WHEN GOD GIVES UP

TEXT: Romans 1:18-32

I would rather preach on heaven than hell, on grace than judgment, on love than wrath. However, expository preaching does not allow us the luxury to pick and choose. We need the negatives and the positives of the Word in order to be balanced.

A large portion of the book of Romans is dedicated to revealing the righteousness of God. In order to do that, Paul had to address the subject of the sinfulness of man.

Until a man knows he is a sinner, he cannot appreciate the righteousness of God.

Tonight’s message will be mostly negative because this passage deals with the sinfulness of man and the resulting wrath of God.

The wrath of God does not expose a moral blemish in Him. God’s wrath reveals His righteousness.

In our text we find 3 major divisions:

1.      THE REASON FOR GOD’S WRATH (v 18-23).

• They (mankind) Knew God (v 18-20).

• The knowledge of God is IN them [Conscience] (v 19). Every person in the world has an inborn perception of God.

• The knowledge of God is shown UNTO them [Creation] (v 19-20). Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork.

• The created earth & universe is a witness that there is a Creator. Consider the orderliness of the universe & complexity of creation.

• Man is not progressing as the evolutionist say (from beast to man but rather from man to beast). Man knew God and has devolved.

• Man was created with the knowledge of God. In Genesis…

1)      They had the promise of a redeemer (3:14).

2)      They had and understood expiatory sacrifices (4).

3)      They understood the chastening of God (4:15-16).

4)      They had established times and forms of worship (4:3).

5)      They had the preaching of Enoch (Jude 14,15) & Noah (2 Peter 2:5).

6)      They had the ministry of the Holy Spirit (6:3).

7)      The longevity of Adam & Methuselah guaranteed the propagation of the original revelation.

• They Glorified Him Not As God (v 21-23).

-        They were unthankful (v 21). Uncaring

-        They were vain in their imaginations (v 21). Ungrateful

-        Their foolish hearts were darkened (v 21-22). Unaware

• Their worship became idolatrous. The idol conceived by man; man deceived by the idol [Fool = moron]. Isaiah 44:12-17

• Man is the same today. Man is willful in his rebellion against the revelation of God, and is deliberate in his pursuit of wickedness.

2.      THE RESULT OF GOD’S WRATH (v 24-32).

• He Gave Them Up (v 24, 26, 28).
  
  

To Uncleanness to fulfill the lust of the heart (v 24). Uncleanness [akatharsia] = immorality. Matthew 15:19-20 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man.

To Vile affections – v 26-27. Vile [atimia] = to dishonor, disgrace. First the heart then the body!

To a Reprobate mind – v 28.  Reprobate [adokimos] = tested and found to be no good.

• God Gave Them Over (v 28). This verse reveals man without God. Men may scoff at the message and wrath of God, but they will not escape it!
  
  

Isaiah 28:15, 18 Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves….your covenant with death shall be disannulled, and your agreement with hell shall not stand; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, then ye shall be trodden down by it.

                                                                 

3.      THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD’S WRATH (v 17-18, 32). For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven ¹against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, ²who hold the truth in unrighteousness;.. [32] Who ³knowing 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.

THE MESSENGER & HIS MESSAGE

Romans 1:8-17 “First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. ⁹ 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; ¹⁰ Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you. ¹¹ For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established; ¹² That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me. ¹³ 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. ¹⁴ I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. ¹⁵ So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.¹⁶ 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. ¹⁷ For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

Paul has not yet visited Rome. Many of the perils he will experience in his ministry are still before him. However, he has experienced many conflicts already (Acts 13-20). He has been imprisonment, beaten, ridiculed, experienced physical disease and the heart-break of seeing fellow servants turn away from serving the Lord.

He has also experienced the blessing of seeing the fruit of the gospel produced in the lives of others. Several of the persons he had won to Christ moved to Rome to help build the church there (Romans 16:3-5).

“Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus: ⁴ Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. ⁵ Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.

In our text today I want you see two major divisions – Paul’s Character & Paul’s Confidence.

1.   PAUL’S CHARACTER (v 8-15).

Character = virtue: Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

• Paul’s Thankfulness: First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world (v 8). What was Paul thankful for?

For Jesus Christ! I thank my God through Jesus Christ…

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

For other believers! For you all,..

For a fruitful ministry! Your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Paul could have chosen to be bitter, and would have – had he not set his affections on higher ground. Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

• Paul’s Service (v 9).

God is my witness. Ephesians 6:6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;..

Whom I serve with my spirit. This is a foreshadowing of what Paul would teach in Romans 8:1-6

• Paul’s Prayerfulness (v 9-10). Paul did not always have the freedom to preach, but he always had the freedom to pray.

• Paul’s Longing (v 11-12). Reflects his sacrificial nature. To impart to you.... that ye may be established…that I may be comforted together with you reveals you can’t give without receiving!

• Paul’s Purpose (v 13). I would not have you ignorant...

• Paul’s Debt (v 14). I am debtor...

• Paul’s Readiness (v 15). So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  1 Peter 3:15 Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.

2.   PAUL’S CONFIDENCE (v 16-17). “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. ¹⁷ For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”

• Paul’s CHARACTER is the result of his CONFIDENCE in Christ sufficiency.

The Theme of This Epistle – The Gospel of Christ…

The Reason For This Theme – For it is the power of God unto salvation.

