April 17
“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting,” Romans 1:24-28.
We are living in a society in which many people have lost their sense of morality and decency, particularly with reference to sexual relations. Of course, this is not something new. The apostle Paul confronted sexual perverts in his day in his Epistle to the Romans, as quoted above. However, such sexual immorality predates the time of the Romans. Scripture takes us back to the days of Sodom and Gomorrah, in which people were living in sexual perversion as homosexuals. God destroyed those cities with fire (Genesis 19).
Today in our society people say that they have a different lifestyle and sexual orientation as they try to legalize lesbianism and homosexuality and speak of same-sex marriages. A same-sex marriage is not a marriage; it is sexual perversion. In God’s sight, marriage is the union between one man and one woman: “Let each man have his own wife, and let each woman have her own husband,” 1 Corinthians 7:2. Morality is established by God, not by society or the government!
Paul speaks of women who exchange the natural sexual relations for what is against nature, and men who burn for sexual relations with other men, committing what is shameful. The apostle adds that they are, “Receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” As a result of all of the sexual perversion, we are suffering from all of the sexual diseases, such as AIDS!
Three times, the judgment of God is expressed in the text above: “God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.” “God gave them up to vile passions.” “God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting.” The judgment is summarized in the words, “God gave them up!” It is as if God were saying, “That’s the way you want to live? Go ahead! But you are going to pay a price!”
Question: Why all this sexual immorality? The answer is, “They did not like to retain God in their knowledge!” They follow the ungodly philosophy, “Get God out of my life and let me do as I please!” Our society and some in government are very much involved and engaged in trying to get God out of our lives – out of our schools, out of our government, out of our places of work, out of the family, and even out of the churches!
Is there any hope for people who are engaged in these ungodly lifestyles and who are promoting and defending them? No, there is not, if they impenitently and arrogantly continue down the immoral road. However, there is hope for those who repent and change their ways and who plead to God for mercy and forgiveness. There is no sin that is too great or too grievous, too black or too horrible, that it cannot be forgiven! Hear the glorious Gospel!
The angel announced to the shepherds on Bethlehem’s field, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” Luke 2:10-11. John the Baptist pointed to Jesus and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,” John 1:29. The apostle John wrote, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin!” 1 John 1:7. The apostle Peter wrote, “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold . . . but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot,” 1 Peter 1:18-19. The apostles told the jailer at Philippi, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved,” Acts 16:31. Comfort one another with these words. Amen.