THE BEST SUMMER EVER
UNCENSORED
OUTLINE
GOD’S PUNISHMENT IS REAL
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
&unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 bc what may be
known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
LIVE BY GOD’S WORD (18-19)
GOD’S PRESENCE IS RECOGNIZED
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 & Godhead, so that
they are without excuse, 21 bc, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God,
nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, & their foolish hearts were
darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 & changed the glory of the
incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—& birds & four-footed
animals & creeping things.
LOOK FOR GOD IN CREATION (20-23)
GOD’S PENALTY IS RECIEVED
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,
& worshiped & served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.
Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. or 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, & receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which
was due.
LOVE FROM A FATHERS HEART FOR HIS CHILDREN (24-27)
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 backbiters, haters of
God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing (blatant
rebellion) 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.
LEAN ON GOD’S PROVISION OF JESUS. (28-32)
TRANSCRIPT
WALK UP
Hey Ya'll, We want to welcome everyone in to this service. Welcome all our locations and all those listening or watching online. Last Week started studying through the book of Romans verse by verse. I just love God’s word ya’ll—sometimes it is tough but I just love it. Today, I want to give you a little heads up you might want to put on your spiritual helmet or go to your safe place because Romans holds no punches.
Pray.
OPEN
Ill<><This will kind of date me (and makes me feel like this is my I remember when we got electricity story) but remember when this truck came to my house with this big ole dish on the back of it. Looked like something from the space center. I went from having two channels WDAM & WLOX to all these new channels. Channels like TNN, TBS, Sports channel. My favorite channel was USA network channel 21. Press Your Luck & Hollywood Stars. WWF All American Wrestling. Oh yeah, baby, Dusty Rhodes. It also had movies come on it & I watched this movie one time & it was a really good movie. So a little while later when I was at the movie rental place (before Netflix & Hulu) & I told my parents this is a great movie. We got it and popped it in & started watching it during our family movie night. Within the first 5 minutes of the message, they had dropped like 5 F-bombs. My mom looked at me and said you watched this movie!! I answered, "Um I did, but it didn’t have that kind of language in it." That is when I learned the USA network censored the movies it showed. They took out all the content that was not suitable for a mainstream audience and played a censored version of the movie.
As I listen to preaching all over this nation. I listen to all classes, colors, & denominations. There is one thing in common that I find throughout many of them. There is censorship happening of God's word. (Listen I am not elevating myself higher than any other preacher of the Gospel-I'm sure there are times I have been guilty of not handling the word of God correctly) However, as I listen & read messages I see men & women leaving out parts that make the word more suitable for a mainstream audience.
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Paul continues in chapter 1 talking about the sinfulness of man & I am so glad he doesn’t censor anything. He just goes straight at it. There are a few topics today that are a bit adult in nature. I am going to handle them with care but there may be a few edgy moments in this message. So I want to let you know if you have children in the room. We do have Springs Kids available at your campus if you'd like to take them there.
Let me say this about that while I’m on it.....The church must not shy away from difficult topics. If the only place our children and students are hearing about sexuality, sexual identity, intimacy, or intercourse is from media, a friend, or from a screen the only reference point they will have is what they heard or watched. We need to be a reference point for this generation so they know what truth is. I’ll say amen to myself on that one. So lets get into our scripture for today. I'm going to give you a point to begin the scripture than a point to end the text & allow the Holy Spirit to speak this into our hearts.
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GOD’S PUNISHMENT IS REAL
Scripture Romans 1:18-19
18 For the wrath of God…
Commentary—(When you think of the wrath of God what do you think of? I think of God zapping people with lightning & terror & the earth splitting in half) (There will be a terrible day with fire & brimstone but that is not the reference in this text)(This is the Greek it is orge-meaning a controlled anger. Angry birthed out of care for someone or something—if you don’t care you don’t get angry—You get mad bc it happens to your child bc you care—you hate if happened to someone else’s child but if it happens to yours that's a different story)
…is revealed from heaven…
- Commentary—(This is present wrath—being carried out now.
…against all ungodliness & unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
- Commentary—The Target of Wrath is -- 1. Ungodliness (Living like God doesn’t exist) 2. Unrighteousness (Living by what you think is right) 3. Suppress the Truth—Intentionally excluding something for personal satisfaction. Remember they are in a Roman culture—wouldn’t allow truth to come forth—killed people for it—Seen family members killed publicly bc stood for truth. Paul is saying there is wrath for those that are living like God doesn't exist and doing what they think is right.
19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
Here is what the Lord showed me out of these two verses. We must....
