Romans 1:18-32 Lesson 286

Romans 1:18-32
Lesson 286

Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

In this lesson:

The sinfulness of man.
Pagans love their idols (1:21-23).
Can we save ourselves, or do we need God?

Beginning with this lesson and running through verse 11:36 (lesson 306);
the doctrine of justification by faith (salvation is ours by God's grace).

Paul, apostle to the Gentiles.

(A Catholic print)

Study Tip:

As you read each verse, ask yourself;
"What is the point of this passage?"
"How does it affect me?"

The Epistle of Paul The Apostle To The Romans

The King James Bible

Romans 1:18-32
God's wrath against sin

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change 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 one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32 Who knowing 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.

Margin notes:

"The wrath of God is revealed from heaven." (1:18) - Means punishment awaits unrepentant Gentiles (1:21-32) and Jews (2:12-20). Many replace the truth of God with their own notions of who the creator is or should be (1:21). See Ephesians 5:6 for one way to avoid God's wrath.

"Unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." (1:18) - God's wrath is poured out on sinners who suppress the truth with their evil lives.

"That which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them." (1:19) - Means, we know instinctively (in our hearts and consciences) that there is a God. Yet, many refuse to believe. Some even repress the truth planted inside them.

"For God hath shewed it." (1:19) - God shows us the proof of His existence every day in the world around us (Acts14:17). We see it from the miracle of life to the beauty of the earth and every living thing on it, each with its own unique characteristics and purpose. From the flow of the oceans to the vastness of space, the universe and everything in it mesh together like a giant puzzle that only an infinitely wise creator could have conceived, let alone create (Job 12:7-9; Psalm 19:1-4). God revealing Himself in this simple but obvious way is called "general revelation." God revealing Himself through miracles, the Bible, or Jesus Christ is called "special revelation."

"Godhead." (1:20) - "Divine nature."

"They are without excuse." (1:20) - "They have no excuse (for not believing in God)."

"They knew God." (1:21) - We are innately aware that God exists.

"They glorified him not as God." (1:21) - "They praised Him, but not as God."

"Became vain in their imaginations." (1:21) - Means, "became confused in their thinking." Some hide the truth, even to themselves, by conjuring up foolish ideas of who God is and what He expects.

"Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." (1:22) - Some, believing themselves wise, use faulty logic to convince themselves, and others, to follow a false god.

"Changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things." (1:23) - See Deuteronomy 4:15-19 and Psalm 106:20.

"God also gave them up to uncleanness." (1:24) - "God allowed them to choose sin." God does not compel us to sin, but He gave us free will (Psalm 81:12), and too often we chose to sin.

"God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature." (1:26) - "God left them, and let them indulge in their immoral passions. Even women turned natural sex into that which is against nature (Leviticus 18:22)."

"As they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind." (1:28) - Since unbelievers don't want to know God, so He allows them their foolishness.

"Things which are not convenient." (1:28) - "Things which are not decent."

"Debate." (1:29) - "Arguing."

"Whisperers." (1:29) - "Gossipers."

"Despiteful." (1:30) - "Impudent."

"But have pleasure in them that do them." (1:32) - "But take pleasure in seeing others also sin." Some people prefer to live evil lives and rejoice when others join them (Proverbs 2:13-14; Hosea 7:3).

New Living Translation

Romans 1:18-32
God's Anger at Sin

18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.

19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.

20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.

23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies.

25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.

26 That is why God abandoned them to their shameful desires. Even the women turned against the natural way to have sex and instead indulged in sex with each other.

27 And the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved.

28 Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done.

29 Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip.

30 They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents.

31 They refuse to understand, break their promises, are heartless, and have no mercy.

32 They know God's justice requires that those who do these things deserve to die, yet they do them anyway. Worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.

This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible. However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."

Today's Question:

1. What is justification of faith?

Have questions? I'll do my best to answer them.

Answer: (Do you agree?)

1. Justification of faith is the Christian belief that people are absolved from their sins by believing in Jesus Christ. Those "justified" are entitled to all the heavenly honors and rewards that come from being in total obedience to the law (Romans 5:1-10). Forgiveness of sins comes from our faith that Jesus is the Messiah. No amount of good deeds can earn salvation. Salvation is ours by the grace (gift) of God.

Application thought for the day:

Re-read verses 1:22-32 for a description of life without God. These verses describe the spiritual low we sink to when we
ignore God and worship our own ideas of what He should be (1:21). When we change "the truth of God into a lie," or worship the creation more than the Creator (1:25), sin runs rampant (1:29-31).

How many of the things listed in verses 1:29-31 are you guilty of?

Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; the "Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies;" "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour Publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Everyday Bible" published by World Wide Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; "The New Testament" translated from the Latin Vulgate, published by Guild Press, New York, New York; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible." All were critical in putting these lessons together.
© 2022 evolke

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