Romans Part 06

In Romans 1:24–28, Paul repeats a serious phrase three times: "God gave them up to uncleanness in the lusts of their hearts," "God gave them up to vile passions," and "God gave them over to a debased mind." This repeated expression forms one of the central movements of the passage. Because mankind rejected the evidence of God and refused accountability to Him, God allowed them to drift further away.

This pattern reaches all the way back to the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve sinned and were put out of the garden as a result. Mankind continued to decline until, by the time of the Flood, man's corruption had become widespread. God caused a worldwide flood to initiate a restart.  

God giving people over to sin does not mean He is unjust. Rather, people first give themselves over to sin, and God may allow them to continue in that path for a time. Psalm 81:12 says that God gave Israel over to their own stubborn hearts, and Ephesians 4:19 describes people who, being past feeling, give themselves over to lewdness and uncleanness. Later, in Romans 6, Paul develops this same principle by describing people becoming slaves of sin. The consequences of sin then become part of the lesson.

This also demonstrates that God has established both physical laws and moral laws. If the physical laws of the universe were violated, creation would collapse. In the same way, when moral laws are violated, human life can collapse. Sin carries consequences built into the way life works because God's law reflects reality. Persisting in slander or lying destroys trust and relationships. Adultery may begin with pleasure or self-justification, but it leads to pain and betrayal, causes damage to the family, and many other consequences. Any sin, if embraced and pursued far enough, can ruin a life. In this sense, part of God's wrath is built into the moral order of creation.

Paul goes on to say in verse 25 that mankind "exchanged the truth of God for the lie" and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator. The phrase "the lie" may point back to Satan's original deception in Genesis 3: 

"You shall not surely die." 

It also connects with false ideas such as the immortal soul, especially in Greek thought. At its core, the lie is that man can reject God, reject accountability, and define reality for himself. This same principle appears in 2 Thessalonians 2, where those who refuse to receive the love of the truth are given over to strong delusion, and in Ezekiel 20:39, where God tells those determined to go their own way to serve their idols, but not to profane His name.

The result is that mankind worships the creation rather than the Creator. Humanism reflects this attitude because man does not want anyone telling him what to do. As 1 John 2:15–16 reminds us, people pursue the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. They serve what they want to worship. Instead of serving God, they serve the creature. Why would someone worship a calf rather than God? A calf does not tell you what to do.

Paul then identifies a particular example of mankind's corruption in verse 26. 

"For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions." 

The passage plainly addresses homosexuality as women and men exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. The Bible, in both the Old and New Testaments, identifies homosexuality as sin. Paul calls these "vile passions," or passions of dishonor. The Greek word translated "passions" is related to pathos, carrying the idea of suffering, affliction, or feelings that overwhelm the mind.

Paul is describing passions that can seize control of a person's thinking and desires. When someone is given over to such passions, he is no longer governing himself according to God but is being ruled by disordered desire. The natural use refers to proper sexual relations within marriage. Homosexuality was present and culturally visible throughout the Greco-Roman world. Some philosophers accepted it, while others rejected it. Jewish culture, shaped by passages such as Leviticus 18:22, understood it as a serious evil. Paul is not saying sexual sin is the only sin or that every other sin comes from it. Rather, it serves as a prominent example for his Gentile audience because sexual immorality was often intertwined with pagan worship and culture. The result is broken lives, emptiness, disease, and the many painful consequences that follow when God's design is rejected.

Paul concludes this section by saying that because people "did not like to retain God in their knowledge," God gave them over to a debased mind. The Greek word translated "debased" is adokimos, meaning not approved, rejected, counterfeit, useless, or worthless. Its related word, dokimos, refers to something tested and approved. Paul uses this same idea elsewhere. Second Timothy 2:15 exhorts believers to study so they may be approved by God, and James 1:12 says that the one who endures temptation, when approved, will receive the crown of life.

A debased mind is like counterfeit money or fake gold. It appears to have value, but when tested, it fails. In the same way, a person may appear wise, moral, or enlightened, but if that thinking rejects God and His law, it is counterfeit wisdom. This brings Paul back to his earlier statement in Romans 1:22: 

"Professing to be wise, they became fools." 

The debased mind claims wisdom while rejecting the only true foundation for wisdom.

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.