Sometimes when this deal gets real heated there’s this thought comes around in my head that God’s given me over to this thing that I’m struggling to overcome following Christ, this guy thing that’s pounding within. It’s strong cause this deal’s never-ending and it pounds even tho I stay clean and don’t go off with a guy or even look at gay stuff on a screen. It feels like it’s true cause this deal’s never thru of fighting what’s eating me up from within. But it’s a lie cause my heart still wants Jesus, and it’s what He’s said in the book, that the Father never loses who He’s got hold of, even tho sin’s still clinging real close.
Against that lie that I’m given over there’s another word I’m finding that’s true that says that we’re jars of clay containing something greater, the Spirit of Christ living within. And if it’s Christ that God’s given, He’s given so that I’ll live. But living in Him means bearing His dying and being given over to death every day. But it’s for His sake and meant to show Him to others so that they also may live. It means being troubled and perplexed, maybe even pursued and struck down, but Christ is God’s ‘but not’ that none of these things can keep me from going on.
So I’m either given over to what’s in me, or I’m given over to death, neither one is an easy road taken when it’s Jesus that means most. But if it’s the dying of Jesus I’m bearing in living this life each day, it means the life of Jesus may be seen in this body of flesh and I am redeemed by life. The point of this deal is what I am is becoming real in You, that it’s You others see when they’re looking at me, and for that I’ll go where You call.
Romans 1:25 | ²⁵ They exchanged the truth of GOD for a lie,
& worshiped & served the creature rather than the Creator,
who is forever worthy of praise! Amen.
Paul began this section in Romans 1:18 by declaring
that GOD's wrath is being revealed against
humanity's ungodliness & unrighteousness.
However, all of the verses since that one have simply
described humanity's rejection of GOD as
creator, provider, & LORD.
Only in the previous verse is GOD described as taking
action against humanity for our sinfulness.
That action comes in the form of inaction:
Of GOD simply getting out of the way &
letting us do as we please.
At 1st glance, that action doesn't sound like a punishment.
HE is said to have given us up to our sexual lusts.
In other words, apparently GOD stopped restraining
the human impulse to control our sexual desires.
To our modern ears, in our confused thinking, that almost
sounds like a good thing.
The result, though, is untold amounts of misery as we
have expressed our unchecked sexual desire in all its
forms both with & against one another for generation
after generation.
We may not connect the pain with those actions, but
GOD seems to do so. HE seems to view allowing us
to fully indulge in our sinful desires as a consequence
unto itself.
And why did HE do it?
Paul writes that it was GOD's direct response to 2 things:
1] First, unrighteous, pagan humanity traded the
truth of GOD for a lie [Romans 1:21–22].
It seems Paul is saying we traded the truth that
GOD is the creator for the lie that all of creation
arrived in some other way.
2] Second, we began worshiping & serving the
creatures GOD made instead of the ONE
who made them all [Romans 1:23].
GOD takes idol worship personally.
The 1st 2 of HIS Ten Commandments to Israel are
that they should have no other gods before HIM &
not worship or serve any image of any created thing
[Exodus 20:3-6].
Paul, apparently wanting to distance himself even from
the idea of setting GOD aside to worship nature,
concludes this sentence by saying that the
CREATOR is blessed forever!
Context Summary
Romans 1:18–32 describes why GOD rightfully condemns
humanity & some of what HE has done about it.
Humanity's fall is pictured as a downward progression.
It starts with rejecting GOD as creator, refusing to see
what can be known about HIM by what HE has made.
● We also reject that HE is our provider
& stop giving HIM thanks.
● We worship HIS creation instead of HIM.
Finally, GOD acts by giving us over to the unchecked
expression of our corrupt sexual desires & all other
kinds of sin.
In part, HE expresses HIS wrath
by giving us what we want & condemning us
to suffer the painful consequences.
Chapter Summary
Romans 1 introduces Paul & his purpose in writing
this letter to the Christians in Rome.
As servant & apostle of JESUS, Paul's mission in
life is to preach the GOSPEL of JESUS to all people
groups, both Jews & Gentiles.
He hopes to do so in Rome soon.
Paul is not ashamed of the GOSPEL.
It is GOD's power for the salvation of all people by
faith in CHRIST. We need to be saved because
GOD is angry with us.
Because of our sin, humanity has rejected HIM
as CREATOR & provider. We worship created things,
instead.
In response, GOD has given us over to indulge in
all kinds of sinful practices that lead to misery now
& HIS angry judgment later.
https://www.bibleref.com/Romans/1/Romans-1-25.html
I can't swear on a god or bible. I do what comes inherently.
No man made book can take that term.
Do not do unto others?. Then the Bible becomes a book of
eventualities anyone could manipulate.
