“Alternative
Death-Styles”
Romans 1:24-32
(Message #4)
February 7, 2016
(Sligo, Ireland)
INTRODUCTION:
We hear much today about people’s
“life-styles.” This is a term that has worked its way into the vocabulary of
nearly every one of us. It has even found its way into our dictionaries.
Webster’s Dictionary defines “life-style” as, “the consistent, integrated way
of life of an individual as typified by his manner, attitudes, possessions,
etc.” You may remember a popular American television program from a few years
back called “Life-styles of the Rich and Famous,” in which Robin Leach took you
into the beautiful homes of movie stars, European nobility, and rock musicians.
Very often today, however, the term
“life-style” is preceded by the word, “alternative.” We now use this kinder,
gentler euphemism to describe situations that people used to call “immoral, perverted,
twisted, and kinky” such things as living together without marriage, having sex
with anyone who is not your spouse, polygamy, so-called “open marriages,”
homosexual couples adopting children, etc. etc. You name it—the politically
correct term “alternative life-style” takes it all in.
But what does God think about man’s
alternatives? Does He have anything to say about our fiddling around with the
system that He established for us when He put people on this planet? Does He
agree with our society’s politically-correct view of “live and let live?”
TRANSITION:
In the portion of God’s Word we will
be examining today, God seems to say that He has some very definite thoughts on
this subject. In fact, this is one of the most powerful and disturbing passages
in the Bible. Taken by itself it is one of the darkest and most hopeless
portions of Scripture that I know of. But, praise be to God, it must be seen
against the backdrop of God’s mercy and grace revealed in Romans 1:16-17, which
we studied two weeks ago. Turn to those verses and let’s read them once again: “For I am not
ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who
believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it [i.e. the Gospel]
the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written,
‘But the righteous man shall live by faith.’” Praise God!
Our text for this morning is Romans
1:24-32. Let’s read that: “Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to
impurity, to the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because
they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature
rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. 26 For
this reason God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For their women
exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and
the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with
passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving
in themselves the due penalty for their error. 28 And since
they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to
do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all
manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy,
murder, strife, deceit, and maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers,
haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to
parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though
they know God's decree that those who practise such things deserve to die, they
not only do them but give approval to those who practise them.”
MAIN
BODY:
Verse 24: “Therefore God
gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonouring of
their bodies among themselves,”
·
“Therefore/wherefore” = This is the hinge
to vs. 18-23.
o
Because
God has given a clear revelation of Himself…
o
Because
man has deliberately ignored that natural revelation and suppressed the truth…
o
Because
man has refused to honor God and give thanks to Him…
o
Because
man has chosen to follow his own thinking and logic…
o
Because
mankind has traded the Living God for dead idols…
·
“Therefore
God gave them up/over” The Principle is, “Be not deceived. God is not mocked. We
reap what we sow.” When we choose an evil manner of life, we also,
by default, choose the consequences that go with that choice, proof that God
has established a moral universe. When people insist on living on their own
terms, God hands them over to the very things they desire. This is the price of
man’s moral freedom. God lets people go on their path of self-determination and
self-destruction. He does not need to do anything active to punish them. He
merely withdraws His restraints, letting men run to that which they crave, and
then they pay the price.
·
Illustration: Imagine a big
round hole in the ground covered over by heavy planks all nailed together, with
bright orange safety barricades, and with “DANGER:
Keep out!” signs all around. Suddenly, men burst through the barriers, come
up to the hole and start tearing off the boards and knocking down the warning
signs. Then they proceed to climb down into the hole using the rope that they
conveniently find there. One by one they disappear down into the hole. Soon you
begin to hear their pitiful screams as they call for help, having discovered
too late that the Devil himself had placed the rope there, a rope he has been
greasing and lubricating for centuries. As you observe this scene you see God
rush up to the edge of the hole with a brand-new rope ladder, which He quickly
throws down into the hole to rescue those foolish men. That ladder has a tag
attached to it that says, “Salvation
through My Son, Jesus.” However, instead of happy cries of thankfulness you
hear curses and hateful screams telling God to get His bleepity-bleep,
blankity-blank ladder out of there and leave them alone. Sadly, you see Him
slowly pull the ladder out of the hole and walk away, shaking His head. The
Lesson? He gave them over to the thing they desired, even though it would
certainly kill them.
