Romans 1: 25-32
They exchanged the Truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
For this reason
This is why God did what He did, He gave them what they wanted.
God gave them over to degrading passions (vile affections);
for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
We have a name for this aberration of women with women.
and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts
And he goes into more detail in what the men are doing in the same vein. We also have a term for this in our society today.
and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
The consequences of this kind of behavior results in sicknesses in their own bodies, because this is a very unhealthy way to treat the body.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer,
This is their own choice and decision.
God gave them over to a depraved (reprobate, [void of understanding]) mind, to do those things which are not proper,
How we decide to think in our minds will determine our attitudes, from which flow our actions. God allows them to experience the consequences of their own choices. If they don't want to understand God's Truth, then they've chosen to be deceived. Which leads them to do the things they do.
being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
None of these results need explanation. This is the consequence of deliberately choosing against God.
and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death,
So they are without excuse.
they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.
Not only do they live like this, but today they've come out of the closet and live openly. And not only do they want to be accepted, but they want their unhealthy, deviant lifestyle to be considered "normal;" and spout the lie that anyone who disapproves of what they do hates them, turning love into hatred, twisting God's Truth into a disgusting lie.
God loves these people, just as He loves all the rest of people; we are all sinners, enemies of God. And God sent His own Son to die for us while we were still His enemies. The ground is level at the foot of the Cross.
This kind of lifestyle was very common in the Rome of Paul's day, that's why he deals with it here. But, just like other people who sin in other ways, when these people are saved and receive God's Spirit in their spirits, then they realize that they need to change, and today there are Christian ministries dedicated to helping these people to leave this tangled lifestyle.
The very next chapter begins by saying not to judge these people, or anyone. We are to love people into the Kingdom.
O my Father, please help us to understand Your righteousness, and how Your Love works out Your righteousness among those who refuse to turn to You. Because You Love us all, You will not inflict Your full Presence on any of us without first equipping us to be able to stand it, to not be destroyed by Your Devouring Fire.
Father, even the Ark of the Covenant could not be approached without elaborate measures taken to protect the people, the High Priest, after You appeared there on the Mercy Seat. You changed the very substance of that box with Your presence on it, so that it became dangerous.
How much more are You to us, in our present bodies, which are so frail and fragile, subject to death. And we all deserve Your wrath.
But you Love us all! And are not willing for any to perish! That's why Jesus was born, and grew up to fulfill all those laws and prophesies to be our Redeemer, our Savior from sin and from the power sin has over us; and to cleanse us with His own Blood, and send His Holy Spirit to live in our spirits, causing us to be born into God's own family.
But Your wrath will still pour out on all those who refuse to turn to You.
And every eye shall see, every knee will bow, and every tongue will proclaim that Jesus is our Christ, the Lord God Almighty, the King of the Universe, to the eternal glory of Almighty God the Father, forever and ever. Amen.
Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!
