Contributor: Alex Kokobili

INTRODUCTION:  Apostle Paul in the admonition in Romans 1:24-27 focused on the plight (or what would be) of those who refused to repent of their wrongdoings despite knowing the truth about God’s righteousness. The focus here reveals that the Romans were knowledgeable about the righteousness and true faith in God. Apostle Paul issued this warning to all men to depart from all unrighteousness or else face the judgment of God as seen in earlier verses (Romans 1: 18-23); in that, the same men who had known God, still dishonoured Him in their unrighteousness. They rejected God in their unrighteousness, thinking the availability of grace is an excuse to sin, but forgetting the consequences. (Romans 6: 1 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound”). Thus, all unrighteous comes with its own consequences and without genuine repentance, God can also deliberately withdraw His presence from such people. This means a person(s) will face the consequences of their unrighteousness which eventually leads to eternal damnation. Sin is any unrighteousness towards God that separates us from His presence, (Isaiah 64:6-7) and even if it looks righteous or acceptable towards men. Sin separates us from God which leads to death. Sin is any human conduct that displays Satan- in-nature (SIN) 1 John 3:9-10 NKJV, “Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother”.

Apostle Paul’s Emphasis on Sin’s Consequences (Romans 1: 24-27)

1. Romans 1: 24(NKJV) “Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves”. The result of their actions as we can also see in the NLT: "So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies." {VILE: immoral, evil, disgusting, extremely wicked}

The word “Therefore” in V24 used in the NKJV means, consequently, as a result, for that reason, or the consequences of actions. Explaining at this point, God’s GRACE was no longer available for repentance, they abandoned God, and He also left them to their carnality. The focus is on the unrighteousness actions which were summarised in V18-23 ( * those who suppress the truth by their wickedness, * those who knew God, they rejected Him and did not glorify Him as God; Professing to be wise, they became fools, * those who changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things). The CONSEQUENCES start in V24 because God withdrew His Grace. It is, therefore, a terrible thing when God withdraws His presence from us due to sin and we fail to realize it. Some people don’t feel convicted any more of their sins and they don’t even care if they have backslidden. If such a person keeps on sinning, they might never receive God’s grace for repentance, no matter the volume of spiritual revelation they claim to have in defending their unrighteous conduct. Thus, a sinful person who is unwilling to repent will be ABANDONED by God to continue in their ways, without any caution.

2. Romans 1:25 -27 NKJV, “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 and the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other. Men did shameful things with other men, and as a result of this sin, they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved”.

Here we realize that there are consequences for those who edit the truth of God’s word to suit themselves when God forbids it (see also, Deut 4:2, 12:32). A person who abandons the truth of God’s word would end up accepting the lies of the world and also substitute the place of God with earthly things. (This is against the commandment of God to worship any other thing apart from Jehovah God Himself in Exodus 20:3-5). For instance: Some people are obsessed with food, pride, fashion, wealth, ambition, fame, etc. all of which have all taken the position of God in their lives despite the warning in the bible.

The beginning of Romans 1:26NKJV, used “For this reason”, which refers to as a result of or punishment of denying the truth that God revealed Himself to mankind.  This is important because God is concerned about how we receive His word and the way we conduct ourselves in spiritual things (worship) and usage of our body which all have consequences. The consequences we see in V26-27 tells us that such persons have become addicted to doing terrible things which are un-shameful to them without any remorse.

3. Romans 1:27c (NKJV) “they suffered within themselves the penalty they deserved”. Verse 27(AMP): “And then they paid for it, oh, how they paid for it emptied of God and love, godless and loveless wretches”.

What a tragedy when people become dead to the presence of God. (For instance, in Psalm 106:14-15 NKJV, “But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, And tested God in the desert. ¹⁵ And He gave them their request, But sent leanness into their soul)”

CONCLUSION

We are in an era whereby people choose to walk in their own ways and decide to serve God the way they feel, without accepting the truth of what the bible says. We must always bear in mind that there is a difference between a mistake and sinning perpetually. The latter could easily find grace if there is genuine repentance, while the former should be prepared for the severe consequences from God the great rewarder.

There is no such thing as good sin even if the sinner thinks it doesn’t affect others, because our actions matter to God at all times. Also, let’s us be aware that nobody is excusable or exempted when it comes to righteousness in God and we cannot be wiser or claim to know more than the word of God (1 Corinthians 1: 25 NKJV, “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.). Hence in the future study of Romans 1:28-30 NKJV, we will realize that those who think they know God but didn’t retain His righteousness; only deceived themselves.  This is so unfortunate because they eventually stand to lose eternity Mathew 7:23 NKJV “And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”.