Augustine - “tolle lege” - pick it up and read
Romans 13:13-14
13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 1:18-32
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
This passage breaks into 4 parts that I want to look at:
1. vs 18-20 - Revelation of wrath
2. vs 21-23 - An exchange
3. vs 24-31 - Three movements of wrath
4. vs 32 - Conclusion
1. Vs 18-20 - Revelation of wrath
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
2. Vs 21-23 - An exchange
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
exchanged God for idols
Human nature is a perpetual factory of idols…
Surely, just as waters boil up from a vast, full spring, so does an immense crowd of gods flow from the human mind, while each one, in wandering about with too much license, wrongly invents this or that about God himself.
-John Calvin
3. Vs 24-31 - Three movements of wrath
vs 24 - Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts…
vs 26 - Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts…
vs 28 - Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind…
Judges 2:14
So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers, who plundered them. And he sold them into the hand of their surrounding enemies, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies.
Psalm 106:40-41
Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage;
he gave them into the hand of the nations,
so that those who hated them ruled over them.
Psalm 81:11-12
“But my people did not listen to my voice;
Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts,
to follow their own counsels.
Paul is not placing the blame on God for human sin but is maintaining that, when we insist on our own way, God allows human folly to run its natural course without preventing its inevitable consequences. In fact, God gives us what we explicitly or implicitly desire: freedom from God. But such freedom from the true Lord means being governed by another lord, either ourselves or some third party. All of this is part of what Paul means when he speaks of the revelation of the wrath of God.
-Michael Gorman
God ceased to hold the boat as it is dragged by the current of the river.
-Godet
4. Conclusion
32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
Romans 3:21-24
But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Tim Mackie - Unconditioned Grace
Communion
Small Group Discussion Questions:
Small Group Questions: Romans 1:18-32
Opening Discussion
• What stood out to you the most from the sermon?
• Have you ever had a moment in nature or creation where you felt like God was clearly revealing Himself? Share your experience.
Part 1: Revelation of Wrath (vs. 18-20)
Scripture: “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen…”
1. How does creation reveal God’s power and divine nature? Can you think of examples from your life where you’ve experienced this?
2. What does it mean to “suppress the truth by wickedness”? Why do you think people might choose to do this?
3. Verse 20 says people are “without excuse.” How do you understand this in light of God’s revelation through creation?
Part 2: An Exchange (vs. 21-23)
Scripture: “They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.”
1. What does this passage teach us about the human tendency to create idols?
2. John Calvin said the human mind is a “perpetual factory of idols.” What are some modern-day idols we are tempted to worship instead of God?
3. How can we guard our hearts against exchanging God’s glory for something lesser?
Part 3: Three Movements of Wrath (vs. 24-31)
Scripture: “Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts…”
1. What does it mean that “God gave them over”? How does this reveal God’s wrath?
2. Michael Gorman suggests that when we insist on our own way, God allows us to experience the consequences of our choices. Have you seen this principle at work in your life or in others?
3. How does understanding God’s wrath help us better appreciate His grace?
Part 4: Conclusion (vs. 32)
Scripture: “They not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
1. What does it look like in our culture today to “approve of” sin? Why do you think this is such a serious issue?
2. How does this passage lead us to reflect on the need for Jesus and the hope we find in Romans 3:21-24?
Application
1. In light of this passage, where do you see God’s wrath and grace at work in your life today?
2. Are there areas of your life where you feel tempted to suppress God’s truth or exchange His glory for something else? What steps can you take this week to seek His righteousness instead?
3. How can you lovingly challenge others who may be approving of sin in their lives or culture?
Prayer
Spend time praying together:
• Thank God for revealing Himself through creation and Scripture.
• Ask for help in identifying and removing idols in your life.