LIVE BY GOD’S WORD (18-19)
- Word of God is the standard or line by which we live our lives. Everyone lives by a standard even though the standards may be vastly different. As followers of Jesus, our standard must be the Word of God. However, we live in a Tolerant Society that says there is not absolute truth. The very statement that there is no absolute truth is an absolute statement in nature. Therefore, it contradicts itself. To say there is no truth would be truth in itself which I would call insanity. If there is no absolute then it would be perfectly fine for me to go around and kick people in the shins. When I didn't like something they did or they made me mad I’d kick them in the shin. You might say that is not right. I would say it is right for me because it is what I feel. If we base truth off of a feeling then it is true. It might harm you and harm society but who cares its true for me. The culture would say "No, there is some basic right and wrong elements we have to align our actions with. In turn, I would say so you do believe in absolute truth.
- Here is what is concerning to me about many Christians. Many Christians know what social media says about things. They know what Fox News says or NBC says. They know what Obama said or What Trump said. They know what their favorite celebrity tweeted out last night. But they do you know what the Word of God says about.
- God is calling some of you to rise up & know the word of God. To Live by the Word of God.
When we know the word of God and live by the word of God it protects us from the wrath of God. This wrath of God is being out from under His protection. It is Imperative for you to understand the Wrath of God and how it works here. Sin is a punishment for sin.
Let me try to explain it this way. Illustration<>< Let's say your 19-year old son is making a mess of his life with all kinds drugs & wild living. Come to your son & say, "You are 19 I can't run your life for you. But if you are going to stay in this home you must follow our rules. If you can’t follow those rules you are going to have to leave this house. Your Son, sadly, walks out and refuses to follow your rules. The lifestyle he is choosing will be the wrath that is revealed to him. He will no longer be under the protection and security of your home. We choose the wrath of God. We are free rein or to ruin the life
Illustration<><It is like someone standing on top of a tall building. Says I’m free to jump if I want & I don't believe jumping will hurt me. The person jumps & someone asks them on the way down how is it going & they say so far so good. The just haven’t hit bottom yet.
When we live by the word of God it protects us from the wrath of God.
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The next principle I see in this text is....
GOD’S PRESENCE IS RECOGNIZED (Romans 1:20-23)
Scripture
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen,
Commentary (God’s presence is clearly seen in nature and His creation. Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare glory to God.
I’ve heard People say they feel so close to God out in nature. That’s accurate because God is revealed in nature. You can see God in everything if we will take time to look.
I was having my devotion time this morning out on the porch & I just paused and listened to the birds singing. There were 100s of them. I could hear them declaring God's glory.
Scripture
20…being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power & Godhead,
Commentary—This is saying that seeing God in nature is universal. He can be seen on the Serengeti of Africa or in the Glaciers of Antarctica.
20…so that they are without excuse,
commentary—Evidence for God is overwhelming. He is saying there is enough general revelation about God to hold everyone accountable in nature but there is not enough specific revelation of Christ for someone living in the jungle who never hears about God to be saved.
We were created for worship. We were programmed and wired to worship God. This causes us to naturally seek God. This is why in every known period of history there is always some form of worship & gods. People will worship something.
21 bc, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, & their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
Commentary— This was almost like it was written yesterday. We live in a time & space where we have more knowledge than ever before. We have become a very intelligent society filled with information. Many might even say that we are the smartest people that have ever existed. We profess to be wise but in actuality, we live in a foolish culture.
The real genuine truth is hard to find. This is the progression I see that has happened. 1st—There is a Repression of Truth. This means I really don’t like the way truth makes me feel so I will not really focus on it or just avoid it altogether. 2nd—Rejection of Truth. This happens when we say this is no longer the truth. We are a progressive culture and this is no longer valid in our culture. 3rd—Replacement of Truth. We make up our own truth. If we believe it is right & culture agrees then it is agreed as truth. Here is the problem Truth can’t be replaced because if something is true that means it is always true. If it can become untrue then it was never true in the first place. It was a fact that changed. Facts are not the truth.
23 & changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—& birds & four-footed animals & creeping things.
Here is the Application I get out of this scripture. We must…
LOOK FOR GOD IN CREATION (20-23)
God has designed all this then we can see him in it if we look.
Illustration—I like my apple watch. I often forget to put it on but when I remember I like it. It tells me so much. It tells me my heart rate. It tells me how many calories I have burned. After preaching all day I really burn a lot of calories. Just imagine I’m walking along the beach & I find this watch laying there. I put it on my wrist and it begins to read my heartbeat. In that moment what do I think? Do I think someone designed this watch or do I think over millions of years the ocean has washed up against as sea shell and it formed this watch and with the energy of the waves it gave it life? No, I think Steve Jobs & Apple. They are the creator.
When we look at the tree we shouldn’t think that just another tree. No No No it is designed by God. When we see the sun rising up out of the ocean on the horizon we know God is revealing Himself to us.
Let us not take the Creator and worship what He created. Let's worship God almighty who formed all life.
