Section One: Introduction (Romans 1:1-17) continued:
D. Evidence Applied — [Discussion Question Answered} Announcing His Theme
1. Paul’s theme for the letter is God’s power to save all mankind is the gospel.
2. It is through the gospel we learn of God’s righteousness and plan of salvation. Learn depth of God’s righteousness when He allowed Jesus to shed His blood to remit our sins. Learn of God’s plan of salvation, His plan to grant us remission of sins. The gospel (“first word faith” [Rom 1:17] informs us when we place our trust (“second word faith” [Rom 1:17]) in God’s righteousness, by obeying God’s plan of salvation, our sins are forgiven.
3. Without a system of teaching one cannot have a valid (logical) trust. Without a system of teaching one has a trust (faith) built only on emotion — “I believe because I want to believe.” Emotion is the foundation for all religions not based on the inspired word of God, not build on the gospel of Christ, not built on Book, Chapter, and Verse.+
III. Conclusion — Section One [Rom 1:1-17]
A. Based on evidence we may conclude...
1. Paul was careful to take a very diplomatic (tact and sensitivity in handling situations without compromising or sugar coating truth.) approach in writing to a church he had not established nor seen.
2. Paul in vv 16,17 reveals his theme for the entire book of Romans.
a. The new scheme of righteousness is revealed in the gospel.
b. All men (Jew, Greek, and Barbarians) can come into a right relationship with God, not through the Law of Moses or any works of merit, but through faith! The Book of Romans
II. Condemnation (1:18-3:20)
1. Section Preview — [1:18-3:20] is dealing with man’s unrighteousness or condemnation; establishes God can easily be found by those who are seeking.
I. {Rom 1:18-23} Reason For Man’s Unrighteousness
A. Introduction
1. Review — In Paul’s introduction (1:1-17) he revealed God’s way for man to be justified (made righteous) was by faith (gospel) creating faith (trust).
2. Preview — Before the gospel preached by Paul can be a real power to save (convert a person) they must know they have a need (they are condemned) that can only be filled by God’s salvation power — must know they need to accept the gospel
B. Question For Discussion — Is man responsible for his own ungodly and unrighteous misunderstanding about God? What is the bases for God’s response?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (1:18) What is the foundation for God’s wrath? Why does God have the right to get angry.
a. As Creator God has the right and power to expect what He has created to do His bidding.
2. What do the words “ungodliness and unrighteousness” mean?
a. “ungodliness” = 763. asebeia; from 765; impiety, i.e. (by implication) wickedness. [765. asebes; irreverent, i.e. (by extension) impious (lack of respect for God and sacred things) or wicked.]...
(1) The ungodly do not take God’s feelings or desires into consideration when planing their actions or reactions.
b. “unrighteousness” = 93. adikia; from 94; (legal) injustice (properly, the quality, by implication, the act); morally, wrongfulness (of character, life or act). [94. adikos}; unjust; by extension wicked; by implication, treacherous.]...
c. When one’s ethical conduct ceases to rest on the nature of God, the “law of the jungle” takes over (“might makes right”).
3. PONDER: Is God’s wrath the same as the wrath of any angry person, if not what is the difference?
a. God’s wrath is a judicial wrath (legal not emotional) for known rules of conduct, with known consequences, established by the Creator have been broken or disregarded.
4. (1:19) Why are people primarily lost?
a. Not because they do not obey the gospel! People are lost only in a relative sense because they fail to obey the gospel; they are primarily lost because they are in sin.
b. Illustration: A man is drowning a boat is rushed to save him, he refuse to get into the boat and drowns. Why did he drown?
(1) Not because he did not get into the boat, but because he was in the water; he committed suicide because he did not get into the boat.
5. (1:23) What is the one visible practice mankind does when he misunderstands the nature of God?
a. Idolatry
6. (1:21) Why was their idolatry so bad?
a. (1:21a) It showed a misunderstanding about God.
b. (1:21b) It caused them not to be thankful to God.
c. (1:21) Paul says they “knew God” when they created idols, therefore, this showed a deliberate perversion of God’s nature.
