God Gave Them Over
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2 Timothy 4:3-4 (GW) 3 A time will come when people will not listen to accurate teachings. Instead, they will follow their own desires and surround themselves with teachers who tell them what they want to hear. 4 People will refuse to listen to the truth and turn to myths. John 5:28-29 (NKJV) 28 Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth--those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. God’s wrath is his settled hostility toward sin in all its various manifestations. To say it is “settled” hostility means that God’s holiness cannot and will not coexist with sin in any form whatsoever. God’s wrath is His holy hatred of all that is unholy. It is His righteous indignation at everything that is unrighteous. God’s Wrath Defined: Uncontrollable rage Vindictive bitterness God losing His temper What God’s wrath is not: Psalm 7:11 (NKJV) 11 God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day. Romans 1:18 (NASB) 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, STAGE 1: Indifference to God Romans 1:21a (NASB) 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, The result of God’s wrath: 4 Stages STAGE 2: Moral blindness 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 (NASB) 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. STAGE 2: Moral blindness Romans 1:21b -22 (NASB) 21 but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, STAGE 3: Loss of God Romans 1:23a (NASB) 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God… STAGE 4: Idolatry Romans 1:23b (NASB) 23 … for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Verse 24 – God gave them over Verse 26 – God gave them over Verse 28 – He gave the over How does God respond? # 1: Sexual Immorality Romans 1:24-25 (NKJV) 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. The consequences we face # 2: Widespread Homosexuality Romans 1:26-27 (NKJV) 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. The consequences we face # 3: Total Moral Depravity Romans 1:28-30 (NKJV) 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil- mindedness; they are whisperers, # 3: Total Moral Depravity Romans 1:30-32 (NKJV) 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. How low? We see it in verse 32: Public praise for evildoers. Romans 1:32 (NKJV) 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them. Finally, how low can we go? Propitiation is a word in the New Testament used to describe the work of Christ on the cross. It means: To turn away wrath by offering a gift. Is there any hope of deliverance from God’s wrath? Christ, by His own blood has turned away the wrath of God. He shed His blood and what was a place of judgment and wrath is now a mercy seat for people like you and me. This morning, if you’ve never by faith trusted in the finished work of Jesus Christ, then I urge you in His Name to run to the cross where you will find forgiveness, mercy, and grace. Good News! Good News! ROMANS 10:9-10.