ROMANS 1
26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. – Romans 1:26-32
ROMANS 1 SHAMELESS ACTS OF A DEBASED MIND
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
When someone intentionally defies God’s laws
That person will definitely do evil and shameful acts
The Lord will leave them to their wicked ways
They will do what is unnatural and debased
They love to gossip and slander others
They are ruthless, haughty and boastful.
Because they fail to acknowledge God, God forsakes them. God will never force us to follow his will. If we decide to choose to go against righteousness, we will be left to continue sinning. One sin generates another one and another one.
Paul also mentions that they become deviants, preferring what is not natural. Instead of going with the opposite sex, they prefer to be with their own kind. Some engage in many different evil ways such as envy, murder, gossip, slander, deceitfulness, disobedience to their parents and many more. 2 Chronicles 15:2 says “The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.”
REFLECTION
- What characteristic of God is clearly evidenced in these following verses?
