Eternity Daily Bible Study - No. 503 Series: Romans 1-8 "A Righteousness That Is By Faith" Verses: Romans 1:22-27 Topic: Degradation Date: 22nd August 2005 Romans 1:22-27 Professing to be wise, they became fools (23) and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man, and birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. (24) Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves. (25) For they changed the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. (26) For this cause, God gave them up to dishonorable affections. For even their women changed the natural use into that which is against nature. (27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another; males with males working out shamefulness, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was fitting for their error. People who are disconnected from God are disconnected from the ground of their being and collapse into negative lifestyle patterns. The closest parts of our being to God are our worship life (v.23,25), our intellectual life (v.25) and our sexual life (v.24 & 26-28) and these are the first to be degraded by the refusal to acknowledge God or to give thanks to Him. Degradation starts with the mind and the will - "not acknowledging God", proceeds to the worship life "For they changed the truth of God into a lie, and they worshiped and served the created thing more than the Creator, who is blessed forever" and ends up with people enslaved to sexual lusts - "burned in their lust toward one another". Twice the phrase 'and God gave them up' is used first in verse 24 to indicate inordinate heterosexual lust and secondly in verse 26 to indicate homosexual lust, as an even deeper state of abandonment by God. A similar sentiment was uttered during the days before the Flood: Genesis 6:3 And Jehovah said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, in his erring; he is flesh. Yet his days shall be a hundred and twenty years. God's Spirit strives against our sinful tendencies so the good Christian experiences conflict and struggle. This is a good sign - for it means God has not given you over to your sin! Galatians 5:16-17 I say, then, Walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. (17) For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. And these are contrary to one another; lest whatever you may will, these things you do. We all contain the potential for grievous sin and many Christians battle with powerful sinful urges. The difference here is that God has stopped restraining them. He has given these people over and walked away, letting them have their perverse desires. Once we are disconnected from God we are left at the mercy of all that is "not God" and this then controls us. Such control can become a stronghold, a habitual way of life, that is very difficult to break and which can even become part of a person's identity "I am a...thief, criminal, drug addict, sex addict etc." Addiction is always rooted in a lack of the true knowledge of God at some point, which is why Step Three of the Twelve Step Alcoholics Anonymous program includes complete surrender to God. I even once talked to a non-Christian drug rehabilitation counsellor who said "the only way that people get off heroin is to become a Christian". Moving back away from idols and false worship and into the true knowledge of God and surrender to His will in the power of the Holy Spirit is the key to moving from the lifestyle of abandonment to lust and back to self-control and to fulfillment in Christ. Now the homosexuality debate is a tense and difficult one, and without wishing to offend I must yet make the following points: a) In the Bible homosexuality is always viewed as a serious and degrading sin. b) In the Bible homosexuality is never viewed as a valid alternative lifestyle for Christians. c) Neither is it viewed as permanent or beyond the reach of God's grace but as redeemable. The homosexual can be washed, cleaned and sanctified. (1 Corinthians 6;16-19) For more on what the Bible says about homosexuality go to: http://www.aibi.ph/articles/homosexuality.htm However we view the homosexuality debate we must agree that it is a terrible thing to be given over to our own weaknesses and lusts - whether heterosexual or homosexual. We must pray for two things a) the true knowledge of God and b) the daily filling of the Holy Spirit - for it is the true knowledge of God that keeps us at one with our Heavenly Father and the filling with the Spirit that gives us power to resist fleshly urges (Galatians 5:16-18, Romans 8:4-11) We must also forsake certain things that feed our addictions - even though they may be innocent enough for some other people. Christians with sexual addictions need to install anti-pornography software such as Internet filtering, and accountability software. Here are a few helpful web addresses: www.we-blocker.com - Free Internet filtering software. www.postini.com - Low cost email filtering software mail.yahoo.com - free email with very good spam filtering www.techmission.org/resources/net_filtering.php - Resources on Internet filtering etc. http://www.integrity.com/ - a ISP that provides a range of filtering solutions and accountability software. What Paul is telling us is that fallen mankind will not find God on its own. Without the power of the gospel humankind will just plunge into addictions and compulsions and strong lusts that will destroy it spiritually, emotionally and physically. Without the gospel humanity naturally and inevitably goes downward into chaos. Blessings In Christ, John Edmiston (johned@aibi.ph) __________________________________________________________________ REFER OTHERS: If this devotional is a blessing to you, maybe you have a friend or family member that would like to start receiving this daily bible study. 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