Romans | Lecture 4 : BC303-Rom-20260818

Okay, welcome back. Uh we the first hour we were looking at uh studying Romans chapter 1. We were in verse 14 where Paul says, "I'm a debtor to both the Greeks and to the barbarians." Both to the wise and the unwise. Okay. So barbarians are people that who are not highly educated. Okay. So why is Paul saying that he's a debtor? Why is Paul saying that he's a debtor? Why does he owe them to preach and teach the Gentiles? >> What he has has to share. Okay. >> Edifying them. >> Okay. Okay. Okay. He's made an apostle. Sonia, we're not able to hear you. You're saying something. >> Yeah. He was a born servant to Christ. And so he was indebted >> to do what the Lord had commanded him to do. >> Yes. Thank you. Good. He was a born servant to Christ. is in that means he was called to be an apostle and he had a call to preach the gospel both to the to the gentiles and the gentiles are both the Greeks who are highly educated and to the barbarians who are also uneducated. Okay. So we learn from here that the call of God also makes us indebted. Okay. So when God calls us we are also indebted. That means we are in a debt that we owe God something that we have to do. Sometimes we think we're doing God a favor, right? He's called us. He's enabling us. He's empowering us. He's giving us the grace, the skills, the abilities, the open doors. And then sometimes we feel, you know, that, you know, God is because we're doing all this, God has to do these things for us. And when some of us don't receive from God, what do we do? Entitlement, right? When we don't receive from God, what happens? We get what what happens when we don't when we're doing things for God and we don't receive back from him. >> Angry. Yes. We get angry with God. We get upset with God. We say, "I'm not going to preach anymore, God. I'm not going to do ministry. I'll go do secular." Right? So we feel that entitlement. Oh, I'm serving God. I'm working hard as a missionary, as an apostle, you know, no rest, no vacations, no holidays. And we feel entitled by God that he has to do certain things for us. Do you think God is entitled? No. Look at what Paul is saying. He's saying the call of God makes me indebted. That means I am in debt to God. I owe God what he has called me to do. I owe him something. Why? Because God has appointed us to the people that he's entrusted and we have to go and fulfill the call to serve them. So never come to a place where you think you're doing so much for God and God is entitled to do certain things to you. No, that's wrong. That is a place coming to a place of spiritual arrogance and spiritual pride. And we can all come to that place, right? Saying, "God, I'm doing all this for you. I'm serving you so many years. Why did you do this in my life? Why did you take away this person? Why didn't you make this happen, God?" And we get angry with God, right? And God is not entitled to us. But we are indebted to God. We owe him something. And the only way you can pay the debt so to speak to God is when you are going to people God has asked you to go and serve them faithfully. Okay? Even when you're serving God faithfully, with commitment, with passion, with zeal, never think that God has to do things in your life. The these are the things God has to do. No. And I like um um uh I think 1 Chronicles to 2 Chronicles chapter 20 where Jehoshaphat you know after the succession of bad kings. He comes he restores the the temple of God. He gets it cleaned know it was lying in ruins. They find the scrolls the um that were written the laws. He gets the institutes the priests back to their positions. He asks them to read the law. People uh hear the law of God. They cry out and they ask God for forgiveness for not obeying the law. And we read that in in in in that chapter in verse 20, you know, God gives him pro prosperity and wealth and riches and gives him peace from all his enemies. But one fine day, three armies come to fight against Jehoshaphat. Right? What do you think if you were in Jeho I was I used to think if I was in Jehoshaphat's position what would I have done what would I you and I would have done if you were in Jehoshaphat's position God what are you doing three kings are coming to fight against me you know I've done this this this I cleaned the temple I restored everything worship I restored the priesthood I got people to confess their sins uh you know after succession of bad kings and why are you sending this army, you know, but it's amazing what Jehoshaphat's uh uh reaction is. He goes to the temple, he asks everyone to fast and pray. And when he goes to the temple and he prays, he never tells God what he has done. What does he start doing? He starts praising God as the creator, what he has done for the people of Israel, how he brought them out of slavery. He praises God and then he in the end he says God we do not know what to do but our eyes are on you. He never comes to that place of spiritual arrogance and say God I did all this for you now you do something for me right and that is God moves in a powerful way and if you read that story is a you know amazing so never come to that place where you can say God I did all this you have to do this for me right and don't get angry with God and upset with God and say okay I'm going to leave and go you know you can leave and go but God is no man's dtor you know he can do what you have not done. He can get other people to