7. How did their misunderstanding of God incline them toward idolatry?
a. (1:18) They hold the truth {hindered the truth ASV} in unrighteousness.
b. (1:20) They failed to see the invisible qualities of God (i.e. His everlasting power and divinity) through the visible things which God had made.
c. (1:21a) They became vain in their imaginations {reasoning ASV}...
(1) What does (1:21a) mean happened?
(a) Their reasoning or rationalization was based only on empirical knowledge and man’s concepts, viz. they rejected all they did not understand; hence, their thinking became empty and without meaning.
d. (1:.21b) Their foolish {senseless ASV} hearts were darkened
(1) What does (1:21b) mean happened?
(a) The heart (inward man) that God gave them to search for God’s enlightenment became an instrument only providing more darkness into their lives.
e. (1:22) They professed to be wise and became fools.
(1) What does (1:22) mean happened?
(a) The smarter they thought they were, the dumber their answers about God and His activities became.
8. PONDER: How much can we expect men to know about God without a written revelation?
a. (1:21) Should be able to know there is a God in another sphere (heaven).
b. (1:20-23) Should be able to know a God who could create the world, animals, and man is greater than any of His creation, therefore, should not be represented by some idol.
9. PONDER: Can men learn enough about God (from his creation alone) to be saved?
a. Apparently not for it was necessary for Paul to write this letter (Book of Romans) to make God’s system of justification clear.
b. (1:16) God’s salvation power is the gospel that was revealed via the very words spoken and written by men who knew the mind of God.
10. PONDER: If the gospel is God’s salvation power, and it is, how can a person living where the gospel has never been proclaimed, if such a place exist today, be saved?
a. Compare Acts 16:6-10; Philemon 15 — An off the cuff remark may be the inquiry of one seeking Truth; be alert and be prepared.
OBSERVATION: Five tools God gave the inward man to search for light (truth)...
1) Memory — Mental capacity of retaining and reviving impressions and previous experiences.
2) Reason — Mental power concerned with forming conclusions, judgments, or inferences.
3) Contemplation — To think fully or deeply about.
4) Perception — Act of understanding by the means of the physical senses or of the mind.
5) Judgement — Ability to make a mental decision or form an opinion objectively, authoritatively, and wisely, esp. in matters affecting action; good sense; discretion.
11. (1:23,25) What is the first consequence when men don’t understand God properly?
a. Mankind has the built in need to worship something greater then self, thus, they turn to idolatry — a god of their choice.
12. (1:23) When mankind created idols, what did this do for their concept of God?...
a. Changed the glory of an incorruptible God for likeness of an image of corruptible man, birds, and four-footed beasts and creeping things.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — Is man responsible for his own ungodly and unrighteous misunderstanding about God? YES! What is the basis for God’s response?
1. (1:18) God’s wrath (legal not emotional) is revealed from heaven against men who would change the nature of God and limit Him.
2. (1:20) Such men who worship and create idols (with all the visible evidence of God’s creation) are without excuse.
E. Conclusion
1. Mankind can know God to some extent if he will only pay attention to the visible things God has made, thus, is responsible for not seeking and obeying the One God and worshiping instead a god’s of his own making with the same desires as he.
II. {Rom 1:24-25} Mankind’s basic reason for sinning
A. Introduction
1. Review — In the last Paragraph we are informed the visible creation should have revealed some of the invisible traits of God to man; every man therefore who changes God’s glory into idolatry is “without excuse” [1:20].
2. Preview —Deals with consequences of choosing to ignore the physical evidence there is an eternal power.
B. Question For Discussion — What is mankind’s, as Paul sees it to this point in our study, basic reason for being involved in sin?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. Which sin really came first — their idolatry or their foolishness?
a. (1:.22) They were foolish first; (1:.23) Then they made idols.
2. What caused the foolishness?
a. (1:.22) They thought they were wise; (1:22) Because of this they became fools.
