HAVE IT YOUR WAY!
Romans 1:18-32
HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THE EVENTS OF THE PAST WEEK?
What’s going on? What’s this world coming to anyway?
I tried to come up with a NICE way to translate expressions Paul uses to read publicly this morning.
There must be some nice way to explain such things to our children!
There’s NO nice way to express what’s happened as result of our rejection of God’s right to rule over creation. Nice words can’t explain it!
First, the bad news! Good news, bad news jokes.
Agent: I have some good news and some bad news. Writer:First tell me good news.
Agent: Paramount loved your screenplay-ate it up!
Writer: Fantastic–what's bad news?
Agent: Paramount is my dog.
We have to understand the bad news, before we appreciate good news.
For example--How would you feel about reading the following headline in the morning paper?
"FOG AND FLOOD LEAVE THOUSANDS DEAD!
Moses at Red Sea--Fog, flood and death--liberates Israel
Ex. of apparent bad news situation that’s good news when you understand the whole story
OR, "GOD'S SON KILLED BY SELF-WILLED RELIGIOUS FANATICS!"
Sounds terrible, until you realize what that death accomplished.
Paul begins with bad news–if we don't understand how bad the bad news is, we will never appreciate how unbelievably good the good news is!
Last week we began Romans’ systematic presentation of the Gospel.
2 MAJOR PREMISES summarize what the good news is about:
1. Gospel is THE power God has provided, by which all who trust Christ may be saved (16)
2. God's righteousness is given to those who come by faith. (17)
In spite of God's provision of salvation, some prefer to do it themselves.
Attitude of small child--"I'd rather do it myself!" We want to have it our way.
“If we do our best—fan that fire inside us—we’ll earn enough points to make it with God.”
When you understand what our way produces,
then you’ll understand why having it our way will never get us to God!
Paul begins to describe our problem in Rom 1:18-32
I want to warn you: Paul doesn’t paint a pretty picture of our condition.
Our way just won't cut it with God!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE HAVE IT OUR WAY?
4 logical parts [we won’t follow, but I'll give them to you free:]
CONDITION OF MANKIND 1:18 (Summary Statement)
REVELATION OF THE TRUTH 1:19-20
REJECTION OF THE TRUTH 1:21-23
CONSEQUENCES OF REJECTING THE TRUTH 1:24-32
MAN'S CONDITION 1:18 (Summary Statement)
Continues series of questions we looked at last week.
Logic shown, reversing order, stating series of affirmations:
1. We are all sinners and all commit unjust acts (1:19-3:20)
2. God's anger is revealed against all that is ungodly and sinful (1:18)
3. ∴, God has revealed His righteousness, obtained by faith, rather than by works (1:17)
4. ∴, only by means of the gospel, can we who trust Christ obtain salvation (1:16)
5. ∴, Paul is not embarrassed by the gospel (1:16)
6. ∴, Paul wants to proclaim the good news to the Romans (1:15)
In summary, good news of salvation by faith is necessary
because we can never earn salvation ourselves.
PEOPLE KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT GOD TO RESPOND PROPERLY TO HIM
Some things about God are evident to all:
1. God's existence is evident 19
Problem of unbelief has never been lack of evidence.
Ps. 19 => “The heavens declare, . . . the skies proclaim, . . . they pour forth speech, . . . . there is no speech or language where their voice is not heard!”
2. Creation demonstrates God's power and sovereignty. 20
No one will be able to justify himself saying he didn't know
Creation provides sufficient evidence for anyone who wants to know the truth..
In light of God’s Word, contemporary question “what about those who’ve never heard?” is pointless. Paul says all people HAVE heard!
Therefore this is no excuse. They are without excuse!
People have CHOSEN to leave God out of their life.
By looking at what God made, people can see His power and fact of His existence.
Parallel situation [ Swindoll ]: how cars came into existence:
Millions of years ago, all this iron, glass, rubber, plastic, fabric, leather, and wires came up out of the ground. Each formed itself into various shapes and sizes. Holes evolved at just the right places, upholstery began to weave itself together. After a while threads appeared on bolts and nuts and –amazing as it may seem–each bolt found nuts with matching threads. Gradually everything screwed up tightly in place. Correctly shaped glass glued itself in the right places. Tires became round. They found the right size metal wheels—And popped on. They filled themselves with air somehow. And the thing began to roll down the street.
Then one day, some people found this vehicle sitting under a tree. One of them thought, "Amazing! I think we should call it 'automobile.'" But there's more! These automobiles have an amazing way of multiplying themselves year after year, even changing ever so slightly to meet the demands of the public. That process is called "automutations."
Existence of car tells story about maker. Existence of people & other creatures tells story about our Maker!
People who choose to deny Him have no excuse!
3. People know the truth about God 21
4. People are aware of standards by which God judges us 32
God has set standards for us to live by. People know what His standards are.
PEOPLE KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT GOD!
Paul makes a surprising statement about God’s revelation.
Knowing the truth about God doesn’t bring people into a personal relationship with God.
Knowing truth about God makes people GUILTY!–We’re without excuse!
PEOPLE SUPPRESS THE TRUTH THEY KNOW ABOUT GOD
7 expressions of people's intentional denial of the truth:
1. People deliberately suppress (HIDE) the truth 18
People don’t seek God.
When people hear the truth, they try to drown it out.
"Suppress" –take hold of God’s message, lock it away, where it can't bother anyone.
People hear truth but don't want to accept it, nor want others to accept it.
So they try to stop it.
2. People intentionally refuse to honor God 21
Knowledge of God didn’t produce its intended purpose.
Such a great and powerful God deserves our worship.
We refuse to recognize Him as God (1:21a).
3. People intentionally refuse to give God thanks 21
4. People choose to pursue foolish thinking that leaves God out 21b-22
5. People refuse to acknowledge God 28
We refuse to admit He exists
Acknowledging God puts demands on us! We don’t want to pay the price.
6. People intentionally commit evil acts we know are wrong 32
We regularly practice things that result in divine judgment
7. People congratulate each other for doing what we know is wrong 32
We applaud! Reminded of scenes of celebration in Palestinian communities on Tuesday.
3 THINGS PEOPLE CHANGE TO HAVE IT OUR WAY: [ Trade-ins” ]
1. People exchange God’s gloryfor man-made images 23
“Glory” = “weight’
We traded in the weightiest thing in the universe for something man made himself.
–An image that can’t do us any good!
Modern saying: “Modern man is a self-made man, and he worships his creator!”
2. People exchange God’s truth for lies 25
They WORSHIP THE CREATURE rather than THE CREATOR!
Lest you think this a “pagan” event, limited to 1st C., United Church of Christ women’s conference in our country, workshops: earth religions, goddess worship, and animism. Forum on Gaia Rising, leader Sea Raven tried to communicate with Greek earth goddess Gaia. They made an innovative addition to communion service: pot of earth placed on communion table to symbolize our connection with earth. Such events common today. Have you looked through a college catalog lately?!! [ Course promotion received yesterday. ]
3. People exchange natural relationships for perverted relationships 26-27They traded right relationships for wrong relationships
Don't miss point: This condition is not an accident!
People have deliberately CHOSEN to reject God and do wrong!
Therefore, they are without excuse (20)
When we come face to face with God, people won’t have any excuse. We’ve made our choice!
People don't believe because they don't want to know truth.
Peter says they’re voluntarily ignorant (2 Pet. 3:5). We have NO EXCUSE!
GOD ALLOWS PEOPLE TO HAVE IT THEIR WAY--
Because of decision to suppress truth, God let us have it our way!
God's reaction to this rebellion: "God gave them over ...."
Repeated 3 times, in 1:24, 26, and 28.
Each “trade-in” followed by God giving people over to consequences of their choice.
Notice difference between symptoms and root issue!
Because of choices we make–“Trade-ins”–God gives people over to “do what comes naturally!” Not other way around.
Resolved by focusing on godlessness–NOT on perversions godlessness produces!
God’s wrath is revealed against people who suppress truth
–who know about God, who know values matter
but who’ve CHOSEN to turn their backs on Him
-who’ve CHOSEN to exchange HIS glory for creature worship.
Because of our choices God has let us have it our way
–That’s what produced perverted lifestyle
–THAT’s what’s produced judgment on world–and on our country.
God wants to turn our attention back to HIM!
Many today take the attitude: "Why doesn't God leave us alone and let us do what we feel like?"
God accepts the proposition. Here’s result of having it OUR way::
HE LETS US SUFFER NATURAL CONSEQUENCES OF OUR SIN
1. God gave them over to IMPURE DESIRES 24
Instead of recognizing the Creator and thanking Him, people become foolish.
Faced with foolishness, God gave them over to impure desires
–he gave them the very things their hearts desired!.
In human religions, people imitate their god.
Pagan gods live to satisfy selves, their sexual desires, and other personal pleasures.
They never demonstrate concern for morals, nor welfare of others
Followers of such gods imitate their example:
Live for pleasure.
Don't appreciate value of body, nor care about purposes of Creator
Aren't interested in others’ welfare—only “objects” to satisfy their desires.
Everyone lives to satisfy his own desires!
Describes pagans of Paul's day, but also world we live in
Logical consequence of trying to live without taking God into account.
Humanistic focus results in dehumanizing– ultimately everyone becomes a victim!
2. God gave them over to DEGRADING PASSIONS 26-27
People changed God’s truth for lie and worshipped creature instead of Creator.
2nd natural consequence: God gave them over to degrading passions.
Exchanged natural use of body and attraction God designed, for perversion.
Gen 1 to present: degenerative pattern:
Starts not taking seriously warnings of God's Word
Grows into total rejection of Scriptures
Rejection of God’s Word leads to rejection of God who gave the Word.
–begins with isolated sins => grows into open rebellion.
Sexual sins => abandoning normal desire for same sex = final step
In Scripture, and history, when this lifestyle becomes norm, fall of society isn’t far behind.
Looking at conditions around us, can fall of another great nation be very far off?
“If God doesn’t judge our country, He’s going to have to apologize to Sodom.”
This week! Careful! Avoid temptation to judge individuals hit. This is a wake up call for all!”
3. God gave them over to DEPRAVED MINDS (=> DISOBEDIENT ACTIONS)
People aren't willing to recognize God. Therefore, He gave them up (28).
3rd consequence of not wanting to recognize God: depraved mind => improper lifestyle
Mind of modern man so depraved, ... totally unreliable guide for moral decisions
Activities and attitudes that characterize such a life (29-31).
Acts organized into 3 groups–1st 2 use concept of being “full”– = “controlled by them”. Actions enslave us and take control of our lives. Our society is infested with it!
List is representative–includes every kind of evil you can imagine.
Evil running rampant–anger and jealousy, discrimination and injustice of all kinds--
Observe evidence we’re watching on television this week.
Could anyone consider these events, and deny reality of our condition?
We’ve become characterized by anger and hatred–murder and warring.
No one has committed every crime in the list–but we’re all capable of it!
We’re all in this list somewhere!
Daily Bread: “Modern industry issues recall warnings: “This product is defective; it could cause serious injury, or even death.”.
God published warning: “Because of fatal attraction to sin and willful misuse, this item is defective. Failure to correct problem will result in certain death.”
Jim Dobson: “If God’s judgment befalls wicked nations as well as disobedient individuals . . . how can our country escape His wrath —30% of our children born out of wedlock, 1.5 million defenseless babies are killed in the womb, crime and violence have become a way of life, heterosexual and homosexual promiscuity are flaunted and celebrated, child abuse is rampant, God is mocked and His name defiled in what we call ‘entertainment’”.
Ultimate illustration of what happens when we “have it our way.”
Activities and attitudes of people who don't submit to God's authority, aren't all “serious” offenses.
They’re symptoms of a world where everyone lives for self.
No one cares about wellbeing of others.
In spite of value we give to personal freedom, world becomes unbearable for everyone.
No one wants to be treated that way!
Those who live this way know they’re not doing what’s right; they know they deserve God's judgment (32). But, did you notice attitude? They don't care!
They know that such conduct deserves judgment–death!
They know what's at stake, they go on living that way, and applaud others.
—”Oscar” competition to see who can boast about most perverse sin!
We congratulate each other for great accomplishments in sin!
Compare conditions with lifestyle in 21st century:
That’s a sure way to become worse than those we’re observing!
Roman coliseum–cheering on those who did evil. If not bad enough, they booed!
Linda Chavez: “Scandal: The numbing-down of America.”
“As a society, we’ve become inured to shame. Nothing shocks us. Millions tune in to an endless parade of vice on daytime television. The more salacious the details, the greater the celebrity. We glorify violence in music and films. We idolize foul-mouth entertainers and transvestite sports figures. We re-elect public officials caught smoking crack cocaine and seducing boys.”
Cal Thomas: “Why not validate everything? Think of how the crime rate would plummet if the illegal was made legal.... And why not, if there is no God,who we once believed set boundaries on life? If we are just matter and energy shaped by chance,in a random universe with no Creator and no purpose and no origin or destination—little more complex than a cabbage, but of no greater moral significance —why shouldn’t we be allowed to behave as we wish, however we wish, with whomever we wish?”
THAT’S THE CONSEQUENCE OF HAVING IT OUR WAY!!!
Some day pay day will come. People will pay consequences of sin.
Or perhaps we’re already paying for it.
In a world, where everyone lives as he pleases, sooner or later we all end up being victims of each other, and we end up slaves of our own sin.
GOD GAVE THEM UP . . . TO SUFFER THE NATURAL CONSEQUENCES
OF THEIR OWN SIN i.e., He let them HAVE IT THEIR WAY!
What’s possibility people living like this might satisfy God and earn salvation?
HAVING IT OUR WAY NEVER LEADS TO SALVATION!
HAVING IT OUR WAY ALWAYS LEADS TO CONDEMNATION!
it always leads to separation from God!
WHAT DIFFERENCE SHOULD THIS STUDY MAKE IN MY LIFE TODAY?
Some years ago, a physician sat in a Bible study listening to this passage.
At conclusion of study, he responded, “I don’t recall ever having read the Bible before, but tonight I saw myself in Romans 1–and realized what I really look like. What can I do about it?”
ONLY WAY TO PLEASE GOD, TO FIND SALVATION IN THE FUTURE, AND A MEANINGFUL LIFE TODAY, IS TO LET GOD HAVE HIS WAY.
Paul’s point: human predicament is hopeless.
Having it our way will never do! We’ll never make it on our own.
Having it our way leads to the kind of destruction we’ve read about all week!
No matter how far you may have sunk–the good news is Christ came to offer you LIFE!
The bottomline: We must come to Christ God’s way.
God’s way to come to Him is by trusting His Son!
We need a total transformation! Only Christ can produce such a transformation.