The Unrighteousness and Condemnation of the Gentile (1:18-32)

​

1. The Cause of the Condemnation: Willful Ignorance & Rebellion (1:18-23)

2. The Consequences of the Condemnation: Divine Abandonment (1:24-32)

 

In our exposition of vs.18-23, we have already seen how man has regressed to reprobation as a result of rejecting divine revelation. Man has abandoned God in spite of God’s revelation in creation. In this study ) Paul vividly expresses the truth that the human forsaking of God leads to the divine forsaking of man. The rejection of divine knowledge and light must necessarily incur divine wrath. In vs.18-23, we see man breaking the first three commandments in the Decalogue (Ten Commandments). In vs.24-32, God gives man over to break the rest of the commandments. God punishes sin with sin.

 

The opening word carries the reader to the previous discussion on the revelation of the wrath of God. The refrain occurs in 24, 26, and 28 ( is an intense verb, meaning “deliver over, “to give up” and occurs six times in Romans. See also 4:25; 6:17; 8:32).The same expression is used of God’s judgment on Israel for idolatry (Acts 7:42). In Romans 1 the reference is to Gentiles.

​

1. God gave them over to impurity (vs.24-25).

2. God gave them over to degrading passions/ homosexuality (vs.26-27).

3. God gave them over to a depraved mind (vs.28-32).

​

These are the three stages of the downward spiral of pagan depravity.

​

  “In every instance the giving up to sin is a result of idolatry, the refusal to make God the center and circumference of all existence, so that in practice the creature is exalted over the Creator. Hence all individual sins are a consequence of the failure to prize and praise God as the giver of every good thing” (ESV Study Bible, 2159).

​

God gave them over to Impurity (vs.24-25)

 

God has given them over to some form of sin as a manifestation of God’s wrath on them. From idolatry sprang sensuality. God punished one sin by the imposition of another. When men refused to honor God, God gave them over to fleshly lusts through which they dishonored their own bodies. How men treat God becomes the standard by which God allows men to treat themselves.

 

The reference to sexual immorality in vs.24, 26, and 27 is significant. The reference is both to cultic prostitution as a part of pagan worship, and also to immoral relations in life. In polytheistic idolatry, devotion to false gods is accompanied by all sorts of immorality. When men reject God, God gives them over to their lusts, and their lusts breed various kinds of immoralities, which in turn destroy the very fabric of human society.

“Lusts” (epithumia) can refer to any desire, but most often it is used of carnal or sinful desire (James 1:14; Eph.2:3).

“Impurity” (akatharsia) can mean uncleanness, decaying matter, sexual immorality (Eph.5:3; 1Thess.4:7; Gal.5:19).

 

Verse 25 is almost parallel to v.23 (exchanged the glory of God, exchanged the truth of God). Man exchanged the truth of God into the lie of idolatry; perverted the truth into falsehood. Idolatry involves transferring our worship to created things from the Creator, who alone is worthy to be worshipped. Pagan religions are based on false ideas about God and they can never lead one to the true God. The popular claim that “all religions are different paths to one God” is false.

​

God gave them over to Degrading Passions (vs.26-27)

 

As a result of their persistent idolatry God gave them over to still lower depths of degradation and evil. The emphasis here is on perversion in sexual desires. Women and men were caught up in unnatural (contrary to nature) sexual desires. They even abandoned the very natural function of genders, because God abandoned them to spiritual degeneracy and degrading passions (see Paul’s usage of natural and unnatural in vs.26-27). Both lesbianism (v.26) and male homosexual relationships (v.27) are mentioned here. These vices are not something new. Paul lived in a day when men and women practiced these sexual perversions.

 

Instead of using the ordinary terms “men” and women,” Paul substitutes “males and “females” in this passage. The sexual perversion of women (females) is mentioned first. “Their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural”(v.26). Why did Paul mention women first?  It is because their practice of homosexuality is “especially shocking and dismaying” (MacArthur). Hodge comments: “Paul first refers to the degradation of females among the heathen, because they are always the last to be affected in the decay of morals, and their corruption is therefore proof that all virtue is lost” (Charles Hodge, Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans, 42).

 

This passage teaches that all forms of homosexuality are contrary to God’s plan and purpose for the human race. It is illustrated here as a very repulsive and degrading passion. Paul’s words emphasize the unnatural and dishonorable nature of these sins. It is condemned as perversion of God’s design for human sexual relations. God abhors homosexuality. The Bible strictly prohibits it (Lev.18:22). God intended male and female to be joined in marriage (Gen.2:24). No one is born a homosexual, any more than any one is born a thief, a liar, an adulterer, or a murderer. All are born in sin and susceptible to temptations of sins. Since homosexuality is a sin it can be forgiven by God and overcome. God is willing and able to forgive all sin.

 

“Receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error” (v. 27c) – Paul does not specify what this penalty is; only that it is received in their own persons (NIV: “in themselves”). Definitely it reminds of the self-destructiveness of their sin both in their body and soul; it is spiritually, emotionally, and physically damaging.

 

God gave them over to a Depraved Mind (vs.28-32)

 

There seems to be a play on words in v.28 in the original. They did not approve (“fit to acknowledge”) of having God in their mind, so God gave them up to a disapproved mind (adokimos means depraved, worthless, useless, rejected after testing, not standing the test, disqualified, disapproved). “God gave them up to a mind which cannot stand trial” (James Denney).

 

Paul now gives an extended list of 21 sins all of which are destructive. He begins with “unrighteousness” because his main thesis in Romans is the righteousness of God. Man is totally unrighteous apart from the righteousness which God gives.  “Haters of God” (v.30) stands out as it is an attitude towards the Almighty Creator God. The hatred toward God also leads to hatred of fellowman. This appalling catalog of crimes destroys self, family, and society.  Sinful man is capable of committing these sins, even though every individual who has turned from God is not necessarily guilty of every one of them. There is no limit to the depths of sinful degradation to which people can sink when they shut God out of their lives.

 

V.32 sums it all. Sins are not committed in innocent ignorance. In defiance of God’s wrath and judgment they continued to practice these sins and also gave hearty approval of all those who practice them. This is the lowest stage in moral depravity – taking pleasure in others who indulge in sin. Murder and immorality are so common in modern entertainment and have a very negative effect on minds and values that guide behavior. “Not only did the people themselves sin but they encouraged and vicariously enjoyed the sins of others” (Ryrie Study Bible, NASB, 1703).

 

This is Paul’s portrayal of depraved Gentile society.  What a sad commentary of even the most socially advanced societies of our day! They enjoy glamorizing sin and fight for the legal right to commit heinous sins!!  “But a society that openly condones and defends such evils as sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, and the rest has reached the deepest level of corruption” (MacArthur, Romans 1-8, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 109).

 

“THEY NOT ONLY DO THEM BUT GIVE HEARTY APPROVAL TO THOSE WHO PRACTICE THEM.”  The unregenerate man is not content to damn himself. He is trying to get others to join him in perdition. This is the portrait of man without God.