3. Why did they think they were wise?
a. (1:20-21) They missed the impact of God’s evidence in the visible creation.
4. What was the fruit of their “wisdom”?
a. (1:25) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie; (1:25) They worshiped and served the created rather than the Creator.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — What is mankind’s, as Paul sees it to this point in our study, basic reason for being involved in sin?
1. Refusing to properly understand the physical evidence proving God.
a. When they rejected the evidence presented, the flesh’s desires became their source of knowledge.
2. They misunderstood because...
a. (1:23) They thought He was like a corruptible image.
b. (1:25) Willingly exchanged the truth for a lie for the lie pleased them.
E. Conclusion — The omnipresent, omnipotent, omniscience allows those who want to reject Him to reject Him.
1. We can pray a loved one will hear the gospel and for God’s providence to provide the best opportunity, but praying God will not allow a heart to be hardened or one will be forced to accept the gospel is not God’s system.
III. {Rom 1:26-27} Physical relationship consequences for rejecting God’s truth.
A. Introduction
1. Review — Those seeking God can know God, those seeking their own explanation for what they see will be allowed to do so and it is obvious they have rejected God by what they worship.
2. Preview — Deals with the first consequence of rejecting the evidence God is.
B. Question For Discussion — Why is the man/woman intimate physical relationship Paul’s first example of those rejecting God’s truth?
C. Questions For Encouraging Discussion...
1. What is, “women did change the natural use” and “men burned in their lust one toward another” [1: 26-27].
a. Homosexuality; Lesbianism; Sodomy [Gen 19:4-8; 18:32]
2. What is the reason, as stated in our study to this point, that has produced the noted example.
a. (1:25) Rejected God’s truth for a lie
3. What man/woman relationship has been rejected?
a. Husband and wife (one man one woman)
4. What truth or truths have been rejected to allow the “vile affection” and “unseemly” actions.
a. (Gen 1:27; 2:7) Humans are different than all of God’s creation (has a soul), thus, has different moral standard.
b. (Gen 2:18-24) Man and woman were designed to be one flesh.
c. (Mat 19:3–9) God designed one man for one woman for life.
D. Evidence Applied [Discussion Question Answered] — Why is the man/woman relationship Paul’s first example of those rejecting God’s truth?
1. The first, thus, the most precious, blessing God gave mankind was marriage — abusing this blessing is the epitome of ungratefulness.
E. Conclusion — Paul is not saying, nor does Bible teach, it is right or wrong to be married, but if one chooses not to marry they must not exchange man/woman marriage for something that violates God’s will. [cf. 1Co 7:8-9]
1. Bible also does not say a married couple must have or not have children, nor does the Bible say it is right or wrong to limit the number of children. The only criteria is be able to provide (physically and spiritually) for what you have. [1Ti 5:5]
IV. {Rom 1:28-32} Spiritual consequences for rejecting God
A. Introduction
1. Review — Those seeking God can know God, those seeking their own explanation for what they see will be allowed to do so in what they worship and life style.
2. Preview — Deals with the changes to the inward when God is rejected.
B. Question For Discussion — What is the fruit (actions) of a person (hence, a nation) when rejecting God and turning to god or gods of their choice?
C. Question For Encouraging Discussion...
1. (1:28) Word Study...
a. Phrase “did not see fit”; “did not like”; “refused to have” in the Greek (1381. dokimazo) means to test (literally or figuratively), thus, by implication, to approve (is used of testing coins to see if they are counterfeit or real)
b. Word “reprobate”; “depraved” in the Greek (96. adokimos) means unapproved, failed the test, rejected; by implication, worthless (literally/morally).
2. What is the consequences of choosing not to understand (acknowledge) God?
a. The Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscience allows a person to have a reprobate mind? (v.28)
(1) What is a reprobate mind? Depraved, a person with immoral principles.
3. PONDER: (1:28) Expression “God gave them over” [NASB] used at 1: 24,26,28 (“gave over” = 3860. paradidomi) means to surrender, i.e yield up, intrust, transmit — to hand over to another’s power. What are they given over to?
a. In this case, their own desires.
b. NOTE! active not passive voice, i.e., they wanted to be handed over to their fleshly desires, thus, they were handed over for it was what they wanted — were not forced to go.