• Notice The Words Paul Uses…

Power [dunamis] dynamite / dynamo. The gospel tears down... The gospel builds up. Jesus Has all power. Matthew 28:18

Salvation. The purpose of the gospel. 1Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Righteousness. The result of the gospel...

Faith (v 17). He mentions faith 3 times. The just shall live by faith… I’m tired of Christians who want to live by sight!

Ashamed (embarrassed, reluctant to identify with) of the gospel of Christ.

Romans 5:5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Romans 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

2 Timothy 1:12 I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

How To Mess Up Your Life & Hurt Others In The Process!

 

Proverbs 5 My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: 2 That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.  3 For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4 But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. 6 Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. 7 Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth. 8 Remove thy way far from her, and come not nigh the door of her house:…

In the book of Proverbs the topic of intimacy, purity and faithfulness in marriage comes up often. Parts of chapter 2, all of chapter 5, the majority of chapter 6, all of chapter 7 focuses on Purity verses Promiscuity.

Proverbs 5 is about Promiscuity and how the committing of this sin can quickly ruin a person’s life – thus our sermon title.

Marriage in America:

• In the 1870’s there was 1 divorce for every 34 marriages. By the early twentieth century 1 in 5 marriages ended in divorce. Today, it’s 1 in every 2 marriages end in divorce.
• Over one million American children are affected by divorce each year.
• 70% of American children spend a significant part of their childhood in a single parent home.
• 75% of women and 80% of men remarry within 5 years after divorce. 
• Second marriages are at greater risk of ending in divorce than first marriages.
• More people are part of second marriages today than first marriages.
• The leading stated cause of divorce is adultery (not the root problem).
• Statistics say up to 33% of marriages will be affected by adultery.
• Only 3 % of those who get divorced for their “lovers sake” actually marry the person with whom they were cheating. The divorce rate among those who do is 75%.

Introductory comments: The intention of our text is not to pin the blame for sexual promiscuity on women. The reason for the particular perspective of this text is because these are the words of a father to his son – hence the warning to watch out for the seductress. There is a male equivalent.

1.   THE CONSEQUENCE OF PROMISCUITY: Prov 5:20 “Why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?”

• Divorce. Cheating on your spouse will wreck your marriage.

Proverbs 5:22 “His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.”

•  Poverty. Proverbs 5:10 “Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth; and thy labours be in the house of a stranger;”

The sex industry rakes in billions of dollars a year. It empties people’s pockets. One of the quickest ways to become poor is to have an affair. The affair will often lead to divorce. Divorce is the quickest way for 2 people to become poor.

• Regret. Proverbs 5:11-14 “Lest…thou mourn at the last,… ¹² And say, How have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof; ¹³ And have not obeyed the voice of my teachers, nor inclined mine ear to them that instructed me! ¹⁴ I was almost in all evil in the midst of the congregation and assembly.”

What does Solomon forecast in these verses? Regret!! Divorce does not solve problems – it creates others.

• Illness. Proverbs 5:11 “…when thy flesh and thy body are consumed,…”

If you remain sexually pure and then get married to someone who has had the same commitment before God, the odds of you contracting a STD is virtually zero.

If you view sex as a right of passage and are determined to sow your wild oats, you might as well book an appointment with your Doctor. Sexual immorality makes people sick physically, mentally and spiritually.

• Heartbreak, Embarrassment & Shame. Proverbs 5:14a “I was almost in all evil…” can be translated, “I was on the verge of total ruin,…”

Your own heart, your spouse’s, your children, your parents will be broken. Once the word is out that a person has cheated on their spouse their “stock” drops.

• Dangerous Conclusions. On average 1400 women are murdered each year by their spouse or boyfriend. There are 570,000 reports of Domestic Violence each year and 170,000 of those require hospitalization.

Proverbs 6:27-35 “Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? ²⁸ Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned? ²⁹ So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent… ³² …he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. ³³ A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away. ³⁴ For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.”

• Judgment. Proverbs 5:21-22 “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. ²² His own iniquities shall take the wicked himself, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sins.”

A quick way to get in trouble with God is to violate His instruction concerning sexuality. To be under God’s judgment is a fearful thing.

2.   HOW TO GUARD AGAINST PROMISCUITY.

• Educate your children about Love & Marriage. Prov 5:1 “My son,….”

• Flee Flirtation. Proverbs 5:3 “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil:”

• Guard Your Relationships. If you have substantial, close, secluded, contact with a member of the opposite sex, the chances are greater that you will get into sexual trouble with that person over time.

Proverbs 5:4-5 “But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword. ⁵ Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.”

• Filter the Filth. If you watch T.V with sexual content, surf the internet for porn, read sexually charged novels or magazines or frequent places that flaunt sex, you will have “sex on the brain.”

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

• Romance your spouse. Proverbs 5:15-19. “Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well… ¹⁸ Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth. ¹⁹ …and be thou ravished always with her love.”

The fire will get hotter if you feed it. The same is true in a marriage relationship. A marriage needs feeding. A marriage is the only place that a couple has the blessing of God to express themselves intimately.

• If your marriage is in trouble seek counsel. Prov 11:14 “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.”

CONCLUSION:

• Are you married? Stay faithful. Guard your heart. Build your relationship with your spouse. Be careful with close friendships of the opposite sex.

• Are you single? Guard your virtue! Keep yourself pure while trusting God for the right life partner.

• Are you in a relationship that you know is wrong? If so, end it and with repentance toward God, put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ.