Bible Study Romans Part 39-God is Holding Us Back From Ourselves

Romans 1 doesn’t soften the edges, and neither do we. We open Paul’s argument where it gets uncomfortable: the wrath of God revealed against ungodliness, the way people suppress truth they already have, and why the Gospel isn’t spiritual self-help but rescue. We read the text closely and explain how creation, conscience, and gratitude fit into Paul’s case that no one stands innocent by accident. 

From there, we tackle one of the hardest phrases in the chapter: God “gave them up” or “gave them over.” We talk about restraint as mercy, commandments as protection, and the frightening possibility that persistent rebellion can reach a point where God allows us to feel the full weight of our choices. Along the way we connect spiritual drift to real-world fallout, using everyday examples of overindulgence and harm to show why sin never stays theoretical. 

We also address Romans 1:26–31, including Paul’s words on sexual behavior and the “reprobate” or “base” mind, then walk through the long list of downstream sins that follow when God is pushed out of the picture. We slow down to define older Bible terms in plain English and make the application personal, including a direct call to pray for loved ones who are far from God and a warning about what unchecked patterns do to families and communities. 

If you want a serious Bible study on Romans 1, Christian ethics, repentance, and the necessity of Salvation through Christ, press play. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review.

Transcript

Welcome And Why Scripture Matters

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Welcome to the program Study in the Chapel. God's Word is supreme at Chapel Ministries. We consider it absolutely essential to a proper relationship with God. We study it, we love it, we rely on it every minute of every day. The following program is an edited recording of the regular Bible studies we hold. And we decided to share these with you in the hope that you too will be able to find inspiration, encouragement, and ultimately salvation through discovering Christ in Scripture. Our intention is to travel all the way through the Bible. It will be a challenging journey, but one that will undoubtedly bring you to a decision. Through this study, you will be faced with either believing or rejecting what God has said to us. It is our intention to provide you with enough knowledge to make an informed decision about God and his word. We strongly encourage you to listen intently and diligently, because though at the moment you may not realize it, these things are truly a matter of life and death. In fact, these are matters of eternal life and eternal death. Never treat what God has said lightly. There's truly nothing more important to you. Now join us as we seek God's will through his inspired word.

Romans 1 Sets The Stakes

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Paul is laying out some very difficult truth here, and though we may not want to hear it, we need to hear it. This section serves to remind us that God has never given up on his standards of right and wrong. He is willing to allow us to learn to get in line with his ways of doing things, but at some point he'll give up. We're going to start at verse 18. I think one, somebody's mic is not muted, if you wouldn't mind checking to make sure your mics are muted. We are starting at verse 18 of Paul's letter to the Romans, verse 18 of the first chapter. Yes, we're still in the first chapter. We are at verse 18. I'm going to read several verses I will be reading out of the King James. So please follow along if you can in your own Bible. If you get a little lost because of this old King James language, you can look up at the screen and see where we are. Romans 1, 18, Paul's letter to the Romans chapter 1, verse 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who hold, it says, who hold truth in unrighteousness. It should say hold down the truth or suppress the truth in unrighteousness. This is Paul's explanation as to why we need the gospel. The gospel has been given to us because the wrath of God has been revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. We need to be saved from that wrath. Verse 19, because that which may be known of God is manifest in them, for God hath shown it unto them, for the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power in Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Verse 21, because that when they knew God they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man and to birds and four footed beasts and creeping things. Verse 24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies between themselves, who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator who is blessed forever. Amen. Next is verse 26, where we'll be talking, where we will begin, we will be beginning today.