·
“Therefore
God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonouring
of their bodies among themselves” “Lusts/desires,”
from the Greek word epithumia meaning strong desires or passions. This reminds me
of the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for. You might get it!”
·
“…to
the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves” As a Christian
I must always remember that my physical body is supposed to be a temple, a
dwelling place for the Spirit of God.
Verse 25: “…because they
exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshipped and served the creature
rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen.”
·
“…they
exchanged the truth…for a lie” = That was a really bad trade! Notice
that this is the second time Paul has used this expression. He used it up in
verse 23 saying, “[They]
exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of
corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.”
Now he says, “…they
exchanged the truth…for a lie.” That’s two very bad trades!
o
Like
Esau’s trade with Jacob, supper for a birthright
o
Like
Adam’s trade with Satan, dominion for a moment of pleasure
o
Like
England’s crown prince, a throne to marry an American divorcee
·
“The
truth of God”
= Paul uses the definite article because he’s talking about objective truth,
God’s eternal truth, absolute truth. Yes, absolute truth really exists, despite
what modern skeptics say.
·
“…for
a [literally, the] lie” = The BIG lie! The WHOPPER!
·
“…and
worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” Worship and service
= These are our reason for living/being. N.B. In idolatry men worship and serve
the creature. Yet sensuality is a form of idolatry in which people worship and
serve themselves, for the sake of their own pleasure.
Verse 26: “For this reason
God gave them up to dishonourable passions. For even their women exchanged
natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;”
·
“For
this reason God gave them up/over” Notice that this is the 2nd time that
God has given them up. The first time was up in verse 24: “God gave them up in the lusts of
their hearts to impurity.” The
first time it says that He gave them up in BODY. This time it is in the area of
their SOUL.
·
“…to
dishonourable passions.” = Literally, to passions of dishonor.
·
“…for
even their women [literally, females]” Most of us believe that women
are usually more modest and refined than men. Paul seems to be shocked that
women could act so wickedly. It is interesting to note that Paul does not
actually use the Greek word for “women” but rather chooses to use the word,
“females.” Here in verse 26-27 people act like animals so they are referred to
as animals, i.e. “males and females,” instead of men and women. The point is
that sin and perversion rob us even of our humanity.
·
“…[the
females] exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;” Paul here is
referring to the whole gamut of perverted, degrading sexual practices,
including homosexuality.
Verse 27: “…and the men
likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion
for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in
themselves the due penalty for their error.”
·
“…and
the men [males] likewise” = “Likewise” meaning in the same manner or fashion
the “males” commit these indecent acts. They give up “natural relations with
women” which is part of God’s design, and go after other men. Of course, modern
society portrays homosexuality as cute, avant-garde, fun and quirky. The Bible
portrays it as wicked, twisted, filthy, and degrading. In the end it all comes
down to who we choose to believe, God or society?
·
“…consumed
with passion for one another…men with men…” Literally, with “burning desire”
for one another rather than for women. This Greek word means to kindle, to set
on fire, to burn out. This refers to their indecent sexual passions. And like
in the previous verse, Paul refers to them not as men but as “males with males”
as though he were talking about cattle or other farm animals.
·
“…receiving
in themselves the due penalty for their error.” The nature of
the penalty is said to correspond to the enormity of the sin so that in the end
humans always become the victims of their own iniquity.
