Romans 1:18-32 provides us with a compelling history of
mankind's efforts to avoid God as the source of their values, and it shows what
this has produced. Satan has made strong and persuasive efforts—seemingly doing
everything in his power—to diminish the importance of obedience to the Ten
Commandments. Mankind's failure to keep these godly standards is responsible
for the condition of the world.
Romans 1: 18-32 NKJV 18 for the wrath of God is revealed from
heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the
truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in
them, for god has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His
invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are
made even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21
because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were
thankful, but became futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were
darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became foolish 23 and changed the
glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man----and
birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
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. 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. 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, 30 back-biters, hates of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors
of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 un-discerning, 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.
The first commandment concerns itself with what a person
worships. Worship is the devoted service one gives to what one regards above
all, and what one regards above all is that person's God. The first commandment
says what we are to worship, the Creator God. Nothing else is to be given that
kind of devotion.
1. The people
Paul is speaking of turned their attention from the Creator and to the created. So, it is possible to worship the wrong thing. In Colossians 3:5 Paul writes that
covetousness is idolatry too, clearly meaning that our devotion can be given to
things other than the true God.
2. A common
argument in the world that "all religions are good," that is, none of
them teach you bad things. But, as these verses prove, that simply is not true.
The undermining of their importance began with Adam and Eve
in the Garden of Eden. Satan's persuasions were so
enticing that they submitted to his values despite having seen God literally
eye to eye! Eve followed the dictates of the enemy Satan.
In God's judgment that does not let us off the hook ever.
Yet, mankind cannot plead complete ignorance of God because He is revealed by
His handiwork. Since men will not seek out and obey the true God on their own,
the best they can do in regard to a standard of values is their own experience,
and that has produced this perverted and violent world. That is the story we find here of
idolatry in Romans 1.
When looking at children today, or even those nearing college, they worship their cell phone. In the day of my youth you had to answer a landline phone in your living room or kitchen area.
Here it is Paul who seeks to demonstrates that though all
men are sinful; even though God does not punish but forgives guilty sinners,
still God is perfectly righteous and by
His grace has forgiven us.
In 1 John 2:15-17 we see the life of righteousness on
display. It is also the test of Knowing Him in their spiritual state: 1 John 2:15-17 NKJV……. 15 Do not love the world or the
things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the
eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And
the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God
abides forever.
The word translated "world" is cosmos in Greek.
John uses it six times in three short verses, emphasizing its importance to us.
It literally means "an orderly arrangement." In other words, it means
"a system." The apostle sets to reveal that one’s environment and lifestyle system into which we
were born has a source. In that mixed values within our environment, we see a
confused mix of good and evil, specifically designed to entrap us in a spiral
tending toward that of death.
Will that cell phone give you any order? It will not when you answer it while driving down the road. We saw a card drive off a completely good highway on a curve to crash at the bottom of the ravine and survive. Amazying indeed and they survived their plummet to the earth!
In our understanding, we find that Cosmos identifies the
system on earth established apart from the Creator God. We know this system's
source is Satan, and it will never produce life. The problem for us is that
this system is quite appealing to human nature, and it is continuously exerting
pressure on us to return to it. Yet, if we love the world, it precludes love
for the Father. The Father is then pushed to the background of our lives. So we
should have an exertion toward seeking the Father, finding Jesus, knowing our
salvation and find the peace of the Lord.
John points out that love for the world is essentially
meaningless because the world is passing away. If it and its values pass away,
what will a person following that system have to show for his life?
That includes all its songs, and dance steps. I am in awe how some can to that River Dance to stay in step and yet does that worship God?
Certain words for this system on earth is contained in
“flesh”, “eyes”, and “pride”.
Flesh indicates a
self-oriented outlook that pursues its own ends independent of God, a focus
that clearly produces idolatry. And flesh will stink. It is corrupt and dying.
Yet, we are to live spiritually and finding God in His wisdom to direct us
forward in this life. Yet, we have eyes
indeed. And in that everything seen by sight will draw us, and our attention to
the human attraction of covetousness which is idolatry is dangerous!
Pride indicates a pretentious hypocrisy that glories in
self, possessions, and accomplishments. Ever met someone who glories in those
things? For these people will focus their devotion on themselves!
So, to whom or what are we loyal to?
2 Corinthians 4:3-5 identifies the source of the spiritual
beliefs and values of everybody in the world prior to his calling: But even if our gospel is veiled, it is
veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded,
who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is
the image of God, should shine on them.
2 Corinthians 4:3-5 but with me it is a very small thing
that I should be judge by you or by a human court. In fact, I do not even judge
myself. 4 for I know of nothing against myself yet I am not justified by this;
but He who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time,
until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of
darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will
come from God.
Paul saw a
bloated group with pride. In humbling them without rejecting them he gives
nothing more nor nothing less than the whole counsel of God. A steward was in
full charge of a household and accountable only to the owner, who alone could
render final decisions. Faithful the steward was to be dispensing what was
entrusted to him.
Paul was
accountable to God. It was of little concern to him that he was judge by the
Corinthians. Any sin scarred person must be set aside. They cannot in a perfect
sense the motives of others. It is only God Who knows all of the facts and can
render that perfect and righteous judgment!
