We have been looking and examining the wrath of God. As we have noted before, few people in the world have any real fear of God and His wrath. God wrath has an end time or eschatological element and present reality. We understand the punishment at the end of time.
Revelation 20:15 (NKJV) And anyone not found written in the Book of Life was cast into the lake of fire.
The torment there is everlasting. And the Bible indicates that there are degrees of punishment. Those that knowingly sin, fully knowing, willing and deliberately transgressing a holy God will receive the greater condemnation. God has made his presence known to all men, so all men are without excuse.
Romans 1:20 (NKJV) 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,
John clearly illustrates this truth. Men deliberately choose darkness over the light
John 3:19 (NKJV) And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
But there is also a present reality to God’s wrath. How does God display his wrath now? What are the present “Results of God’s Wrath?” (Sermon Title) We can make a good argument about natural disasters and God allowing terrorist attacks to punish, but herein today’s passage is what God does do. He gives people just what they ask for.
Romans 1:24–32 (NKJV)
Three times in this short passage we read, “God gave them up” or “God gave them over.” The Greek word here is “pared?ken.” tmeaning to be given over, given up, surrendered something to an authority. This word was used when Jesus was delivered to the Romans for crucifixion. It has a real sense of being abandoned. Herein is the essence of the word, “abandonment.”
The word is in an active tense meaning God actively does this, and it is not a passive action on His part. He turn people over for destruction, by the sin of their choice. There is a cause and effect action here. Let’s look at it briefly:
Romans 1:23 (NKJV) and changed the glory of the incorruptible God . . .
Romans 1:24 (NKJV) Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness . . .
They exchanged God’s glory and the holiness of the incorruptible God, to that of corruptible and filthy man so God gave them over to uncleanness.
Romans 1:25 (NKJV) who exchanged the truth of God for the lie . . .
Romans 1:26 (NKJV) For this reason God gave them up to vile passions . . .
Man made his own truth, God abandoned man to man’s version of what is true, which is the lie.
Romans 1:28a (NKJV) And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge
Romans 1:28b (NKJV) God gave them over to a debased mind . . .
Man rejected God’s wisdom, so God let them have the fool’s wisdom (Psalm 14:1); “The fool has said in his heart ‘There is no God.’” Do we really understand the implications of God giving over someone? God abandons a soul. That person is dead while he lives. Is there a chance that he can come back to God? The short answer is no. The fact is none of us can come to God unless God first reveals Himself to us. This He has done to all people at some point. To those who search for God, with all their heart will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). Jesus said we cannot be drawn to Him unless God draws us: (John 6:44) The problem is, nothing is scripture indicates that this drawing to Jesus, this revelation of God revealing Himself to each individual is opened ended. God gave man a free will. And God honors the choices that are made.
A person who rejects the revelation of God, and resist the draw of God to Jesus, runs the risk of God abandoning that person to the choice he/she has made. The fact is, death-bed conversions are pretty rare. Most people have made that choice long before they reach that point of death. Those who actively suppress the truth of God, at some point God will give them over. To the one God gives over, they are completely unaware of what has taken place. There is no longer any desire or even the curiosity to seek after God. For all practical purposes, God no long exist to that person.
Does that mean there is no hope for them? I don’t know, only God knows, but His word said that He has abandoned them. God has not given me the discernment to know who He has given over, so my preaching and witnessing is to all. But we do have some indicators.
In a real sense the results of God’s condemnation on rebellious humanity are nothing more than the natural consequences of suppressing truth, ignoring revelation, and perverting God’s glory.
However, God did more than simply let nature take its course. God acted to abandon people to expressions of a corrupt lifestyle that deserved God’s wrath and the sentence of death. [1]
Romans 1:32 (NKJV) 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.
In fact, I have met some folks who bragged about going hell. In this life they know they deserve death and many will flaunt it. And as they sin they are storing up wrath:
Romans 2:5 (NKJV) But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,
Let’s examine to what God is giving over for those who have rejected Him:
Romans 1:24 (NKJV) Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
Why did God give them over. As we read, they exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God into an image of themselves and their desires. God gave them over the uncleanliness they themselves desired.