Suppressing Truth And God’s Wrath

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For this cause God gave them up to vile affections, for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature. God simply stopped reminding them that they were sinners. He reached his limit, which seems impossible, which that alone makes this even more incredible. God reaches his end and decides to let them suffer the ramifications of their sin and rebellion. Listen to me. God's insistence on obedience is really more for our own sake than his own. He doesn't need anything. He doesn't need us to be obedient. God doesn't need anything from us. God to be God actually has no needs, as some old saint of the church once said. But instead, he knows the destructive nature of sin. Why he wants us to be obedient? Because he knows the destructive nature of sin and his commandments are designed to shield us from harm. Believe it or not, people think God is just a killjoy. God is helping us. But for some reason, he's not going to do that forever. Now I say for some reason, I know the reason. The reason is because of his justice. His justice will not allow him, allow him to let us sin unendingly. Verse 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 recompense of their error which was meat. Did you get that? God calls it their error. Men with men is their error. Does that sound like it's okay with him to have openly gay men and women in the pulpit? And actually, that's the nicest thing God has to say about homosexuality. He also says it's unseemly. That's just nice King James language for indecent. The original word means indecent. He says it's unnatural, it's against nature. In a word, it's perverted. God calls it vile. You know, you don't need me to explain that one to you, do you? And likewise, also the men leaving the natural use of the woman. Listen, the only way to see ambiguity in this is to close your mind to it completely. And that's the rebellion God is speaking of. God is clearly saying something, and the critics only want to see something other than that, which is incredibly obvious. They want to see something other than what is incredibly obvious. Men leaving the natural use of the woman could mean only one thing. The most natural use that men have of women is sexual. That is our nature. Men whom God has given up because of their rebellion, their refusal to see things God's way can end up leaving the natural use of women, which leads to this, burned in their lust, one toward another, men with men, working that which is unseemly. No ambiguity there. No need to try and explain this, because if you don't understand what Paul is plainly saying here, it's because you don't want to. And receiving in themselves that recompense of their error, which was meat. In other words, they get what they deserve. The result of the lust burning in men's hearts for other men, which is unseemly, causes them to receive the natural outcome of their error, their sin. Men with men doesn't work physically. Physically, there are ramifications for men with men. That's obvious as well. You don't need God telling you that. What they get was fitting. The King James says, meet. What they get is fitting. It's appropriate. When God restrains

When God Removes Restraint

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us, it's to protect us from these things. It's to protect us from the harm that naturally comes from our poor choosing. God didn't design us to do the things that we do. And I'm not just talking about homosexuality at this moment. God did not design us to abuse ourselves. When we abuse ourselves, when we abuse our nature, there are going to be consequences. Whether you like it or not, there are certain realities of human existence, certain laws of biology that cannot be ignored. And of course, God as the creator knows that better than anyone, and he manages all of us to protect us against those realities. When we resist him, when we ignore his warnings, disaster results. When you tell your four-year-old not to jump on the bed, it's because if he continues to do so, he will receive in himself that recompense of the error which was meet, which was appropriate for the disobedience, which means a bump on the noggin. Nothing could be clearer. Continuing to ignore God's warnings comes with great risks. God is warning us that there are natural barriers to uncontrolled behavior. Wantonly pursuing sin, excessive sin of any sort has natural consequences. Gluttony leads to heart disease, alcohol abuse destroys the liver, drugs permanently impair the brain, and sexual promiscuity leads to many diseases. All of those are natural responses to overindulgence. Verse 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 recompense of their error which was meet. They will receive the natural outcome, the inevitable result of their error, of their straying from the right and true proper use of our bodies. Ignoring God's warnings allows the natural course of things to take over. Now, by the way, God is not just interested in rebuking the homosexuals here in this section. Verse 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. Now let me give that verse to you out of the Amplified Bible because this one is full of that old-timey King James language. The words seem to be all bunched up against each other, which makes it a bit difficult to understand what God is saying. Verse 28 from the Amplified, this should help. And so, since they did not see