do it but you are breaking the heart of God. Okay. So hence he says here that he owes the people of Rome something and he's ready to come to them and preach the gospel to them. That is why he says I'm coming to to preach the gospel. Not because he likes to go visiting from one city to another city to see new cities to meet new people but he owes them something to preach the gospel to them. Verse 15. Did we read verse 15? Yes. So as much as in me, I am ready to preach the gospel to you who are in Rome also. So preach the gospel. Why preach the gospel when they're already saved? You can ask that question, right? Why does Paul want to go and preach the gospel to them when they're already saved? So what is he meaning when he says, "I'm coming to preach the gospel to you. I'm going to impart the gospel to you." What is he meaning? The gospel that g that Paul is talking about is not just the good news of salvation is not just the message of salvation of the king but it's everything about the king and his kingdom. So the good news is all about the king the son of god and his kingdom. Okay. So look at uh what I'm meaning to say when Paul goes to Rome look at Acts chapter 28 verse 30-31. What did Paul do at Rome? Look at Acts chapter 28 verse 30 and 31. The answer is there. What does Paul do when he's at Rome? Read that please. Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house and received all who came to him. >> So there's two years in rented houses where >> Rome. >> Rome when he's in in in house arrest. Okay. And what does it say in verse 31? >> Preaching the kingdom of God. >> Ah preaching what? >> Kingdom of God. >> The kingdom of God. Yes. >> And teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence. No one forbidding him. >> Amen. So what is the gospel he wants to preach to them? What is the gospel? The kingdom of God and everything that concerns the Lord Jesus Christ. Right? And look at what he says in Romans chapter 1 verse 16. For I'm not ashamed of the what is the gospel? the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes for the Jew first and also for the Greek. Okay. So he's saying that is salvation. So what is the salvation? Uh what is the gospel he wants to me preach? Not just the good news of salvation but it's also about the kingdom of God. Right? Did you learn about the kingdom of God? >> Yes. No. >> Yes. Second year you had a course called kingdom of god right did Jesus preach and teach about the kingdom of god yes so here go Paul is saying you can ask this question why does he want to go and preach gospel when they already saved he's actually talking about them to them about the kingdom of god and about the person of Jesus Christ okay so moving on to verse 16 for I'm not ashamed of the gospel why why is he not ashamed of the gospel It's a power of God for >> salvation for everyone who believes. Now, this is a powerful statement. Should we be ashamed of the gospel? >> No. Why? >> It's a power of God. It's a message of the kingdom of God and it's a message about Jesus Christ. Okay? So, why shouldn't we not be ashamed of the gospel? Because everything we preach and teach is about whom? Jesus Christ and his kingdom and it's the power of God for salvation. Now what's the meaning of salvation only saved? What is the Greek word for salvation in the New Testament? Sodzo. What does sodo mean? >> Huh? Sodo means what? It's a very comprehensive word that means salvation like shalom. It's a very fully pregnant comprehensive word. What do we mean by that? Shalom just doesn't mean peace, right? It means what? >> Blessing. >> Complete wholeness, emotional wholeness, well-being. So what does sodo mean? It includes not just salvation but also means >> healing. >> Healing. Yes. Thank you. >> Wholeness. Deliverance. wholeness, deliverance, safety, victory, preservation from all harm and danger, protection from the enemy and everything else. Okay? So, everything that delivers us from sin, sickness, and Satan is included in this word. You learned it in healing and deliverance. Heal deliverance. Healing and deliverance subject, right? So, salvation. go back to that and you'll see it's a very comprehensive word. So sal um uh uh salvation does not mean just forgiveness of sins but also means healing, deliverance, wholeness, safety, victory and uh protection and puh preservation from all harm and danger. Okay. Everything that delivers us from sin, sickness and Satan is included in this word salvation. So what is Paul saying? I'm not ashamed because I know that when I talk about Jesus, when I talk about his salvation, when I talk about his kingdom, the power of God is made available for people. Okay. So when we are talking about the gospel whether it's the kingdom of god whether it's about Jesus Christ whether it's about sin and salvation what is made available as we are talking what is made available to the people as we are preaching and teaching to them about this what is made available when we're talking to people or preaching to them about Jesus the kingdom of God is salvation what is available to the people look at that verse verse 16 what is available >> the power of God is available for people to do for what the power of God is made available for to people for what >> to okay for us to preach the gospel but the people we are preaching to >> to receive salvation what else to be saved to be delivered to be healed Okay. To be restored, to be victorious, okay, to