A Study in the Book of Romans
Lesson #2 (Part 2) : The Wrath of God (Romans 1:18-32)
In the first part of this lesson we look at who the wrath of God was revealed against. It is revealed against those who hold the truth in unrighteousness. We also learned that they refused to acknowledge what God has revealed to them through creation. In this lesson we will look at the steps that lead to their destruction and the results of these actions.
Steps that lead the unrighteous to destruction:
1) When they knew God they glorified him not as God (verse 21)
- Giving God glory is essential and once God reveals himself as we saw in verses 19-20 the first step toward destruction will be to not give him the glory he deserves.
2) They were unthankful (verse 21)
- We are told to give God thanks in all things (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
- Not giving God the glory and being unthankful led to being vain in their imagination and having their foolish heart darkened.
3) The next step is professing themselves to be wise they became fools (verse 22)
- Remember it says let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12)
4) They changed the glory of God into an image made by made like unto corruptible man (verse 23)
- This is idolatry and it goes against the 2nd commandment and the last the apostle says in the book of 1 John.
What are the results of these steps?
1) God gave them up to uncleaness through the lust of their bodies (verse 24)
- This led them to change the truth of God into a lie, modern day evolution, and to worship the creation more than the creator, modern day environmentalism.
- I am not saying we should purposefully pollute, but you have to remember that God is in control of this environment.
2) God gave them up to vile affections (verse 26)
- This leads to homosexuality which is a sin according to God’s word. Some will try to say that God only spoke of homosexuality in the Old Testament but here it is in the New Testament and it is still not good.
- The sad thing is that even saved people today are embracing it and saying that God created them that way. The only way you can say that is to change the truth of God into a lie.
3) God gave them over to reprobate mind (verse 28)
- This leads to not wanting to retain God in their knowledge. This is why you can teach children any religion you want in schools as long as it is not from the word of God.
What are the results of God giving people over to these things?
Just what the verses say, unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity, whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful. This sounds just like people today and yet somehow the world thinks we are advancing.
A Study in the Book of Romans
Lesson #2 (Part 2) : The Wrath of God (Romans 1:18-32)
Handout
1) What are the actions of the unrighteous in this passage that lead to their destruction?
2) What are the results of these actions?
3) Give some modern day examples of the things found in verses 25-28.
4) What is the end result of these things?