Romans 1:28-32

Passage

And just as they did not genuinely reason to acknowledge God, God handed them over to a mindset that is not right to do that which morally should not be done, having been filled with all unrighteousness: wickedness, greed, malice, full of envy, murder, strife, treachery, maliciousness, gossiping, slandering, hatred of God, insolence, arrogance, boasting, scheming about evil, disobedience to parents, lacking insight, faithlessness, lacking intimate closeness, and mercilessness.  These ones – after knowing the requirement of God that the ones who do such things are worthy of death – not only do the same things but also give consent to the ones who do them.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

I’m going to belabor a point that I’ve now spoken on for three straight days.  Once more we see the word “paradidomi” (παραδίδωμι).  Once more Paul makes it clear to his readers that God handed them over.  God will take someone who does not consider it worthy to acknowledge Him and hand them over to their thinking.  It isn’t so much that God punishes them; He simply lets them walk away into the life and circumstances where their thoughts will lead them.  God desires us to walk with Him, but He will hand people over to their free will if they so desire it.

Now that we’ve heard Paul talk about this concept in three consecutive days, do you feel the importance of this point building?  Do you think God has handed you over in any aspect of your life?  What consequences have you felt by following your own will instead of drawing close to God?

Second Thought:

Paul also gives a tremendous list of sinfulness here.  I won’t repeat it all, but know that this is one of the most substantial and condemning lists of human behavior in all of God’s Word.  God has an issue with everything from scheming to gossiping to murder to being disobedient to one’s parents.  This list is the fruit of walking away from God.  When we stop following God we usually end up somewhere on this list.

Of that long list of sinful behavior, are there any that make repeat appearances in your life?  How can that knowledge be useful to you?  Are there any on that list that have yet to make any appearance in your life?  How can that information be useful to you?

Third Thought:

As Paul brings this point to a close, he says something rather interesting.  The pinnacle of his argument is directed at those who give approval to such behavior.  It is one thing to do sinful behavior to yourself.  But to give approval and lead others into sinfulness is even more abhorrent.  God has called us to walk beside one another and to look out for one another and not to push one another into a pit of sinfulness.  Yet that is often what we do when we choose sinful behavior for ourselves.  When we choose sin, we are more prone to help others find sin as well.

Where has your sinfulness led to giving others consent to be sinful?  How should you respond to this revelation today in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Romans 2:1-3