come to a place of freedom, right? So, it's not your power and my power of preaching and teaching, not your skill, my skill, not our charisma, but what works in the life of people, >> the power of God and brings them to a place of repentance, salvation, healing, deliverance, and all of that what we said. Okay, you all understood? Can we move on or any doubts, any questions? Okay, verse 17. Uh, so can somebody read from the notes? We have the New International Version also mentioned in the Amplified Bible. So read all of those. >> Yes. >> For indeed the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, the just shall live by faith. New International Version. For in the gospel of righteousness of God is revealed a righteousness that is by faith from first to last. Just as it is written, the righteous the righteous will live by faith. Amplified version. For in the gospel of righteousness of God is revealed. >> For in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed. both springing from faith and leading to faith disclose in a way that awakens more faith as it is written and forever remains written the just and upright shall live by faith. >> Amen. Now this is a very very important verse. Why? Anyone knows why it's a very very important verse? The just shall live by faith. So what why is this very important in church history? Think why is it important? This is Martin Luther was deeply impacted by this verse and it became one of the foundational uh verses for the Protestant Reformation. You remember the uh last year I taught to you about revival, visitation and the move of God. And there was a thousand year dark period, dark ages in the church. And there was a reformation that began with a few people before Martin Luther. And Martin Luther was greatly impacted by this verse. What impacted him from this verse? What impacted him from this verse? >> Ah the just shall live by >> faith. So what impacted Martin Luther from this? The just shall live by faith. Come on. Why is a foundational uh text for the Protestant Reformation movement? Because it captures the central truth of the Protestant faith. What is the central truth? that we are being made right before God by faith and not by our not by our >> work works, right? The thousand-y year dark ages in the church, what were there more emphasis on works, right? That they can uh they sin, they pay money and they can receive forgiveness, right? So all of that it was all money and the church is becoming very very rich. Okay. And here um he says that you know we are made right by with God by faith and not by our works. So Paul says in it that means in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written the just shall live by faith. So Paul is as it is written where is it written? He says, "No, but it's written, the just shall live by faith." Where is it written? Where do you think it's written? In the Old Testament, somewhere in the Old Testament. Okay, it's in Habacook chapter 2 verse 4 where he says, "The just shall live by faith." So, what does Paul mean when he says the righteousness of God is being revealed? What does it mean when he says the righteousness of God is revealed? The gospel actually reveals how God makes a person right with himself. Right? Now we know that God is perfectly holy, perfectly righteous, perfectly blameless. And through the gospel, he reveals his way of making sinners righteous. Okay? Not by their works but through not through not by their works but through faith. Okay? Now if you look at the Greek word the word uh translated righteous righteousness justified justification and just come from the same root family in the Greek word and they're all connected to the idea of being right or being declared right. Okay. So Paul is saying how does a person become just or how does a person become righteous about righteous before God? not by doing good works. So good works is not enough for us to be righteous or just before God. Okay. It is also not keeping religious traditions. It's also not performing rituals that we become right before God. Now why is he writing this? Because he's writing to the who is he writing to? [clears throat] >> Okay. Who are the people in Rome that he's >> the Gentiles and >> barbarians and who else? He's preaching to the Gentiles and barbarians. But he's writing to the church believers. And the church believers comprise of whom? The Greeks. Greeks and >> Gentiles. >> Barbarian. >> Gentiles and >> barbarians. >> Barbarians and the proelites. Proelites and >> the Jews. Right. So the people who come from the Jewish faith and the Jews were mainly focusing on what works. What are the works? >> What are the works? Sacrifices that is rituals. What else? What is the main problem that the the uh Christians were becoming uh the Jews were becoming Christians bringing into the church? Not able to follow the laws. >> H >> not able to follow the laws completely. >> Okay. What were they bringing into their from the Jewish faith into the Christian faith? What are the traditions they were bringing? What are the rituals? What is the main thing? What was the ritual? [clears throat] What did God tell Abraham to do? >> Ten commandments. >> Huh? >> Circumcision. >> Circumcision. Yes. Circumcision. Okay. And eating certain kind of food. And the Jews were becoming believers coming to the saying, "Hey, you Gentiles, you have to also be circumcised. You also have to eat certain kind of food." So, what