Romans 1:28

Romans 1:28 says, 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;  We do not have to listen hard today to hear people express the thought that there is no God.  Again, especially in my generation, there was the God is dead movement. There are definitely people today who don't even want to keep God in their knowledge.  Some feel they are just too smart to believe in what they call wishful thinking or a fairy tale.  We as God's followers may even have times when we don't want to retain Him in our thoughts.  If we start to stray from His will for our lives, we do not want to think about God.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  Verse thirty continues, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  Verse thirty-one states, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  We should notice that the first thing on this long list of sinful actions is unrighteousness.  Since righteousness comes only from God, when we refuse to acknowledge Him, then we begin to fall deeper into sin. Sin affects every aspect of our lives.  We know today that sexual temptation is rampant in America especially, but right after this Paul lists wickedness and covetousness.  Some people today are just plainly wicked or evil, and we say they should be condemned, but what about those who covet?  We never really want to classify what we do as coveting, but we often desire what others have.  Without God, people become malicious and full of envy.  We do not generally take these sins as seriously as we do others but notice that Paul placed them before the next sin, which is murder.  Again, we often attempt to rate sins as big sins or little sins, which are not considered as bad.  We must remember though that the penalty for any sin is the same.  The list goes on and is not all inclusive, I'm sure.  We should note that disobedience to parents is listed ahead of unnatural affections.  I believe Paul's message to us is that without God, sin abounds in all things.  Verse thirty-two adds, 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. We cannot claim ignorance.  Knowing the judgment of God, we still not only rebel against Him, but we delight in those who do.  Just as an example, how often do we want to hear the latest gossip and enjoy the way it portrays another?  God expects us to honor Him in all things, and actions such as this does not.

Romans 1:24

Romans 1:24 says, Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves.  There is no sadder place to be than to be given up by God.  When God removes His grace from a person, or a nation, there is no hope.  We may like to think that this means that that person or nation is going to suffer in a material way, but God is speaking of giving them up to their own spiritual uncleanliness. There are nations today that deny even the existence of God, like China, that are very powerful and prosperous, but they are spiritually dead.  Even in America, there are many people who deny God exists or make their own gods of wealth and power who prosper materially. Verse twenty-five adds, 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.  This continues with the effects of God giving people up to the lusts of their own hearts.  My generation had a saying, If it feels good, do it.  Though maybe not expressed as openly today, that is what happens when we change God's truth into our own.  We worship the creature more than the Creator, Who is blessed forever.  Now, we may choose not to bless Him, but that does not mean He is not blessed.  God's goodness, nor His nature, does not depend on how we view Him.  No matter what we try to replace God with, whether manmade idols or material goods, nothing can ever replace God and will ultimately let us down.  Verse twenty-six continues, 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:  Verse twenty-seven concludes, 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.  God gave them up to vile affections.  The example given is homosexuality, since Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed for their great sinfulness, of which this was an example.  Secular America today seems to almost promote this lifestyle, while Christians see it as one of the greatest sins.  We need to realize that this is but one sin when God allows people to live by their own desires.  We also need to realize that any sin separates us from God, and that God will always love even the worst of sinner.  Until we acknowledge God, we can expect that we as individuals or as a nation will only slip deeper into sin.

Romans 1:21

Romans 1:21 says, 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.  I believe that Paul was pointing out the fundamental problem for mankind since the garden of Eden.  It is not that people do not know God, but that when they do, the become vain in their thoughts and their hearts are darkened.  People choose to follow their own desires.  Adam and Eve did not sin because of a lack of an understanding of God, but because they thought that they could be like Him.  When people fail to acknowledge God today, it is because they want to be in charge of their own fate, but this is a vain thought.  God will always be in charge of His creation, and that includes the everlasting fate of mankind.  For that reason, God sent Jesus to be our Redeemer.  Verse twenty-two adds, Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.  We today, especially in the powerful nations, come up with ideas and inventions that make us feel very wise, but we forget what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes, and that is true wisdom comes only from God.  So, when we declare that there is no God or if there is He is nothing important, we become as fools.  Once again, to refer back to Solomon, he said that the fool said in his heart that there is no God. When we feel that we are too smart to believe in God and view the world was a cosmic accident, then we are truly acting as a fool.  The mere fact that we pronounce ourselves to be wiser than God points to our greatest foolishness, as we see next.  Verse twenty-three continues, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.  No matter what idol we make to worship, it is corruptible and cannot represent God, Who is incorruptible.  Even if we worship the image of, or a man himself, we are changing the glory of God to something corruptible.  This is the greatest evidence of our foolishness.

