I have been reading Romans 1 for a while now. I have not strayed from it, other than to see cross-referenced text and commentary for over a week now. This chapter in Romans is pretty intense if you will take the time to look at it.
For a long time, I had been focused on verses 18-33 which discuss God’s wrath because I had seen a few sermons on the subject; including a very focused one by John MacArthur whom I respect very much. He spoke about the wrath of God and how He had turned this world over to it’s selfish desires.
Romans 1:28-29 (ESV)
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.
As I read those fifteen verses, they chill me to the bone because I once walked in that same path. No, I did not participate in everything referenced in these verses, but I was right in the midst of them.
Rebellion
My rebellion began in verses 18 and 19
Romans 1:18-19 (ESV)
18 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.
God’s truth was all around me. I knew it to be true in some recess of my mind, but I chose not to acknowledge it. My desires outweighed the truth. Verses 21-23 really shook me.
Romans 1:21-23 (ESV)
21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
As I pondered these verses, I continued to read the chapter. There is a reference to sexual immorality
Romans 1:24-25 (ESV)
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
More Sins
I read on through the remaining verses and was humbled and filled with thanksgiving all at the same time. Paul speaks of how God gave “them up to dishonorable passions.” But it does not stop there. You may be free from the dishonorable passions, but it was not limited to just them.
Romans 1:26-32 (ESV)
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable 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, 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 righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
The list was pretty inclusive, and all of them came from this foolishness of denying God. Knowing Him yet not honoring Him.
Reflections
As I considered these passages and how I had lived it is easy to measure myself against other men and women and say; I am not to bad… I did not do this or I did not do that… That has to count for something right? But as I look at these verses, I cannot find that clause. What I do see are faith and the gospel.
Romans 1:16-17 (ESV)
16 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. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
As I mulled over these two verses, I was drawn to one of my favorite passages in the Bible that speak to me of God’s love. That passage is found in the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians
Ephesians is one of the books of God’s Word that I go back to a lot because it was one of the places that helped me understand the gospel. Ephesians 2 specifically was a chapter that aligned all the dots for me. Paul speaks of me in this chapter.
Ephesians 2:1-10 (ESV)
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
In ten short verses the Holy Spirit, through Paul, reminded me that I was a dead man walking in my sins. I deserved to die in those sins, yet because of His rich mercy me He saved us. What a wonderful gift we have in the Gospel.
Corinthians
This good news we have in Jesus. The salvation we received by grace is an amazing gift that is so simple but yet so amazing that anything else pales in comparison.
I like how Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 15
1 Corinthians 15:1-6 (ESV)
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
It is hard for me to imagine God’s perfect plan. I cannot commit to small tasks at times, yet Jesus never wavered. He set this example that I strive to emulate every day.
1 Peter
Look at first Peter as he speaks of faith and being born again.
1 Peter 1:3-9 (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Born again to an inheritance that we did not earn but was freely given. How can we not rejoice in that? Why would we not burst at the seams to tell others?
Temporary or Permanent
I ponder all these passages and look back at the wonderful gift of the gospel, and the darkness of settling for the things of this world by denying God and I cannot grasp it now, but I once was there, and he saved me. It is so easy to be deceived if we do not keep our eyes on the things of heaven. I think of the tail of Esau as it is laid out in Hebrews.
Hebrews 12:15-17 (ESV)
15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
Do we want to give up eternal salvation that we did not deserve for something as fleeting as some temporary desire of the flesh?
Closing Thoughts
I prefer to hold onto God’s promises. It is not easy, and it is not something we can do alone.
Ephesians 6:12-13 (ESV)
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.
The adversary will seek to silence us any way he can.
1 Peter 5:8-9 (ESV)
8 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
“Firm in our faith,” I cannot be silent about the gospel. Jesus gave all that believe a great commission in Matthew 18-20. It is clear that we are to share the gospel with others. There is another passage that I strive to meet as well in Psalms.
Psalms 40:9-10 (ESV)
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
Let me be bold in my testimony.
Prayer
Father, thank you for this gift of salvation that you have given through Your Son Jesus. Help me to share it boldly with everyone.
Psalms 40:9-10 (ESV)
9 I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.
In Jesus name, I pray, Amen!