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The next thing scripture teaches us is…
GOD’S PENALTY IS RECEIVED
Scripture
24 Therefore God also gave them up…
Commentary—This is seen several times in the next few verses. What does this mean?? Well, let me tell you what it doesn’t mean. It doesn’t mean God doesn’t love these people. It doesn’t mean these people can’t be saved from their sins.
Gave them up—is a Judicial term—The judge would give them over as a prisoner. So what this is saying—God (the judge) is saying—you want to live that way—go ahead but I’m out—He completely abandons that person to live by their own desires & passions.
You must know this is a result of verses 20-23 that man chose to worship what was created over the creator.
Scripture…
24…to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, & worshiped & served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. 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, & receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
Commentary-Everybody take a deep breath. Paul speaks directly about a particular result of the worship of creation rather than the creator. That when mankind worship in this horizontal manner rather than a vertical manner they lose the ability to of the most basic natural instincts and that is the desire between a man & a woman. He addresses homosexuality to illustrate the extent to which sin will take you into insanity.
He is saying they thought they were so wise & smarter than God & look where it landed them.
Because this is such a divisive topic I want to say this. He is not addressing homosexuality because it is a superior sin. He is addressing it because it was so prevalent in the Roman culture. It was very common for a married to have a partner of the same sex or have had a partner of the same sex prior to his or her marriage. This was a very accepted and common practice even in religious cultures. I have heard some say He is referring to this because God hates it more than any other sin and this is just not true. He uses this topic because everyone would understand his greater issues and that was the worshiping the wrong thing.
So Pastor what do you say about this verse. Are you going to cower away from the topic? You know I don’t & I won’t. I would say, first of all, it doesn’t matter what I think or what you think about the topic of homosexuality. I know good people who choose this lifestyle. I really care for them but scripture teaches it is a choice. From the scripture, I just read off the pages of God’s Word he tells us that it is not natural for a man or woman to be attracted to another person of the same sex. How do you explain people who are born that way? Let me answer that question this way. Honestly, I was born a liar. When I was years old I could rattle off a lie as good as anyone. It was natural for me. That is how I was born so does that mean it is OK for me to lie. It feels right when I lie. We all know that is not true. We are all born with tendencies that are impure. This one our culture has taken and said you can’t say that because it hurts people’s feelings.
I know that we have people who are engaged in homosexuality in our services today. I’m sure we have people that staunchly disagree with what I am saying. I can even hear the chatter of I will never invite my gay friend here. I want you to know that we are an inclusive community of believer. People of all races and sexualities are welcome here. So you are welcome and no one in the service is any different than you. We all struggle with things in our lives. You should want to bring your homosexual friends here for someone who is going to lovingly with a good heart tell them the truth. We are a place for all sinner & I am the biggest one in the group.
I could never bring my friend here & they are transgender or in same-sex relationship. I would say to you that this is the only place you should bring them because this is the truth, my friends.
(Scripture)
or even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
(Commentary)
Women were usually last affected by moral decay.
(Application)
LOVE FROM A FATHERS HEART FOR HIS CHILDREN (24-27)
God loves us as a Father and we should love from a Fathers' heart. Illustration<><I love being a father. God called me to preach but he made me be a Father. Sometimes, not often, my wife will leave me alone with the kids. I have one goal when keeping the kids by myself. My goal is that I have the same number of children when she returns as I had when she left. They eat what they want to, go to bed when they want to, & we just have a good time. I noticed one time when I was keeping my children that the house was quiet. Quiet is the international sign that something is up. I walked into the kitchen and found my middle daughter holding a knife by the blade end. I eased close to her & she took off running. I finally snuck up behind her and was able to pry the knife out of her hand. When I took the knife from her she cried. She thought I was being mean to her. She thought I was being closed minded to her. I was actually saving her from harm.
What she was doing felt like the right thing. She was enjoying it. However, ultimately there was going to be pain & hurt. My mercy was viewed as punishment.
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(Scripture)
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind,
(Commentary)
Debased refers to a metal that contained so many impurities it was not useful in building or making anything. A mind that is debased is like this not useful for building.
This culture was doing things unthinkable by a normal mind. They were killing believers for entertainment. They were throwing unwanted babies out in the street. They were killing slaves on spot for no reason & no penalty.
(Scripture)
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 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing (blatant rebellion) 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. (That gets everybody)
(Commentary)
Paul is nailing these sinful people & gives over 20 sins that they were participating in.
(Application)
LEAN ON GOD’S PROVISION OF JESUS. (28-32)
It is obvious all of us are sinful in every way. And God could have left us hanging but He stepped in and provided for us.
He demonstrates His love for us while we were still a sinner Christ died for us.
He provided—He provided—He provided.
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