebellion against God, has been through the proliferation of sexual immorality.

Whether it be the pagan nations in the land of Canaan, the Israelites when they moved into the Promised Land, or even in the United States, wayward sexual living has always highlighted times of rebellious living.

Therefore, Paul pointed to the dreadful downward spiral that rebellion against God brings.

When one insists on marginalizing or worse, removing God from one’s life, they will place themselves in an area, where the Lord will frequently give them over to their desires, thus allowing them to live as they desire:

Romans 1:24

In context, Paul was writing to the Roman church, while he was in the city of Corinth, which in many ways, was a mini version of Rome.

Corinth was replete with pagan temples, which often had both female and male temple prostitutes, since sexual activity was often practiced when worshipping some of the pagan gods.

So, with both male and female temple prostitutes active in the temples, we see that homosexuality was also practiced in Corinth as well as Rome.

Therefore, Paul found the need to be very direct in his comments regarding man’s sinful behavior, and God’s judgment of that behavior.

Paul mentioned how the results of such behavior, is that God would give the practitioners over to “uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.”

God has given mankind sex, not only for procreation, but to enjoyed with marriage.

The reason, is because the sexual act, pictures the purpose of marriage, and is to be “the physical representation of God’ purpose for marriage, which is to unite a man and woman together, thus the two becoming one in the Lord’s sight:

Genesis 2:24

Even in that, the sexual union is only one part of the entirety of married life.

The above verse in Genesis (as well as other passages) clear shows that God’s intention for marriage is only to be between one man and one woman.

The world will often refer to the “marriage contract”. However, God’s Word is clear, that marriage isn’t simply a contract between two parties, but rather is a three-way covenant, including the husband, wife, and the Lord who holds them together.

It also pictures the permanent union between Christ (the bride groom) and the church, His bride:

Ephesians 5:25

Therefore, any sexual activity outside of marriage, degrades one’s body before the Lord.

In verse 25, Paul shows how those who’ve continued to reject the Lord and His ways, have come to serve “the lie”.

The lie, is basically, the same lie the devil wanted the first man and woman to believe, back in the Garden of Eden, and that lie was that mankind can live independently of the Lord’s ways, words and will:

Genesis 3:1-3

And then:

Genesis 3:4-5

Therefore, once man believes he is able to live without submitting to God, it’s not a great leap, to fashion a god with whom we’ll feel more comfortable. Thus, whether the person is willing to admit it or not, they’ve created, and thus are becoming their own god. Therefore, as Paul suggests, they are serving a creation, and not the Creator.

Because God alone is Creator, He is to be “blessed forever” – which literally means, “He is to be praised forever”.