"Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not be done. They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they knew God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans 1:26-32).
Much could be said about this chunk of scripture. We could spend time on each of the types of sin that are named in this infamous passage of scriptures... they each deserve to be unpacked and examined. But, our culture is opposed to such practices. If we were to name each of these sins and examine them case by case.... well let's just say most of you wouldn't stick with this article very long. The browser would be closed and anger might be opened up. We hate name dropping. And the worst kind is when it has to do with sin. "Who has the authority to call my sin's name," we think?!? So, in the hopes of keeping you with me.... Let me point out how we get into this list, how we stay there, and how we get out.
How we get into the list starts in the verse proceeding... Verse 25 says, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-- who is forever praised. Amen." So the way in is by making the exchange. When we trade the Glorious Creator God for our petty sin, we make a poor exchange. Then, the result is essentially a letting go by God. "Because of this God gave them over to their shameful lusts..." (vs. 26). Sin is what gets us there. When we pursue sin instead of God, God is inclined to let it "play out". He gives us over to our sinful desires and then.... well the list speaks for itself. The way in is so subtle. I want you to feel that. I want you to see that you, yes you reader, are capable of making the exchange. In fact, like me, you probably already have made the exchange today. So, it is grace that God hasn't let go yet. It is crazy that I have not tumbled into full-on full-out life destroying sin. You and I should feel that. It should worry you.
What's worse is that we have a tendency to stay in our sin too. "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do those things deserve death, they not only continue to do those very things but also approve of those who practice them" (vs. 32). Persistence in sin gets us to a point where we are not only unaffected by it, we actually promote it. You and I both have areas of sin that we persist in. Here is what is scary, you may actually get so deadened to your particular sin that instead of shunning it, you promote it. You may have an area of your life where you are working as a salesperson for our Opposition. You may be peddling the lie. You may actually be so okay with your sin that you push it on others as the norm. And, if you are a Believer, then it is really easy for others to think that because you participate then it must be okay. Please do not take sin lightly! It can destroy others too!
There is one way to escape the death trap of sin... the cross of Christ. Paul eventually gets there in chapter 3 but we need to see it now. The atoning work of Jesus gives us freedom from our captivity to sin. We need to let the grace of God explore our sinfulness today so that we can be free. Are there any areas of your life that you have un-confessed, un-dealt-with sin? Do you see any areas that you have made the exchange? Pray that God would expose them in you right now... so that you don't grow so comfortable with your sin that you become a sales person for it.
God have mercy on us! Help us to see our tendency to trade your Truth for a lie. Help us to see that we are inclined to sin. Not only that, we love it so much that we approve of it. Break our hearts over our sins and help us to be forgiven and made whole by the power of Jesus through His Spirit to Your glory. Amen.
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