I love the book of Romans. I did a bit of a chapter study starting with Romans 1 and wrote down what I thought it meant to me and to us as Christians...
In this chapter Paul expresses a deep longing to visit the Roman church; to be able to encourage them and also to be encouraged. 11 ’I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-12 that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.’ This is a great example of how important Christian fellowship is. And also that no one is ‘too Christian’ to be encouraged.
He then goes onto talk about God’s wrath against godless deeds of men. He talks about God’s eternal power being clear through creation and that we have no excuse for lack of faith. 20 ’For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.’ We can tell how great, powerful, wonderful, big and mighty our God is just from what He has made. Paul talks about those who, despite this knowledge, let their thinking turn selfish and foolish. He talks about people exchanging the glory of God for images. What is scary is that he says that God gave them over to their sinful desire. They didn’t take His word seriously and learnt to believe lies. They worshiped things rather than God and because of this God gave them over to their lusts. This needs to be taken seriously. Although these days we may not make idols to worship we often worship ‘things’ over God. By accepting lies in movies, music, foolish talk etc. we are learning to believe this rather than what God says is true. So in doing this we are no different. Yea...I’m worried. 25 ‘They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the creator’ 26 ‘Because of this God gave them over to their shameful lusts.’
This is big stuff. If we continue to put things in front of God or become part of the world and forget God’s truths we will be given over to them. The more we ignore the Holy Spirit’s prompts (which can only come from knowing the Bible and a relationship with God) they will no longer be there. We must repent when convicted otherwise after too many ‘next times’ we won’t have the conviction or the desire for God.
28‘Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind; to do what ought not to be done. ’This shows the important of holding on to truth- God’s word, the Bible. He says meditate on it day and night and here in Pauls letter is why. He knows us humans; we can easily stray so He says read the scriptures over and over so you won’t turn away. In psalms David says ‘Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.’ We can’t follow God and be Christians without knowing His word. In this Chapter it shows what can happen to those who don’t. As believers we really need to read, meditate on and put into practise practice God’s word. This is so important even after we are forgiven in order to grow as Christians this is what we have to do. Paul says at the end of the Chapter- 32 ‘Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve those who practise them.’
I see this every day in teens and adults...there seems to be no fear of God in them (but the fear of the Lord is another big issue I'd love to write about some other time) There couldn’t be though, unless they knew God’s word so I suppose it makes sense. I guess this also shows the importance of purging evil from among believers. Least they approve of bad choices and lead you astray also.
-Bri
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