is Paul saying here? You're made righteous. How? Not by your works, not just by keeping some religious traditions, not by keeping doing some good works, not by performing rituals, but believing in the gospel and putting your faith in Jesus Christ. Okay? And once we are made right with God by faith, we are also called to live by faith. Look at that. How beautifully he says he we he says we are called to live by faith. He says the just shall live by >> faith. Okay, from faith to faith. Okay, so he's what is he trying to tell the Jews? Hey Jews, when you become from, you know, Jewish faith, you're coming to the Christian faith. How do you continue to live your life? Not with traditions, not with rituals, not with circumcision, not by keeping certain days, not by keeping certain ways of uh eating food, but by faith. Okay. And he says the just are called to live by faith. And look at how smart he is. I told you, you know, when we when I was doing the introduction, when we are studying the book of Romans, some things that we need to keep in mind is Paul was a very learned man. And he brings out the Old Testament very very smartly to speak to the Jews so that they will not discredit what he's saying and argue with him or not believe him. So he's saying I am not saying that the just shall live by faith. Who saying it? Who is saying that the just shall live by faith? Huh? Who is saying the just shall live by faith? The prophet Habakuk is written in the word of God. It's written in the Old Testament. He's telling the Jews, please read Habacook chapter 2 verse 4. How will the just live? Not by fa, not by works, not by keeping certain rituals, but by faith. So how do you become righteous or just before God? When you put your faith in Jesus Christ. And he's saying how do you continue in that faith? By living a life of faith. Because the just shall live by faith. See how he's he's very clever. He knows what the Jews are thinking because he's a Jew, right? He's also being a very zealous Jew persecuting the Christians because all this was in his mind. he's writing and you look at how cleanly and logically he's bringing about his argument. Okay. So, uh he says we're also called to live by faith. So, there are three important truths here. The first important truth is grace. God provides what we cannot earn. Unmmerited favor. Okay. Divine favor. God provides us what we cannot earn. We cannot earn our own salvation. The second thing is righteousness. God makes us right with himself through Christ Jesus. And the third thing is what? Grace, righteousness and >> faith. Yes, we receive it how do we believe? How do we receive uh faith? Uh how do we receive our salvation? >> By believing in Jesus Christ. We receive it by believing and we continue to live by faith. That is why Paul says, "The righteous shall live by faith." And this is exactly what Paul will begin explaining throughout the book of Romans. So he's actually setting up the stage here. He's setting up the stage. He's saying, "Hey, we live by we receive salvation by faith and we live by faith, not by works." So this is exactly what Paul will be explaining throughout the Romans that the gospel reveals God's way of making people right with him. And how does he make it right with him? By faith and not by works. Okay. So, till verse 17 of chapter 1 is like the introduction to the book of Romans. Now, he gets down to serious things like I told you. He talks about the gospel. You know, he talks about the wroth of God. He talks about the existence. He gives a proof of the existence of God. And that is what he will be doing in the rest of chapter one. Okay. Okay. So now he's going to get down to serious things about God's judgment, God's wroth, the proof of God's existence. I want you all to listen carefully, please. And how man denies the existence of God and continues in sin and what is the ultimate judgment. So you're ready? Yes. So these are, you know, important verses that we'll be looking at now. So wakey wakey everybody. Okay. Look at verses 18 and 19. Can somebody read Romans chapter 1 18 and 19? All my students, anyone can read verse 18 and 19, please. >> For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth and righteousness because what may be known of God is manifest in them for God has shown it to them. >> Amen. Verse 20 as well, please Sonia. 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. >> Amen. Thank you. So very important foundational uh you know important verses that we need to keep in mind, focus on now. Okay. So here we see that God is not ignoring the sin that is taking place in the world. Okay. God's wroth uh is his righteousness in opposition to sin. Says, "For the wroth of God is revealed against heaven." So you can say, "Hey, why suddenly Paul is talking about the wroth of God when he's just talked about the righteous shall live by faith." Okay? Talks about the righteousness of God. Now, why is he talking about the wroth of God? He's talking about the wroth of God. I told you this is a a letter, so there's continuity. So even the wrath of God is can be seen in how righteous he is because God is righteous. He opposes sin. Right? He's holy and therefore he cannot approve or he cannot overlook ungodliness and unrighteousness. Right? So he's continuing from that whole aspect of you know we are the the just shall live by faith. We have been righteous, made righteous because of Jesus's righteousness. And what does