Romans 1 On Same Sex Desire

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fit to acknowledge God or approve of him or consider him worth the knowing, listen to this. God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent, but loathsome. Now, the only thing I would change here is the sense of time. This sort of thing doesn't happen immediately. God is patient and he will work with us. He will wait as long as his justice will allow him, but no more. The minute his righteousness, his honor, his word is at stake, that's it. The restraints are removed. Verse 29. This is what happens when God gives over the rebels to a base and condemned mind, a mind that can't even tell right from wrong anymore, can't figure out what is the best thing to do or not to do. You know people like this. Those that do things that aren't proper or decent but loathsome. Verse 29. Being filled, which means permeated, saturated, soaked through and through with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. That's quite a list. It is not all inclusive, but these are the sorts of things that God is coming against. This is the sorts of things that are natural to the unrepentant man. These are the things that happen, these are the behaviors that are the outcome for the most part of God leaving us to ourselves. When God pulls the restraints back, these are the sorts of things that will happen. Now I want to set aside a little time to go over some of the more obscure ones. Most of these you get, but a few might need to be explained. And some of them go by different names in our day, and that's what we'll cover here. I really don't want to take too long on these because, first of all, they're foul and disgusting, but you know, that's part of it. Those of us who've not been given up, given over by God to these things, are appalled by them. Those that God has turned over to vile affections, they don't see anything wrong with this list. Some may actually brag about it. That you know, that's what gets to me the people in our world that enjoy being disgusting. They parade it around, actually. In fact, they'll try and tell you that what they do is beautiful and it's expressive and it's liberating. Yeah, it's liberating, all right? God is liberating you to destroy yourself in your own sin. That's not the kind of liberty you want. He's given up on you, and that still scares me to say. And listen, I'm no paragon of morality. If you do a little research into my background, you'll find out how true that is. But at least I know it and I want to change. Those that are no longer under God's restraint go after these things headlong. Let's see how quickly we can clear some of these vague-ish descriptions we find here in the King James. We'll start at the top. You know what righteousness is. No need to go any further into that one. Fornication is an interesting one. It may not be what you think it is, it's not what you've been told it is. Most

Natural Consequences Of Overindulgence

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people think fornication means sex before marriage, but it doesn't, at least not in the New Testament. The original word is pornea, and it refers to prostitution, both those that conduct it and those that solicit it. Wickedness you get, covetousness you get. You know what it means to be malicious, just unkind and ugly to others, bringing chaos into lives of those around you because of your angry, sad view of life. We all know that type, don't we? Listen, when God has released his hands from your life because of your rebellion, the result of God giving you over, is that these things then become your life. And the full force of all of the ramifications of these awful things will come crashing down on you someday if they haven't already. And by the way, let me just pause for a second. This is the importance of being a Christian in a family that isn't Christian. People that don't practice Christianity like you do. Our responsibility is to pray for those because we know this is what's waiting for them. And by the way, all of this is earthly things. It's going to be the best actual experience they'll have for eternity. Because once they leave this life, they'll look back and see, geez, I wish I could have been eaten up with my sins before, because they'll be in hell. We must pray for our loved ones. We must pray for them earnestly and unstoppingly. We cannot give up on them because, as I said, we know this is what's waiting for them. You don't want them to fall into this trap. More than likely, because of your current prayers, God has not given them up yet. But he will give them up, even despite your prayers. But never, never, never you give up. You don't know when God has had enough with them or not. Keep on going as if they're still under God's control. You must, we must pray for our sinning loved ones. All right, let's continue with the list. There is full of envy, which just means replete with

A Reprobate Mind Explained

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envy, eaten up with envy. Envy is one of the Bible's most hated sins. And why not? Envy shows a complete lack of appreciation for what God has graciously given you. Being angry that others have what you don't is downright insulting to the one who is your provider. Well, it's going to consume you when God removes himself from your thinking. The complete word study dictionary defines the original Greek word this way. It's rather frightening, at least to me. It means, according to that dictionary, quote, malignity conceived at the site of excellence or happiness. There is nothing more revolting than someone who can't stand the sight of someone else who's happy. Again, we know plenty of people like this. What else? Referring still to Romans 1. twenty nine, thirty, and thirty one. You don't need murder explained to you. You know what that is? Let's say it again. When God withdraws his restraint, the most awful traits of the human heart bubble up without restriction. No longer do you seek peaceful resolution with those that oppose you. All you care about is your own good and your own viewpoint and your own advantage. Anyone that stands in your way is an enemy and the human way, the human reaction, as Cain taught us, is to eliminate all threats permanently. I'll say it again. It's scary. Do you want to live like this? I hope you're saying no to what I consider a rhetorical question. In the King James, the next one is listed as debate. That one definitely needs some modification. In most of your Bibles, it'll say strife. That's much easier to understand. Have you ever met that kind of person who just can't get along with anyone? On very rare occasions, Catherine will come home and tell me that she got into an argument or a row with someone either at work or in traffic or at some event somewhere. And it shocks me because who couldn't get along with her? She is so kind and so gracious and so humble, I just can't understand who could ever have a problem with her. Well, they must be this strife type. Are you saying you've never argued with my wife, with your wife? No

