When I saw a preview of Chip and Joanna Gaines’ new television show last month I was a little taken aback. The show, “Back to the Frontier,” features three families who are temporarily living as 19th-century homesteaders, without modern conveniences, including electricity. At first glance, you’d think it had all of the makings of a wholesome new family show. However, it didn’t take long to figure out that in place of a traditional family, one of the three families includes a homosexual male couple with adopted twin boys. Why would a couple, who claim to be Christian, choose to do this? 

So, I did what I often do when something weighs on my mind, I wrote about it. I titled it “Someplace Wonderful,” which was based on a quote from one of their books. I have a signed copy of that book from when I met Chip back in 2017.  I had long been a fan of their “Fixer Upper” TV show, Chip’s humor, and Joann’s creative decorating style. I used the quote with the hope that they would perhaps consider their ways; reconsider their decision and take a biblical stance on homosexuality. I also hoped that they’d take this opportunity to do a work for God; to “build” something for Him. Sigh….

But, enough about Chip and Joanna.

When we see people attempting to normalize that which the Bible condemns as sin, our first thoughts may be that it’s a sign of the times, which very well may be true. However, sexual sin and immorality have long been around. In fact, the apostle Paul, addressed these same concerns with the early church. Paul was God’s chosen instrument to carry God’s name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. (Acts 9:15) 

So, this month I’m continuing on the same topic but with specific emphasis on what the Bible has to say, particularly Romans 1:18-32.  In short these verses apply to all unbelievers, aka pagans.  Although written initially to the Gentiles, these verses explain God’s wrath, the sins and guilt of the unbelieving Gentiles and their decline from idolatry to depravity. 

The overall theme of Romans 1:18-32 is, “God gave them up” as God’s wrath was a wrath of divine abandonment. He gave up all those who were dishonoring Him and gave them up to dishonor their own selves. Essentially, He set them free to do what they ought not to do. 

While one may think it a great thing to be free to do whatever you want to do, there is actually no greater slavery than to be given up to one’s own lusts.

Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who practices sin is a slave to sin.” John 8:34 

Ten things to consider about Romans 1:18-32

First, God revealed the truth of who He is. 

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Romans 1:19-20 

God revealed the truth of who He is by general revelation of His invisible attributes. 

He also made His existence and character known through divine nature. 

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Psalm 19:1-4

Second, they suppressed the truth of God and Third, God’s wrath was revealed.

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.” Romans 1:18 

The suppression of God’s truth was a result of man’s ungodliness and unholiness.  It’s not that people were ignorant of the truth of God.  God had already made His truth known through His revelations, nonetheless, they chose to suppress the truth of God. 

God’s wrath is a holy, just, and righteous anger. The suppression of God’s truth produces the wrath of God. The Bible explains that a society’s moral decay is evidence of God’s wrath being revealed. 

Fourth, their hearts were darkened. 

“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” Romans 1:21

“And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” John 3:19-20 

Those who love the darkness are offended by the light. In particular, they like their sin and don’t like it being called out as such.

Fifth, they failed to acknowledge God. 

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.” Romans 1:28

When people ignore God, they’re essentially denying Him. All while choosing not to believe, thank, honor, worship, or even acknowledge Him.  

Sixth, they worship idols instead of God. 

“Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” Romans 1:22-23

Those who choose not to acknowledge God, invariably choose to believe and worship someone or something else. 

And, they “worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.” (Romans 1:25) 

The worship of anyone or anything other than God is idolatry, which God will not tolerate. All those who worship something other than the true God are guilty before God and they are, as in the words of verse 20, “without excuse.”

Seventh, they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and Eighth, God gave them over to sexual sin. 

“Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” Romans 1:24-25

Ninth, God gave them over to degrading passions. 

“For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Romans 1:26-27

Tenth, God gave them over to a depraved mind.

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. Romans 1:28-32. 

The essence of a depraved mind is found not only in the sin, but in the continuance of the sin, the affirmation of the sin, and the strive to give approval to others to do the same sin, all while they suppress the truth of God. 

In summary, 

• God revealed the truth of who He is. 
• They suppressed the truth of God. 
• God’s wrath was revealed. 
• Their hearts were darkened. 
• They failed to acknowledge God.
• They worshiped idols instead of God. 
• They exchanged the truth for a lie.
• God gave them over to sexual sin. 
• God gave them over to degrading passions.
• God gave them over to a depraved mind.

God gave them up. He left them to do what they ought not to do.

In short, the bad news is, 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

And, “the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23a

But the Good News is, 

“The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23b

It is when we realize that we are a sinner in desperate need of the Savior, and have turned from sin and turned to Christ in faith, and by the goodness and loving kindness of God that we “are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 3:24) 

In God’s perfect plan of salvation, Jesus took our place and paid the penalty for our sins. It was by His precious blood shed on the cross that He made a way for all who will believe. 

At my age, I’ve lived through the sexual revolution of the 60’s and 70’s; the women’s movement, the homosexual revolution, and the subsequent HIV/AID’s epidemic of the 80’s and 90’s; the increase of the acceptance of premarital sex and same-sex sexual activity and increased feminist activism of the 2000’s. All the way up to today where we have legalized same sex marriage, transgender dysphoria in adults and children, drag queen story hours, etc. and, all of which and more, are seemingly growing in popularity.

We also have a growing number of “Christian” leaders who have departed from the truth of the Bible in exchange for the ways of the world. It’s so much easier to go-along to get-along, isn’t it, but at what cost?

So, I realize the topics and the verses I’ve shared here are not popular in today’s society.

however, 

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16