that righteousness do? The righteousness of God is something that opposes sin or that cannot stand sin or does not approve or overlook ungodliness and unrighteousness. But how did humanity get into this condition of unrighteousness and unholiness and you know godlessness? Paul says that people suppress the truth in what? In unrighteousness. Please look at your Bibles. Very important. Okay, these verses are who suppress the truth in >> unrighteousness. So the problem is not that God has hidden the truth from humanity. Okay? God has made the truth about himself known. Look at what he says. Okay? People suppress the truth in what? Unrighteousness. Because what may be known of God is manifest to them. That means what? Already all that needs to be known of God is already been >> manifested means what? Made known, revealed in a very real tangible way that we can see, feel, and experience. And it says, "For God has shown it to them." Okay? For God has shown it to them. But in spite of God making the truth about himself known, what do people do? What do people do? They suppress the truth or they hold down the truth rather than acknowledging it and responding to it. Look at verse 19. Because what may be known of God is manifest in them. For God has shown it to them. That means God has revealed himself sufficiently to people. He's made himself known sufficiently to people that he exists, his nature, his attributes, and that he is worthy of worship. Okay? But in spite of him making it known, what do people do? They suppress it. They hold it down. And how has God made known this truth that he is he exists his attributes his nature that he's worthy of worship? How has he made it known? What does the verse tell us? Verse 20. Verse 20. How has he made it known to us that he exists? His attributes, his nature. How has he made it known to us? >> Through his creation. >> Yes. Through his creation. Look at verse 20. For since the creation of his world, his invisible attributes, that means the attributes that we cannot see. Because God is spirit, spirit being, we cannot see him. What does it say? Are his invisible attributes are what? >> Clearly seen. Look at that. clearly seeing being not only clearly seeing but also >> being understood by the things that are made. So Paul is pointing out here to creation. He's saying the God who is invisible has made certain things known about himself or made his the invisible attributes about himself known. How >> through what he has created. So when we look at creation there is enough evidence about God's power that he exists his wisdom his order his divine nature his attributes right and the vastness of this universe the complexity of this universe is beyond you know a universe is a point beyond creation itself that reveals the creator. So if you for example god's uh you know his nature is that he's an infinite being right he's infinite uh that is his invisible attribute right we cannot see god himself but when we look at the vastness of this universe when we look at the complexity of this universe we get a glimpse of how great and limitless this creator god is this god is right if you look at just the the the stars there are numerous stars and galaxies right we can't even count or we cannot even imagine that itself reveals how inf infinite uh god is who created the vastness and the complexity of this universe so creation therefore is like a signpost pointing us to god and that is why Paul is saying that people are without excuse so People cannot make an excuse that there is no God. Why? Cuz God has already revealed himself through his creation. Invisible attributes of God are clearly seen through his creation and being understood. So people cannot say God never revealed himself to me. People cannot say show me God then I'll believe God or I don't believe there is there is anyone called God because God has already revealed himself through his creation. God has made himself known through his creation. But human beings instead of acknowledging this truth, humanity has suppressed this truth. And this sets up Paul's argument for the rest of Romans. So what is he setting up here? He's saying humanity's problem is not that God has failed to reveal himself but humanity has rejected the revelation God has given. Okay, let's move on to verses 21 and 22. Can somebody read that please? 21 and 22 quickly. Because although they knew God, they did not glorify him. Has God not were thankful but become >> futile? >> Futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened >> darkened >> dark >> professing >> professing to be why wise they become fools. >> They became fools. Amen. Thank you. So even though they had the knowledge of God through what God revealed himself through a through creation, what did they do? What did they do? Look at verse 21. >> They did not glorify him. >> They did not glorify him as God. And what else? >> Nor were they thankful. Okay. So creation is so great and so magnificent that it points to the creator or to God and they had enough revelation to recognize that. But instead of acknowledging and worshiping God, they deliberately rejected the truth that has been given to them. And what is the result of what they did? Look at what is the result. Latter part of verse 21. latter part of verse 21, they became >> futile in their thoughts and their foolish hearts were darkened. Their rejection of God or their rejection of the truth about God