The Long List Of Sins

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answer for you. God is so far distant from them, they can't even have a civil conversation with the sweetest people among us. It's sad. Some people see a fight everywhere. Next is deceit, trick tricksters for profit. We have a lot of those today. We have them in the pulpit. To the point that we've stopped trusting the things we read. We stop trusting the things people tell us, the promises people make. Next is malignity. The original word means bad character. That's what Strong's dictionary says. The word study dictionary uses phrases like evil, ill-natured. These are just those nasty people you meet who see the world through dark eyes. Everything is an opportunity to enrich themselves. Everyone they come across is a threat to their place up front. In their mind, all is aligned to keep them down. So attack first and ask questions later. Do unto others before they do unto you. Again, you know the type, I'm sure. Next in the King James, there's the word whisperers. Most of you in your Bibles have the word gossip. Strong's dictionary says this means calumniator. Now, I don't know what that is, but it's fun to say. A whisperer is a secret slanderer. We might even say a backstabber. We all have experience with someone like this, don't we? And I hate to say it. Most congregations are filled with these offenders. For some reason, church attracts the whisperer type. If this is the way you are, then you should realize, listen to me, that this is a characteristic of someone God has given up on. Now, I'm not saying all gossips fall into that category. Most do not. I'm only bringing it up because I want you to know that gossiping is one of those ugly human traits that come from the natural, unrestrained heart of a sinner. Now I'm talking to myself as much as to any of you. Verse 30 in King James starts out with an enigmatic one, backbiters. This also means a type of gossiping, which proves my above point. God lists that category of sin twice. God hates gossip. Now, these are not the same words in the Greek, but they are similar in meaning. I think in this case, it's probably best to think of a backbiter as someone who is openly slanderous, someone who comes right out with the insults and the slurs, someone who doesn't have any social filter whatsoever. And I think because of that, this is a much more active and damaging ugliness. This is a focused, ongoing, vicious attack on someone else's character. Now, John, why are we going to so much trouble on these? Well, because I think that this gives us an idea of how those under God's authority should not act. If you're a Christian, you shouldn't be engaged in any of this. And if you are, stop. These things are characteristic

Defining Terms Like Fornication And Envy

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of a rebel against God. No one should be able to level a charge of any of these things against the true child of heaven. If you are regularly committing any of this ugliness, it's time to get right again with God. Okay, what's next? We're not going through them all, just the ones that might need a little explanation. We all know a few haters of God. I think that covers most of the scientific community and a pretty good percentage of Hollywood. According to the Cambridge Commentary, the translation of the original phrase, the Greek to English, should be more like hateful to God. Now, you may think that's just splitting hairs, but I'm not so sure. Haters of God seem more passive. Hateful to God sounds like an overt effort to discredit him, harm him, bring him to shame. And you tell me, hasn't that not been the goal of science for the past 300 years? Now I've used the following quote before, but it seems like the perfect place to bring it up again. In nineteen fifty-seven, Dorsey Hager made the following statement to the Utah Geological Society. Quote The most important responsibilities of the geologists involve the effect of their findings on the mental and spiritual lives of mankind. Goodness, I didn't know rocks were so important. Mr. Hager continues, early geologists fought to free people from the myths of biblical creation. Many millions still live in mental bondage, controlled by ignorant ranters who accept the Bible as the last word in science and accept Archbishop Usher's claim that the earth was created in 4004 BC. I think you'll agree with me that Mr. Hager is not a fan of God. Richard Hawkins, the well-known British evolutionary biologist, is a great example of a hater to God, hateful to God, as Paul classifies them. As usual, if you want an expression of how ugly science is toward the important feelings lovers of God have, one need only quote Richard Dawkins. Here's one of his more nasty comments. This is the perfect illustration of someone who, as I described it, actively engages in overt efforts to denigrate God. Listen to this. Quote, I don't really don't like to read this, but I want you to get the point. It's a horrible idea that God, this paragon of wisdom and knowledge, power, couldn't think of a better way to forgive us our sins than to come down to earth in his alter ego as his son and have himself hideously tortured and executed so that he could forgive himself. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools. Thank you, Professor Dawkins, for always making it easy for me to make my point. Next, we all know what it means to be despiteful. Those that's someone who's just mean. Again, plenty of examples in most of our lives. Proud, the original Greek, literally means those who put themselves above others,