Moral degradation is a consequence of God’s wrath, not the reason for it. Sin inevitably creates its own penalty. “One is punished by the very things by which he sins.” Through the psalmist God declared, “My people would not listen to me … so I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own desires” (Ps 81:11–12). Divine judgment is God permitting people to go their own way. [2]
Romans 1:25 (NKJV) who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
Man worships – gives worth to things (including himself) that is undeserving of worship rather than to God who deserves all worship. “who exchanged the truth of God for the lie.” What lie is that? It all began in the garden. Eve was deceived by the serpent and was told by the serpent:
Genesis 3:5 (NKJV) For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Man has the desire to be a god, master of his own destiny. The lie is that we can exist independent of God. The current culture has bought into that lie, hook, line, and sinker. The collective mind of our society claims to know right from wrong apart from God. The words of God, the Bible is considered antiquated, and out of touch with today’s world. Such out of date notions like sex only within the confine of marriage of one man to one woman reflects an out of step ideals. What does God know? "I can choose any gender I want to be." The world around us considers themselves “enlighten” but the word of God says they are in darkness. However, people who have been given over are not necessarily un-religious. I believe some are very religious, they are however completely un-godly in that they do what is right in their own eyes. That was the problem with Israel in the OT days of the Judges.
Judges 21:25 (NKJV) In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
They did not see or know what was right in the eyes of God, but they called the shots, they did what was selfish and self-advancing.
Romans 1:26–27 (NKJV) 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.
Bear with me, theses verses are rather graphic images of homosexuality. However, these verses are some of the clearest condemnation of homosexuality in the NT. Paul clearly calls it unnatural. Even a casual look at homosexuality shows it is against nature. I have heard it argued the fall into homosexuality is a sign that God has given them over. This may very well be true. But God rescue people from that sin. Paul comments about homosexuality to the those in Corinth.
1 Corinthians 6:9–11 (NKJV) Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.
The power of God can rescue souls from the clutches of immorality, pornography, homosexuality, gender confusion, alcoholism and drug addiction. But here is the problem in today's world: some do not wish to be rescued.
Romans 1:28 (NKJV) 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;
God giving one over is a progressive action. The more one put out of their mind the things of God, the easier it is deviate from God’s standards to do those things that are not fitting. Their minds become corrupt (as translated in the CSB, the NIV and NASB have "depraved" mind). The word in the Greek is “adokimos,” meaning worthless, or a mind incapable of making sound and moral judgments, or a mind that is morally reprehensible. And what things are not fitting?
Romans 1:29–31 (NKJV) being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
Look around you. We don’t have time to examine each one of these reprehensible traits, but they are on display in the world around us. Scripture tells us in the later times, there will be a great falling away. It is happening in whole Christian denominations, but it is also happening to our entire culture, which was, at one time, based on Christianity. Today, our culture is anything but Christian.
1 Timothy 4:1–2 (NKJV) Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, 2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron,
We see whole political parties who conscience are seared with a hot iron. No conscience is a sure sign of God giving one over.
One can only cringe at the “wrath of God” that awaits those public officials in government who, by passing legislation which not only does not restrain evil but in fact encourages it, have made it possible for millions to yield to the temptation to sin. It is true that many, weak in conviction, conscience, and caring, will not sin when they think that public sentiment is against them. But remove the restraints of moral imperatives, and sin multiplies. One of the responsibilities of leadership is to encourage righteousness and thereby restrain sin. [3]
Jesus tells us that His coming will be like the days of Noah:
Genesis 6:5 (NKJV) Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
That is the day in which we live. It would appear God has given over whole groups of people. And here is the clincher. These people who do wrong also encourage others to do likewise. Our Justice system, with worldly judges and worldly law makers are forcing people to accept these ungodly issues.
Romans 1:32 (NKJV) 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.
Can you see why judgment day will be such a fearful day for the world? Romans 1:20 tells us that they are without excuse.
Next week, we will look at the righteous judgment of God. But we have the means of escape from the judgment and the wrath of God which is coming. We have Jesus. Jesus became sin for us and endured the wrath of God on the cross in our place.
You might see yourself characterized by some of these ungodly traits and sins we have covered this morning. You might be wondering if God has given you over, if it is too late to turn to Him.
I want to insure you, that if you are having such thoughts, it is not too late. Those thoughts are the moving of the Holy Spirit, God drawing you to Jesus. It is not too late yet. Do not stiff arm the Spirit but allow the Spirit to do His work in our life.
2 Corinthians 6:2b (NKJV) Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
If God hasn’t given you over, He is delaying for your sake. Understand what is in the heart of God:
2 Peter 3:9b (NKJV) not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
You may be black from sin, but the blood of Jesus can make you whiter than snow. We also come this morning to the supper Table of our Lord. The whole purpose of this memorial meal is that of remembrance. Remembering the sacrifice Jesus made on our behalf and we look forward to His coming again.
[1] John A. Witmer, “Romans,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 443.
[2] Robert H. Mounce, Romans, vol. 27, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 81.
[3] Kenneth Boa and William Kruidenier, Romans, vol. 6, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2000), 57.