Our Lord’s words, which were spoken over two thousand years
ago, are as follows: At that time, Jesus
spoke to the crowds and to His disciples, saying, “The Scribes and the
Pharisees have sat on the chair of Moses. All things, therefore, that they
command you observe and do. But do not
act accordingly to their works; for they talk but do nothing. And they
bind together heavy and oppressive burdens, and lay them on men’s shoulders;
but not with one finger of their own do they choose to move them. In fact, all
their works they do in order to be seen by men; for they widen their phylacteries,
and enlarge their tassels, and love the first places at suppers and the front
seats at the synagogues, and greetings in the market place, and to be called by
men ‘Rabbi.’”
Even Jesus saw those who chose to put themselves in Moses
seat. Moses the man called by God who was humble before Him. Moses was chosen
to lead the Hebrew nation out of Egypt. From his earliest years, the Pharaoh wanted him dead. But put him in a reed
basket, and later he was fished out by Pharaoh’s daughter. She sought care for him
unknowingly by his own mother. For his education, he most likely had the finest
tutors in that region.
Instructed
in astronomy, chemistry, mathematics, engineering, music, and art nevertheless,
the overall effect of what he learned filled him with knowledge and understanding
that would stand him in good stead later. His true family remained near him. During
his 35 years in the palace, Moses never really lost contact with the people of
Israel and with his real family, even though Jochebed & Amram turned him
over to Pharaoh's daughter. He would, then, have had access to the language,
history, & expectations of Israel. His mind, to be used later by God, was
being formed by being filled with knowledge.
In reading
the book of Acts, it is Stephen that says that he was "mighty in words and
deeds." He became a statesman, representing Egypt to foreign peoples and
leaders. Ancient historians say that he was a soldier. The years passed. But
despite being prepared for high office in Egypt, the memories of his early
childhood and his real parents—the knowledge that they were slaves and that his
kinsmen were groaning in the brickyards—never left him. His mind was touched by
God. In being formed to know God and trust. Let us not forget, flesh stinks,
but that with God we will know truth. We will know His truth and His dealing
with us is a long walk in that conversion. It is a long walk from our puberty,
but it is worth knowing God and His faithfulness to keep our hand in the shadow
of death!
Heard of this report: a pastor's wife had a young teen still under their roof at home. They were those who served the Lord and did it in ways that seemed hard to this youth! Still when work was to be done at the grounds of the church, a wife of the pastor told her son to get the leaf blower and blow the leaves out of the area around the building. She went in to get something she had forgotten, came back and found the leaves half moved and the area looked more messy than before. She took the blower from his hands and moved the leaves back around the building. Then she handed the blower to him and told him to have a spirit of excellence and move them out of their place against the building.
This time he took more effort, and used exertion to move those leaves so that they would not be seen again. Like Moses, we can access to all kinds of language and the opportunity to know math and excel in it. We can have favor with all kinds of leaders as Moses did with Egypt still he had to know God and His strength, had to know His truth to have His wisdom in dealing with life. Laziness is laziness, and it qualifies you as "the lazy"! To be lazy in heart, is one is suited to where they take and give nothing back!
As a pre-teen, our family was involved in an Episcopal Church before we moved to another area for my freshman year. In that city we were born, my sister and I had active service with our mother in that church. Where there was not a lot of things for children to do nor pre-teens and not being a boy, we could serve in setting up the flowers and cleaning the table tops. Some moving of the candle holders and such was involved and we saw it as a fun thing to do for others attending that church. We moved what needed to be moved. We placed the fresh flowers and put things away that were out of place. We had an example in our mother as serving God and others!
Today, we see people wanting to be "the served" when Jesus already came to serve. And He delivers His whole counsel in a little over three years. Those who would go forward, would be those who saw Jesus daily. They heard His words of truth. They found how to serve Him while He walked with them in Israel. So too. today we are to live as well as our children, to impart His truth, be those faithful in prayer, to be pure of heart, and send our children out to serve others in giving the Gospel truth.Yes, we are to be faithful in prayer and thanking God for His blessings on their efforts and ours and that we will see them not departing from Him or His truth.
As I left home one day, and our daughter left home one day, so too our grandchild will leave home. As we remind the Lord God of his faithfulness to us and His covenant. He will not alter the thing that is gone out of His lips: Psalm 89:33-34
33 Nevertheless My lovingkindness i will not utterly take from him, nor allow My faithfulness to fail. 34 My covenant i will not break nor alter the word thtat has gone out of My lips.
The Lord has sworn by His holiness and He will not lie to us! Amen and Amen! we have a blood covenant. He died that we would live for Him! That flesh creature should not exist in us for the word of
God is to be active in our lives, where the dead comes to life, and we are not weak but
strengthened in the anointing anchored in the love of God devoted to what He
has done. We stand grateful
not disappointed, but looking to the horizon of the new mercies in God each
morning. For in Him, Great is His faithfulness. Love will fill ever venture in
God. Paul wrote in 2 Thessalonians 1-3 that Paul was giving thanks that those
in the church would be growing in Faith toward God. he also noted of an
abundance of love for others when each of them had some kind of suffering or
persecution. They would endure. We must have that ever deepening
relationship with Jesus so that when we face opposition, we will stand. May His
word run swiftly in us and be glorified
in our lives. Amen and Amen.
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Uphill with Jesus Christ: The Witness that Glorifies God
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