·
“…receiving
in themselves”
Just look at some of the horrible results of people giving in to their
unbridled sexual passions:
o
HIV
and AIDS
o
Sexually
transmitted diseases that antibiotics can’t stop
o
Human
trafficking, sexual slavery, and child marriages
o
Broken
minds, wounded emotions, and the inability to form normal, healthy
relationships and friendships
o
Unquenchable
sexual appetites that must always have more
o
Crushing
load of guilt, misery, isolation, loneliness, suicide, and bondage, forever
subject to the whims of fickle lovers
o
The
unthinkable sexual abuses by the clergy of the Roman Church that have destroyed
countless lives
·
“…the
due penalty for their error.” Men and women caught up in the world of
sexual sin, pornography, and the sex trades literally destroy their own lives
and wash themselves out of the population in much the same way that nature
cleans itself; i.e. the rain and snow scrub impurities out of the air, and
rivers wash themselves to eliminate pollutants. In the same way, those who
practice sinful sexual lifestyles tend to destroy their own lives. Payday will
come someday!
Verse 28: “And since they
did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do
what ought not to be done.”
·
“And
since they did not see fit to acknowledge God” = This is deliberate
ignorance, deliberately turning their backs and minds from Him. This is the
sinful choice to simply ignore God and disregard His warnings.
·
“…God
gave them up to a debased mind” = He gave them up for the 3rd time, in
their MINDS. When men reject God He rejects them, along with their sinful
attitudes, and gives them over to the natural consequences of their choices.
·
“…to
a debased mind”
If you look up the word “debased” in the
dictionary you find that the synonyms include, “corrupted, degraded, sullied,
despoiled, besmirched, and stained.” Paul tells us that anarchy and chaos
result from removing God from the mind. Illustration:
An old, abandoned building quickly becomes home to rats, bats, snakes, and
winos, with all the filthiness they bring along with them.
·
“…to
do what ought not to be done.” KJV says, “…to do those things which
are not convenient.” This, however, is an unfortunate translation of the
Greek word that Paul uses. This has nothing to do with appropriateness, prudishness
or mere social mores. The Greek word means, “right, fitting, becoming.” Remember,
this is God’s viewpoint. We are dealing here not with social etiquette but with
sin. Homosexuality and other forms of aberrant sexual behaviour are forbidden,
and therefore shameful.
Verses 29: “They were
filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are
full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,”
·
“They
were filled [to the brim] with all manner of unrighteousness” N.B. Here in
verses 29-31 we have a list of 21 features of degeneracy; i.e. “Filled
with wickedness; namely…”
o
#1
“filled with unrighteousness”
(cf. vs. 18) = A general term for anything that is not right. Unrighteousness
robs both man and God of justice, of their rights.
o
#2
“filled with evil,
active wickedness” (Mark 7:22) = This is the desire to do wrong, to corrupt,
and to injure others.
o
#3
“filled with covetousness”
(I Thess. 2:5; Luke 12:15) = The love of having.
o
#4
“filled with malice/inward
viciousness” (I Cor. 5:8) = This is hatred aimed at specific
individuals.
(Here
Paul switches from participles to nouns/substantives. “…Full of”)
o
#5
“full of envy”
= The word refers to wanting to be what others are; e.g. famous, rich, loved,
esteemed.
o
#6
“full of murder”
= A hatred that leads to murder, showing no pity.
o
#7
“full of strife/contention”
= Loving to stir up fights and trouble.
o
#8
“full deceit/guile”
= Sneaky, false, putting on a show to get ahead.
o
#9
“full of maliciousness/malignity”
= Means rotten at the core. Note that all 5 of these [5-9] stem from pure
selfishness.
o
#10
“gossips/whisperers”
= They speak poison softly.
Verses 30: “…slanderers,
haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to
parents,” Notice that starting here in verse 30 Paul again changes
the grammatical construction, and then forges ahead. He says, “They are…”
o
#11
“slanderers/backbiters”
= They shout poison loudly [cf. #10].
o
#12
“haters of
God” = This requires little comment. Their hatred for God is proved
by their refusal to honor Him or obey Him. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you
will keep My commandments,” thus tying obedience to love.
o
#13
“insolent/insulting”
= They shake their fists at God and accuse Him of all manner of evil motives, claiming
that He is selfish and cruel for denying them that which they crave.
o
#14
“haughty/arrogant/proud”
= The word means, “puffed up, full of air.” In other words, they are evil gasbags.
o
#15
“boastful/swaggering
braggarts” = They proudly shout, “Look at us! We’re the Champions!