affected not only who they woripped, not only uh you know their worship but also their their thinking. Okay, their thinking. So when we reject the truth, what happens? Our thinking becomes distorted. Right? This is where the battle happens. Why? The minute you reject the truth of who you are, what God has called you, what he has enabled to you to do, what is his plan and purpose, your thinking becomes distorted. You think I'm useless, good for nothing, nothing I can be of this one, you know. So you begin to live lies. You reject the truth and it's affecting your thinking. Why is it affect what what happens when it affects your thinking? What you think becomes your becomes your what? Once you think something, what do you do? >> You do it. It becomes your action. Your action becomes your >> habit. Your habit becomes your character. Who you are, right? So rejecting the truth, it affects their thinking. So when we reject the truth, our thinking becomes distorted. It becomes shaken. Yeah. It becomes it uh it uh it begins to believe what is not the truth. It is it changes or bends towards the lies. Look at verse 22. He says, "Professing to be wise, they became fools." That means what? Professing to be wise means they're trying to find out how creation was created. scientific reasons, big bang theory all came with the big bang. So he's saying trying to be wise in their own eyes. You know how when we try to give an explanation how everything came into this universe. So human beings were trying to be wise and how to explain everything came into the universe. But even as they were trying to do it, they became fools because they were not try to they were not able to prove it. Okay. So the issue is not they lacked intelligence. The issue is not they lacked knowledge. The problem was they rejected the truth about God because we can't say pe human beings were are foolish. No, God created us as intellect intelligent beings, right? He gave us his wisdom. He created us in his image. He did not create us as fools. So problem is not that they lacked intelligence or knowledge. The problem was they rejected the truth about God. So a person can have great intelligence. A person can have great knowledge. Okay. They can give sophesticated explanations for the universe and they can still refuse the knowledge of the creator. They can still refuse the truth and not worship the creator. So Paul is showing us how we deliberately as human beings went away from the truth. So what is he saying? They knew God. Okay. But they did not glorify him as God. Are you following with me everyone? Very important. They knew God. They did not glorify him as God. They when they did not glorify him as God, what happened? They rejected their the truth. Once they rejected the truth, what happens? Their thinking became >> futile or darkened. And professing to be wise in their own eyes, they became fools. So the fundamental problem is not lack of evidence that God did not give them evidence that he is there that he is God. It is a refusal to the knowledge of God despite the revelation that he has given. Okay, let's move on verses 23- 27. Can somebody read that please? 23- 27. and changed the glory uh of the incorruptible God into an image made like corrupt corruptable man and birds and for-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness in the lust of their hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves who exchanged the truth of God uh for the lie and worshiped and served um creature rather than a creator who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them uh up to wild passions. For even their women exchange the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men living the nature uh natural use of women burn in their lust for one another. Men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of the error which was due. >> Amen. Thank you. So instead of worshiping the glorious and the incorruptible God, what did they do? They exchanged his glory for created things. Things that perished. Okay? That means they worshiped the >> creation rather than the creator. They brought the glory of the creator down to the likeness of man, animals, birds, and creeping things. So sad. Notice the progression. They knew God, but they refused to glorify him as God. And they exchanged the truth for a lie. And they chose to worship the creation rather than the creator. And Paul says twice, what does he say twice here? Look at what he says in verse 24 and 26. He uses a phrase twice there. What does he say? Verse 24 and verse 26. What is the phrase he repeats? God gave them up. God gave them up. What does it mean? It does not mean that God approved of what they were, their ungodly nature, you know, their ungodly, their sin, their unrighteousness. Does not mean God approved of what they were doing. It means God allowed them to go their way. God allowed them to go their way. experience what they were going to experience and the consequences of the choices they made. So God was telling human beings if that is what you want to do and this is the way you want to think it's fine. Okay? Even though it's not what God wants, even though it's not what God desires or expects, he's saying you go your way. You have your way. So they rejected God's truth, but God gave them up to their own consequences of that rejection. So we can ask, why did God do that? Why didn't God stop them? Because it shows us that God created us human