Romans 1:18

Romans 1:18 says, For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Paul had just said that the just shall live by faith, and now he speaks of God's reaction to those who do not come to God by faith in Christ.  God deplores sin, and it separates mankind from Him.  If we will not accept God's salvation made available to all through Christ, then we face His wrath.  I don't believe we can interpret this to mean that God is just waiting to punish unrepentant sinners, but that He allows people to go forever out of the protection of His love and into the consequences of their sins.  We hear people say that they don't believe that a loving God could send people to hell, and He doesn't.  He simply allows them to go if they so choose. We, as followers of Christ, should never take pleasure in the fact that anyone is bound for hell.  If we feel that they are finally getting what they deserve, then what of us?  We only have hope through Christ taking on the penalty for our sins, no matter how big or small.  This verse points out a very important truth, and that is that ungodliness and unrighteousness will be dealt with, either through Christ or our own ability, which is nothing.  Sin can never be ignored.  Verse nineteen adds, Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.  Paul tells us that we are without excuse.  God makes Himself known to mankind, and there is no one who can say they didn't know or have a chance.  We in America have it so easy compared to many in the world.  Since we profess ourselves to be a Christian nation, we certainly have ample opportunity to hear the gospel.  Yet so many choose to not believe. We cannot say God did not make Himself known to us.  Verse twenty continues, 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 and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Paul says that from the creation of the world, the world itself has been a witness to the existence of God.  We cannot look at the world or the universe without acknowledging that there is a powerful Creator Who also sustains it.

Romans 1:14

Romans 1:14 says, I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.  Paul did not consider that others owed him anything, but instead that he was a debtor to all. These people may not have liked each other, but Paul said he was indebted to them both.  His debt was because of the sacrifice of Christ, and the payment was to preach the gospel.  This does not mean Paul or anyone could buy salvation, but that he lived his live out of gratitude to God.  The Greeks considered themselves superior to all others in wisdom, but whether the people considered themselves to be wise or unwise, both needed to hear the gospel.  Paul did not speak to both groups the same way, but spoke to them so they could best understand the gospel.  We should do the same.  If we reach out to people with the gospel in terms they can understand, not from an air of superiority, but as one who has a debt to proclaim the gospel, we will be much more effective.  Verse fifteen adds, So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  Many people might have been afraid to go to Rome where the people considered themselves so wise to share with them the simple good news of the gospel, but Paul was ready.  He said that so much as was in him, he was ready.  We can never share more than is in us.  As followers of Christ, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit when we witness, then no matter where we are or the circumstances we find ourselves in, we will be able to share the gospel.  We must be ready to give all that we have to do so.  Verse sixteen continues, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  Paul was not ashamed of the gospel, because he knew by experience that it was the only way to salvation.  Some people today want to deny the necessity of being by born again for salvation, but the truth of God teaches us otherwise.  Paul said salvation was available to all, and we must acknowledge the same thing. Verse seventeen concludes, For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.   Through the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed by faith.  We simply believe it, then live it by faith.  God even gives us the faith to believe, but as always, the choice is then ours whether to believe or not.

Romans 1:11

Romans 1:11 says, For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;  Paul explained here why he was praying to be able to come to Rome.  He said that he might impart some spiritual gift, but I believe this means he wanted to help them grow in faith.  People do not give spiritual gifts. Only God can do this.  We may at times need someone to help confirm our spiritual gifts in our own mind, but God gives them and will reveal them to us.  Paul also said he wanted to help them be established in the faith.  After we reach people with the gospel, we have a further responsibility to help them grow in their new faith.  Verse twelve adds, That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.  Paul did not desire to come to them as a super Christian that they were to only receive comfort from, but as a fellow believer who would also be comforted by them.  If we begin to view ourselves as superior to other Christians, and not seek to be comforted together, the we are not living in accordance with God's plan.  We are all equal in Christ.  Again, if we start to believe that we deserve more than any other Christian, I do not believe this is God's plan.  We may be able to help others become established, or grow in their faith, but it does not in any way make us superior to them in the eyes of God.  Verse thirteen continues, Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles. Paul, though one of the greatest men of faith, did not always get to do what he wanted.  He desired to go to Rome to proclaim the gospel, but he was led elsewhere by the Holy Spirit for a long time.  We need to acknowledge today that we are to go where God leads us, not just where we want to go.  We are not called to work God into our plans, but to submit our lives to God's plan.

Romans 1:7

Romans 1:7 says, To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul was addressing all the believers in Rome, whether rich or poor, Jew or Gentile.  We are all indeed equal through our belief in Christ, even if in earthly terms we are not.  Belief in Christ as our Savoir does not mean everything will be equal in this world, but in our relationship to God, we are all equal.  We are beloved of God and set apart for His purpose in our life.  To be a saint does not make us perfect, but simply set apart from the world.  Paul wished them grace and peace.  The usual greeting was for peace, but Paul knew that only by the grace of God could we have peace.  Verse eight adds, First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  Paul thanked God that the faith of those early believers was spoken of throughout all the world .  We as followers of Christ today need to have that same testimony.  Our faith needs to be known by all the world.  I know that not all the world is aware of who we are, but anyone we encounter should be aware of our faith in Christ, and we should always be thankful to God that Christ died and arose to make our salvation possible.  Even though the world may not know us personally, our faith, the belief in Christ as our Savior, needs to be spoken of throughout the world.  Verse nine continues, For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;  Paul was very earnest in his prayers for other Christians.  He called God to be his witness to this fact.  We need to be just as earnest in our prayer life.  I will pray for you can be an empty promise made to help us feel or look good if we aren't careful.  Verse ten concludes, Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.  After praying for others, then Paul made his request for his desire.  It wasn't for things, but for being able to visit those that he was writing to and praying for.  We need to pray for others first, then share our desires, not demands, with God, and these should have to do with the advancement of His kingdom and the welfare of His people.