The Unrighteousness of Men

Romans 1:24-32

Romans 1:32 "Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them."

It is not hard to see that the world around us is plagued with sinful tendencies. In Romans 1:18-32, this is what Paul is talking about. He is explaining the pattern of what happens to men when they refuse to honor God. Paul explains how these unrighteous men obtain "futile thinking" and "darkened hearts" all because the choose "the creature rather than the creator." Ultimately, this futile thinking leads to many impurities such as the dishonoring of the body (impure heterosexual relations/adultery, Romans 1:24), the dishonoring of the created order (impure homosexual relations/homosexuality, Romans 1:26-27), and ultimately a whole other list of things that dishonor the God who created them such as murder, hatred of God, and faithlessness. In the end, the unrighteousness of men actually turns its mind to not only doing these impure things, but giving approval to them (Romans 1:31). Surely the unrighteousness of men knows no bounds.

But what does this mean for us? Why does Paul include this in his letter to the Romans? I believe he explains this for two reasons: 1) So that we may be away of the doctrine behind the unrighteousness of men, and 2) so that we may respond to the unrighteousness of men in the right way. Firstly, reading through Romans 1 enables us to get a better grasp on the world around us. It allows us to understand why men are the way that they are, and why the world is so currupt. Secondly, reading through Romans 1 enables us to have a basis for the way that we respond. When scripture commands us to be a "light of the world" that is like a "city on a hill that cannot be shaken" (Matthew 5:14), we must know why and where we are shining our light. Ultimately, Romans 1 answers both of these questions. We must firstly shine our light because the world is so depraved and needs to hear the Gospel, and secondly we shine our light into the world that is so depraved. No one goes into a dark forest without knowing where to shine his flashlight; likewise, Romans 1 shows us where we ought to take the Gospel.

So, now that you know the doctrine behind the unrightousness of men, where will you shine your light?

[Side Note: Ever get discouraged when you look at America and doubt that God is in control? Read Romans 1. God knows exactly what's going on, and in fact Paul outlines it for us in Romans 1. Every people group that falls first denies the truth of God (agnosticism/atheism), then chooses sin over God's salvation (paganism), then involves itself in dishonoring bodily activities (adultery), then involves itself in same-sex sexual activity (homosexuality), and ultimately then involves itself with the approval of all that is unrighteous (hmmm, legalization of gay marriage and abortion?). Hmmm, does the pattern of atheism-paganism-adultery-homosexuality sound familiar? Don't think for a moment that God is unaware and unsovereign over our country; he knows exactly what's going on.]