We are reading these difficult, challenging and demanding verses in Romans Chapter 1verses 18 to 32 . A modern translation helps us to hear afresh what God is saying and enables us to see how relevant it is.
Remember this is the truth of God - the Word of God - where we have read that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness - against people who live as though God did not exist - and against unrighteousness or wickedness - people who suppress or stifle - or hold down in chains - confine - suffocate - The Word of God - the Truth of God.
When the truth of God is suppressed man turns to idols - and this causes God to be angry - and GOD gives men up to immorality.
The brakes are OFF - the car rushes downhill - and after a while it crashes.
Men refused to glorify God - worship Him - or thank Him. Their mind went blank - their heart went dark.
Jesus said - You shall worship the Lord Your God with all your heart and mind and soul.
It is NOT the immorality in the world God reacts to - it is the idolatry!
It is not simply our behaviour - but the FACT that people have given HIM up!
Our nation has given God up - whether unconsciously or deliberately - preferring to worship something He made, or which they have made.
How does God show His anger? What does He do about the situation? When men give God up, God gives men up - verses 24,26, and 28.
"I have to say it three times."
God gives men up and they turn to immorality. We have this picture of sinful fallen human nature - when the brakes are off and we go down the slope increasingly quicker and faster to ultimate ruin. This is how man sinks.
Men ruin themselves. God allows it. Men are dragged down by sin - as sin affects every area of life. What happens to a man's body when God takes the brakes off?
1 - There arise wrong desires in my nature - and when you take the lid off it is difficult to put it back on again - and shut off that area. When God takes His Restraining Hand off the natural lusts that are there already - they come out – and man shows his real self - and one consequence is deep pain. When the reigns come off there is unbridled lust.
2 - Male and female complement each other - this is God's Plan - God's Will. But - when man gives God up man no longer adheres to God's Plan – and limitations and restrictions. Moral corruption is the consequence of rebellion to God. One of the first signs of society declining is when male and female relationships alter.
Women dress and behave like men - and men become effeminate - and it is not funny - but it is used in humour and society slowly accepts it. Roles are confused.
It is the first stage in deterioration in society. And sin develops and grows and takes on other manifestations - men with men - women with women - until the partnership is broken - and relationships become confused and mixed up.
They receive in their personalities the results and consequences of these relationships - the wages of sin is death - moral sin - spiritual sin - physical sin.
It all begins with disobedience to God - then we have a debased behaviour and conduct.
The first great sin is the breaking of the first Commandment.
The Gospel is the power of God to save us from all of this and also from what follows.
“Almighty God – loving heavenly Father – we pray for the world – for those nations which have turned from You and Your Word – and for those people have never really heard the Gospel – that Jesus Christ forgives and heals and rescues and restores. As we pray for others, give us the strength and courage to stand by Your Word and for the truth of Your Word – in Jesus Name. Amen”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.