Romans 1:24-32
Lesson #6 of Romans
By Pastor Ronnie Wolfe

God Gave Them Up To Uncleanness

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

Since these wicked ones changed the glory of the incorruptible God into images of man and beast, God gave them over. They were already committed in their denial of God, and they were determined to do all they could to deny him and to live wickedly in his presence.

They were already living in uncleanness, so God turned them over to this uncleanness in which they were wallowing. He delivered them up, or delivered into their own power to do what they so desired to do.

Lusts of the flesh are natural and must be kept in check if they are to be used properly. But the lusts of the heart are very much deeper. These lusts are deep in the soul and reject the very restraints that God puts upon us to protect us from irreversible harm.

Their sin had gone further than physical activity. It was so ingrained in their lives that their complete nature had changed to live in uncleanness by instinct.

This uncleanness had an effect upon the physical practice of these wicked ones. They did not understand or desire to know the restrictions that God has put upon the practice of certain human habits, so they did whatever was right in their own eyes.

They dishonored their own bodies. They abused the very bodies that God had created for them and would have blessed them with if they had only heeded his instruction.

They did things between themselves that were unheard of on a social level until men get to the point where God is eliminated from their minds.

In our own society, there is no wonder that so many perverted things are going on, since in our society there are those who teach that we do not need God and that his mention should be censured on every level.

One day God will give them over to their uncleanness, and they will be able to abound in their sin.

Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin [is] a reproach to any people.

Let us pray that God will intervene in our country and cause us as believers to stand for his word so that God will not give this nation over to uncleanness.

When God gives these people up to do their own lusts, he also gives them up to a very serious judgment from his own hand.

Changing Truth Into A Lie

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Of course, we know that God’s truth cannot literally be turned into a lie. What he means here is that these wicked ones live a lie, not hearkening to the truth of God, living what in essence is a lie.

These wicked ones worshiped and served the creation more than the Creator. Some worshiped trees, rocks, wooden idols, animals, etc. Some worshiped certain men whom they admired. Our worship and service is reserved for God alone.

The Creator is Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

So, these wicked ones did not want to worship Jesus Christ, so they worshiped themselves and animals and idols of all kinds.

God Gave Them Up To Vile Affections

The Women

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

Now Paul gets very specific as to what things they were doing that were unclean. He calls them "vile affections."

The word "vile" means dishonoring, reproachful, shameful.

The Greek word for "affections" is the word PATHOS. It basically means "feelings." So, God gave them over to "shameful feelings." Sometimes we call these feelings "lusts."

Now, he begins with the women, which have a natural use as far as these "affections" are concerned. They are to love and be loved by a husband and are to give him "due benevolence"

1 Corinthians 7:3 Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.

But this was not being practiced among these wicked ones. They were changing their natural use into that which is against nature.

So the Bible tells us that some things are natural and other things are not natural. These wicked ones were having unnatural feelings one for the other.

Now, if it is natural for a man and woman to have "feelings" one for the other and to come together in marriage and have children together, then that which is against nature would be something different from this beautiful bond of love and the reproduction of children, producing a wonderful and natural family.

God Gave Them Up To Vile Affections

The Men

27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

The women were not the only ones who left the natural way. The men, also, left the natural use of the woman. That natural use is marriage and children, one man and one woman.

Having left God’s natural way of marriage and love, they began to burn in themselves toward one another: men with men.

Before this could happen, they had to first leave the natural way, the way that God ordained in the beginning.

After they left God’s way, then they were free to exercise their lusts upon one another. This is unnatural.

They worked that which is "unseemly" or unfitting or unnatural.

By doing this they have received the recompense (or payment) of their sin (or error) which is meet, or fitting. It is only fitting and proper that God should bring judgment against this wickedness, since to commit these sins one must put God out of his mind and reject his existence and his sovereignty.

God Out Of The Mind

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

They did not want to retain God in their knowledge. They wanted to take his name out of history, out of the textbooks, out of religion, out of heart and mind.

Because of this, God gave them over to a "reprobate" mind. The word "reprobate" means cast away or rejected. God gave them over to a mind of their own rather than being under the restraint of a merciful and longsuffering God.

As a result, they can pretty well do whatever they want, and God will not bring swift judgment upon them.

These sins he says are "not convenient." By that he means that these sins are not fitting for God’s created beings, his human counterparts, for we were created in his likeness.

But they have stomped upon that image and have marred it even further than Adam did when he sinned in the Garden of Eden.

Character of the Reprobate

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

Now that God has given them up to a reprobate mind to do things that are not fitting by nature, we notice how their character gets worse and worse.

Their character now is filled with all kinds of unrighteousness, which is a general term for all kinds of sin, forgetting that God even exists.

Fornication is sexual sin. We call it promiscuity. It is just a matter of being sexually active in the wrong way. The Bible is very clear about sexual matters, and we as God’s children do not need to allow the world to tell us how to think or live sexually.

Remember, one man, one woman in marriage only. This is the happy way to live, and God will bless that kind of life.

Read the rest of the words in verse 29 and 30. These are all characteristics of the wicked ones who have been given up by God for restraint. He no longer convicts them or reminds them; he simply allows them to continue in the sin they love so much.

Verse 31 tells us that they have no understanding, they do not keep their promises, and they have no natural affections, because their affections have been twisted and marred by the lusts in which they live daily.

They are "implacable." This means they cannot be persuaded to change their ways, but they want to change laws to agree with their behavior. They also want to make their way of life the normal way of life.

Worthy of Death

32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

The Bible says in Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin [is] death; .... When these wicked ones commit these sins, they are worthy of death, both physical death (which many times is brought about by the very sins they so much enjoy) and spiritual death, which God brings as a direct judgment upon these sins.

They actually know by nature that these sins can bring forth death physically. Note the problem with AIDS today. These wicked ones know that it is a fact, but that does not sway them to recant and turn from their sin.

Their sin is so hideous that, not only do they enjoy performing these sins, but they have pleasure in others to do the same things even though they know it will bring death.

Remember, birds of a feather flock together. They are not satisfied with being able to do whatever they please, but they also desire that their shameful acts be legalized and forced upon others in society so that their sin can be popularized and made acceptable.

This is happening on a grand scale in our country. Most magazines advertise this kind of life. Most TV programs and movies advertise this lifestyle. Even religion is sometimes playing a part in advertising this worldly and sinful lifestyle.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.

This is the only body you have. Don’t waste it on riotous living. Respect your body as a living sacrifice to God. He created it for you, and he will bless you if you will use it for him. God has a wonderful and prosperous and happy life for you if you will just live it according to his rules. He made rules for our happiness and joy, not just to keep us from having a good time.

Salvation opens up a brand new dimension for use for our bodies. If you are not saved, today repent of your sins and believe on the Lord, Jesus Christ, for the remission of your sins. You will see that I am right. If you live for the Lord, you will never need to put a shameful head on your pillow at night, but you can face every day with assurance and confidence that you have done the right thing, and God will bless you for it.

But before God gives you up to vile affections to do those things which are not convenient or fitting: before God turns you loose for the demons of hell to take charge of your whole life; before you fall headlong in these despicable sins mentioned in this chapter, turn to him who will have compassion and mercy on you and save your soul from sin.

Then give your body to him as a living sacrifice. You will never have any better joy than to know that Jesus Christ is your Savior.