beings as moral beings with the ability to make our own choices. Did not create us as slaves or puppets on a string. Right? He gave us the gift of valition, the free will to choose for ourselves. And God does not force people to worship him but and to force us to choose the truth. But our con our choices has consequences. So he says God gave them up. That means he let them go. So what did God give them up to? Verse 24, what did he give them up to? Uncleanliness. So when you don't when you disregard the truth, you'll end up not glorifying God. You will end up not worshiping him. You will worship the creation rather than the creator. Your thinking will be futiled or darkened. Okay? And what will happen? It'll lead to all uncleanliness and they dishonor their bodies among them selves. Right? Then verse 25 explains what happened. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and they worshiped and served the creator rather than the create uh rather than the creator. They exchanged the truth for a lie and the creator for a creation. And verse 26 continues by describing the extent to which the rebellion affected their lives. Paul speaks of dishonorable passions and then describes sexual relations between people of the same sex. Right? A good example is when Moses went up the mountain, they made a image of a calf and what were they doing? >> Worshiping him. And what did it end up in? What kind of sin? All kind of rivalry and un lustful passions, right? It ended up in that, right? That is what happens when you go away from the truth and you don't worship God. It ends up in dishonorable passions. So he goes on to describe sexual relationships between people of the same gender. Okay. Verse 27 further describes men abandoning sexual relations with women and engaging in sexual relationship with other men, calling this as shameful and contrary to God's created order. Now this is important because Paul is showing that rejecting to worship and glorify the creator ultimately affects how people understand themselves, understand their bodies and God's design for human relationships. That's why he said the just shall live by their faith. The just shall live by their faith. So when you believe in Jesus, your lifestyle will be a lifestyle of faith in Jesus Christ. But when you fail to believe in Jesus to walk in the truth, this is what will all the consequences of that will happen. So Paul is showing that the reject rejecting the creator ultimately affects how people understand themselves, their own bodies and God's design for human relationship. Now this very significant issue in our days homosexuality uh you know and it's not a new issue because way back in in the Bible even in Noah's time even in Paul's time it's talking about it so the Bible is very clear that homosexuality or lesbianism is wrong it's not God's design right so there is a demand world over for homosexuality to be normal but here we see in the holy scriptures that it is not it is not normal. It is not God's design. It's not God's plan or what he intended. It is basically dishonoring our bodies. So the pro progression of this passage is very important. They knew God. They refused to glorify him. They exchanged the truth for a lie. They worshiped the creation instead of the creator. and God gave them up to the consequence of their rebellion. So you see Paul is building a larger argument here that when humanity rejects God, sin does not remain confined in just one area of our life but it affects our thinking, our worship, our desire and ultimately our behavior. Okay, we'll stop here. There is a question from Saagya in Romans chapter 1:13. He says that I might have some fruit among you. Uh so please explain that. So Romans 1:13 says, "I do not want you to be unaware brethren that I have that I often plan to come to you that I might have some fruit among you also just as among the Gentiles." So here the fruit refers to the spiritual results or the outcome as a result of Paul's ministry among the Romans. Okay. So what is the kind of fruit he's looking at that people coming to Christ through the preaching of the gospel people believers growing becoming stronger established in their faith uh spiritual transformation taking place in their lives and also the gospel being uh you know producing visible uh results in the uh church. Okay. So that is um uh what he's saying that he wants to see happening in the b basically them growing be established being strengthened in their uh faith. Okay. So the progression is he wants to impart to them so that they can be established in their faith. They can be encouraged and it will produce fruit. Okay. That is something that we also have to look in our ministry. I hope that helps. So Bagya. Okay. Reanita your hand is up. You have a question. Yes, pastor. Uh, two things. Uh, when, uh, Paul is writing about the God's wrath on unrighteousness, is he addressing it to the church of Roman? >> Yes, he's he's writing to the church at Rome. Yes, >> at Rome. Okay. Uh, one other thing is, is it possible for you to explain to me for it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith? Uh, pastor. >> Okay. Uh, we time time is up. It's already 51. I have to go for my next class. But I will explain that uh next week. Is that okay? >> Yeah, that's fine. Yeah, master. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you all for joining class. Have a blessed day and I'll meet you uh next week. Thank you.