We’ll never bow the knee to any god because we’ve made this world and we are in
charge! We will shape it to our own specifications and desires. There is no god
besides us.”
o
#16
“inventors of
evil” = They are always looking about for new, exciting ways to sin.
They are creative geniuses when it comes to evil and wickedness.
o
#17
“disobedient
to parents” = How interesting that this should be part of the list!
Apparently God takes this more seriously that most of us do. God commanded, “Children,
obey your parents!”
Verse 31: “…foolish,
faithless, heartless, ruthless.”
o
#18
“foolish/without
understanding” = Paul uses the same word as up in vs. 21, “foolish”,
here meaning senseless, like a dumb animal.
o
#19
“faithless/covenant
breakers” = They break faith with both God and men and thus are
never to be trusted.
o
#20
“heartless”
= This literally means, “without natural affection;” i.e. lacking love for
kindred such as parents, children, and siblings.
o
#21
“ruthless/unmerciful/pitiless”
= Like a lion who will tear you apart without a moment of conscience.
Verse 32: “Though they
know God's decree, that those who practise such things deserve to die, they
not only do them but give approval to those who practise them.”
·
“Though
they know God's decree, that those who practise such things deserve to die…” So there is no
question of ignorance here! That excuse cannot be made. They know what God has decreed,
but they choose to ignore it; namely, that these things bring a death sentence.
There is no pleading ignorance here!
·
“…they
not only do them but give approval to those who practise them.” This refers to those who, ONE, do these
things anyway, and TWO, give hearty consent and approval to others who do them,
cheering them on, receiving vicarious satisfaction, just like Satan who
loves to watch other people sin! (N.B. This is what drives the pornography/sex
industry.)
ALL THIS IS THE RESULT OF MAN REJECTING
GOD’S NATURAL REVELATION! Look back again at verses 18-19: “For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their
unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known
about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.”
CONCLUSION:
Some parts of God’s Word are a sheer joy
to preach and teach. For example, to preach about God’s faithful, never-ending
love from Romans 8 or about Heaven from I Thessalonians 4 is pure pleasure for
me. I love to explain John 3:16 and other passages like it that so clearly
reveal God’s heart of love and compassion for sinners who come to Him seeking mercy
and forgiveness.
However, these verses today in Romans 1
are hard to preach and hard to hear, for they reveal the awfulness of man’s
sinful condition from God’s perspective. They also reveal God’s dilemma:
namely, what to do with sinners who continually reject His offer of freedom,
cleansing, and forgiveness from sin and choose to continue wallowing in their
filthy wickedness.
The Bible says very clearly that “God desires that none should perish but
that all should come to repentance” and Jesus said that He came so that we
might have “abundant life.” However,
all God’s offered blessings are conditioned upon our unconditional acceptance
of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, and our willingness to turn away from sin
to serve Him with our whole heart.
The GOOD NEWS I offer you today is found
in verse 16 of our text where Paul says: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power
of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” Today, I can offer
you complete forgiveness in Christ. With no doubt in my mind, I can offer you
freedom from the bondage of any sin you might be caught up in right now. On the
basis of God’s promises I can tell you that it doesn’t matter what you’ve done
in the past, Jesus is ready to forgive you and to cleanse you of all unrighteousness.
If you will agree with Him and confess your sin to Him, turn from it and turn
toward Him, you can leave this place being a new person, changed from the
inside out.
However, with the very same confidence I
can tell you that if you reject God’s gracious offer and choose to continue in
sin, you will lose everything! The Bible says in Proverbs 14:12, “There is a way
which seems right to a man but its end is the way of death.” What we
have seen today are not “alternative life-styles” but “alternative death-styles.”
The choice is clear! The choice is
yours, so choose wisely!
FEEDBACK:
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