Gossip And Character Sins In Church

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a boaster. Here's a good one. Inventors of evil things. The most obvious characteristic of sin is its insatiableness. It's actually rather frightening. But those who have completely lost any connection with God are doomed to wander from one unseemly appetite to another. When one lust loses its appeal, another one is immediately sought. And too often that means coming up with something even more offensive, more repulsive, and more disgusting. And that pattern continues and the disgusting increases on and on and on until the descent of that person is beyond belief. Now I'm not going to give you any examples of that. Number one, because I don't think you need any. And number two, I'm not sure if I could stomach the descriptions of some of this stuff. As I said, I'm sure you know what I mean. Now, the last one listed here in verse 30 is disobedient to parents. Each successive generation is convinced that this is a far worse problem than in any of the previous generations. You know, kids today, that's the official slogan of parents of teenagers and always has been. Everyone thinks, you know, in my day, we didn't dare back sass our parents. Well, I'm not so sure things are all that different today than they've been, maybe more out in the open, but this is no modern problem. This, I'm sure, goes all the way back to those very first parents. Cain, no murdering your brother today. Okay, mom, gosh. Listen to me. To be included on this list must mean this is one of mankind's most dangerous sins. And indeed it is. I've said over and over in this ministry

Hostility Toward God In Culture

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that the Bible treats the family as the backbone of human society. And the key to the strength of that backbone is its structure. As we've discussed when we were in the letter to the Ephesians, God has established a definite hierarchy. And whenever we alter what God has established, we do so at great peril. Whenever the inmates are in charge of the asylum, bad things happen. It's not just that nothing can get done, it's that great dangers arise. Whoever said democracy doesn't apply in his family uttered wisdom unshakable. And friends, listen to me, by the way. The responsibility for this sin doesn't just rest with the guilty child. Disobedience to parents can be, it isn't always, of course, but it can be just as much the fault of the parents as it is their offspring. Listen to me, this is one of our time's most pernicious problem. I sincerely believe that we parents must foster an environment in our home where this sin cannot grow. Establish and enforce proper roles in the family, establish and enforce acceptable and non-acceptable or unacceptable modes and methods of communication, and establish and enforce rules designed to advance the smooth running of the household. And all of that includes an insistence on obedience. Do not make it easy for your children to fall into this God-hated sin. Well, I think we're all about through for today, aren't we? As I said, not a pleasant section of scripture, but very necessary. Now we're almost finished with this chapter, believe it or not. Please join us next time and see if we

Disobedience At Home And Closing

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can't wrap this one up. See you then.

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We hope this study has blessed you. God's word is a great treasure, and it's our belief that a thorough, purposeful study of it will bring all of God's children to an understanding of his eternal plan of redemption. It is our prayer that this will be so for all of our listeners. Please join us again soon. New content is being added all the time, so make sure you check back often. For more information on Chapel Ministries, including our YouTube channel and podcasts, please visit www.chapelontheweb.com. And if God has laid it upon your heart to share materially with us, we encourage you to follow the links to our secure giving page. Please note, Chapel Ministries is not an IRS-registered nonprofit organization, and your donations to this program are not tax deductible. It's our hope that you do not rely on taxing authorities to decide for you who is worthy of your generosity.