4. PONDER: Based on context (1:18) what it the reason for God “Giving over”?
a. It is the “wrath of God” — the judicial action of God.
Observation: There are only two standards (power) — God and Satan. Reject God and you are sentenced to be under Satan’s standard and reap the consequences.
5. (1:24,26) Why were they given over?
a. They rejected God’s wisdom for their own wisdom, therefore, God sentenced them to follow their own wisdom.
b. They rejected God’s moral standard’s for their own moral standards, therefore, God sentenced them to follow their own standards.
6. ((1:28) What was the action taken by those Paul is talking about?
a. They “tested” the mind of God (that revealed in nature [1:20]) and it fail their test (was not what they wanted), therefore, God sentenced them to follow their unrestrained and morally worthless mind which would fail God’s test, but would, evidently, pass their test.
b. From God’s point of view their mind was as an abandoned house running down and filling up with snakes, thus, it was sentenced to be torn down.
7. PONDER: How does “God’s giving over” fit with the popular “TULIP” doctrine of being born a sinner, i.e. totally depraved?
a. It does not fit for God could “not give over” something if He never had control, thus, they were not born depraved, they became depraved.
b. (1:28) Informs at one time these people were under God’s control (answering to God) [cf.1:21] and they chose to walk away — they chose to fall away from God’s control.
8. PONDER: What is the characteristics of a reprobate’s (depraved) inward man?
a. While the action is seen in the outward man the actions begins in the inward man where the things of the world, Satan’s domain, is of most importance
9. (1:29-31) This list is an “a-syn’de-ton”, i.e. “NO-ANDS”, and is used by the Holy Spirit to focus attention and expectation on a great climax. The other type of list is “poly-syn’de-ton”, i.e. “MANY-ANDS”, and is used by the Holy Spirit to focus attention on each item in the list which is without a climax. {cf. LUK 14: 13,21 illustrates both.}(NOTE: Different version use differ words {1=ASV, 2=KJV, [NASBU]}
a. Unrighteousness {1,2} = Injustice — Not that they sometimes did unjust things but they were filled with unjust deeds, i.e. a way of life.
b. “Fornication” {2} Not in the best manuscripts = Sexual relations outside of marriage, including adultery.
c. Wickedness [1,2] = Destructive badness; the doing of malicious acts [i.e. acts of malice; acts harmful to others].
d. Covetousness {1,2} [greed] = Unlawful desire for things of another — Not the desire to have what someone else has, but a desire that makes the having a number one priority.
e. Maliciousness {1,2} [evil] = A disposition which receives pleasure doing injury [malice] to others — Not that they sometimes hurt others, but they enjoyed hurting others.
f. Full of envy = {1,2} Selfish ill-will toward another’s good fortune — Note that Paul said “full of”.
g. Murder {1,2} = Unlawful killing of another; this would include the fighting of “gladiators”.
h. Strife {1}; Debate {2} = Angry contention or quarreling — Not one making a strong stand for his beliefs or opinions+.
(1) Cf KJV Rom 13:13; 1Co 3:3 where Greek work is translated as strife
(2) Today debate means to logically defend or discuss opposing views
i. Deceit {1,2} = Deceptive words and behavior; 1388. dolos; a decoy or bait (as for fishing), i.e. the desire to take advantage of another by “holding back” or telling “white lies”.
j. Malignity {1,2} [Malice] = An evil attitude which puts the worst construction on everything; A man with little or no good in himself consistently sees little or no good in others.
k. Whisperers {1,2} [Gossips] = Secretly destroys another with words, e.g. innuendos.
l. Backbiters {1,2} [Slanderers]= Slanders others in public; same as whisperers only they do their deeds in public.
m. Hateful to God {1}; Haters of God [2,] = God haters.
n. Insolent {1}; Despiteful {2} = Disrespectfully proud, i.e. has feelings of superiority.
