God's Wrath on Unrighteousness, Part III

"For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 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."

Romans 1:26-27

 

Because reprobate humanity has refused to worship and honor the one true God of the universe, He has allowed not only allowed, but foreordained their totally depraved natures to rule their lives. God, in His sovereignty, has seen fit that the unrighteous will pursue impurity until they die as a direct result of their sin.

A staple of an unregenerate society is their participation in and tolerance of homosexuality. Homosexuality is unnatural according to Scripture. It perverts the unity of the marital sexual relationship of a husband and wife (Genesis 2:24). Homosexuality is willing disobedience against God. The homosexual lifestyle is not only degrading to those involved in it, but more importantly it is degrading to God. As they continue to practice this debauchery, their sins keep adding up. Referring to this passage, John MacArthur writes, “Here the law of sowing and reaping takes effect, as Paul refers to the self-destructive nature of this sin, of which AIDS is one frightening evidence.”

The sanctity of marriage is an issue that Christians must continue to fight for. We may be labeled as intolerant bigots, but if we do not stand up for biblical marriage, who will? We must also speak out and condemn homosexuality, all the while calling for repentance and restoration to those seduced by this deadly lifestyle.

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness, Part II

"Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 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."

Romans 1:24-25

 

In continuing his diatribe against the unrighteous in his letter to the Romans, Paul writes that God has allowed these people to pursue impurity. In His sovereignty God has elected for certain individuals to continually and eternally reject Him. He has hardened their hearts so that it is impossible for them to believe in Him. Much like a judge hands over a prisoner to the warden after his conviction, so too does God hand over the reprobate to Satan. Satan tempts this person with a life filled with the lusts of their own selfish desires, resulting in a punishment of divine judgment.

But why would a benevolent, gracious, and merciful God allow people to fatally mire in their own sin? If He really loves His creation, why would He choose this fate for certain people? The answer is that sinful mankind rejects the truth of Christ that has been clearly revealed in many different forms (Romans 1:18-23). The truth is offensive. The reality of their sinful condition cuts to the bone. Therefore they have traded the truth for a lie, choosing to serve the god of their own desires and refusing to worship and give honor to the Almighty God, the Creator of all things. 

All mankind has been blinded by sin. But thank the Lord that He, in His sovereignty, has opened the minds of His elect through the conviction of the Holy Spirit. We would all be eternally doomed, wallowing in the filth of our own desires. But God has washed, sanctified, and justified His people through the death of His Son and the work of the Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:11).