o. Haughty {1}; Proud {2} [arrogant] = Inordinate self-esteem, is arrogant.
p. Boastful {1}; Boasters {2} = Bragger
q. Inventors of evil things {1,2} = Looks for new ways to sin, i.e. new thrills and forms of pleasure; example: soft pornography of today is hard core pornography of yesterday.
r. Disobedient to parents {1,2} = Lack of respect for authority in the family unit; This will destroy the moral fiber of a country.
s. Without understanding {1,2} = Dullness of perception, one who will not learn from experience.
t. Covenant-breakers {1,2} [untrustworthy] = Will not keep agreements; written documents, much less handshakes, have little binding authority.
u. Without natural affection {1,2} [unloving] = No family type love...
(1) In Rome they literally threw out unwanted children; Is this any different, in principle, than abortion?
(2) What do we think of an animal refusing to care for its own?
v. “Implacable” {2} Not in the best manuscripts = Truce breaker
w. Unmerciful {1,2} = Pitiless, no feeling for others — No doubt the wicked can become hard of heart (void of mercy) but a person with high ideals and sense of honor can also become harsh toward those making little or no effort toward doing “right”.
10. (v.32) What does this verse say about Mankind’s basic problem?
a. (v. 29-31) Often times, if not always, when one does not regard God the Creator he will not regard self or others
b. Knows what God condemns is sin yet, goes ahead and does such acts and approves of others who sin the same way.
11. PONDER: Considering the listed characteristics of the depraved mind what is required to show approval of actions that are contrary to God’s ordinances?
a. Those engaged in such actions think the worst of others, everybody does as I do, just at different levels, thus, our doing nothing is often assumed by the actor as approval or at least not dis-approval.
12. PONDER: (1:32) What is the “death” those are worthy of? (Strive to support you answer from Romans.)
a. Eternal death, i.e., spiritual death.
b. Paul begins this section (1:18-3:20) stating the why of God’s wrath, at 1:32 he states the consequence of God’s wrath — death. The reason for death is again stated at Rom 6:20-23 where the opposite of death is eternal life. Since everyone will die a physical death eternal life must be a spiritual life, thus, the death the Holy Spirit is addressing in Rom 1:32 is spiritual death, an eternal separation from God.
13. PONDER: Considering 1:32 and 1:24-31; is a person who is not in a covenant relationship with God held accountable for their deeds?
a. (v.32) If one had to be in a covenant relationship with God to be worthy of death, then one not in a covenant relationship with God could not be worthy of death, but Paul says they who reject God’s standards [1:24-31] are worthy of death — therefore, one not in a covenant relationship with God is still accountable for their deeds.
b. One does not drown because they let go of the rope, they drown because they are in the water.
(1) To prove universal need for the gospel (salvation) Paul first proves ALL (those in a covenant relationship and those not in a covenant relationship) are accountable for their acts of sin — their choice to reject Jehovah God — the God that can be know by all.
14. PONDER: (1:32) How did they know, since they did not have God’s revealed will, the acts in verses 28-31 were worthy of spiritual death (punishment in the hereafter)?
a. All societies believe in a higher power of some type, thus, have laws (laws of merit or works) for which there is punishment, of some type, after death.
(1) Beast and cattle of the field do not have laws of merit — they have instinct of survival and trickery or might makes right — thus, do not receive punishment after physical death.
b. God’s revelation to man (the Bible) does not instill (implant) that part of mankind determining what is morally right and wrong (aka a person’s conscience), God’s revelation just guides and refines (trains) mankind’s inherent consequence of having an eternal soul [Gen 2:7], thus, a conscience.
c. Beast and cattle of the field do not have a soul, thus, do not have a conscience.
d. A person without a viable (workable) consciousness of right and wrong is not responsible for their actions of right and wrong, e.g. child before the age of accountability, a mentally retarded person, or an insane person.
15. PONDER: Do you think Paul’s position that mankind (without the true God) plunges downward morally and why that answer? (Give specific support from your observations)
