Romans I 15-32 – Decoded
Paul says a lot here, and it's relevant to our current state of affairs in the world.
Firstly, from a historical context, he's willing to preach the gospel to Rome, which has been a corrupt place even in those days. The city of Rome, was called Saturnia, and to this day, the Saturn Cult Presides there. The black cube folks.. Big ugly satanic mess. Let's move forward though. Paul explains the gospel provides the power of the holy spirit and the promise of salvation, to a believer in the holy writ, whosoever – shall accept Yeshua (Jesus Christ), into his heart as his lord and savior. Then Paul goes on very simply to declare it as it were, that the righteous, will live by faith, that is to say they will live by the faith of the holy writ, and the faith that the holy spirit instills in them, as they are guided by these two all powerful forces, which go hand in hand.
He then launches into what was really bothering him, and it's quite bothersome still, today. Most of them cannot ascertain that God's wrath is upon them, but he goes on to describe types of behavior that earn God's wrath, and we'll be getting into that, as we cover Paul's descriptions of unrighteous and ungodly human behavior. He then says in 19 – that they should know better, but display little behavior in reverence to God's laws and commandments. Paul then goes on to say that one only has to look around oneself, to see and observe the world which God has made for us, to live in, and this much should be obvious to anyone with eyes to see.
Now this is where it starts to get more pertinent to our current times.. He goes on to say that when they recognized God, they did not glorify or acknowledge him, but instead turned to their inner corruption, and relied on their imaginations for guidance instead, going against a life guided by faith and the holy spirit, and as thus, their hearts were darkened, and the holy spirit went and fell away, slowly, gradually by each wicked act.
Then, ego took over, as these people decided they were wise, as a great many do, but in reality they became as fools. It's important to note that Paul is also referencing things in the old testament, through this passage, and subtly so – but very definitely as well. For example, when he says in paraphrase “the just live by their faith, and the proud sinners do what is right in their own eyes,” Paul is referencing Habakkuk – going into the sins that lead to God's righteous wrath. Having faith is not enough, we have to behave and live as believers in God's possible wrath and rebuke.
Professing themselves wise, they literally became fools, and ignored God, instead giving way to worship of various beasts and modes of sin, and of the nephilim, the creeping things.. False idols. They not only dishonor God, in their conduct, but they dishonor themselves, and their bodies as well. A common example of this in our present times is a drug addiction, or being a whore or male jiggalo.
Paul then goes onto say that by changing God's truth into lies, they altered their ways and behavior to serve the false idols rather than our creator, with their actions and conduct. Because of this, God gave them up to their vile afflictions, and must wait for them to repent and atone, for their sinful ways. In referencing a woman's natural use, it's my understanding Paul is referring directly to fornication versus a woman using her body as the temple to create and house, and subsequently gestate and nurture a fledgling human being, the creation of a new soul, into the world. He then goes on to talk about men conspiring alongside with other men to perpetuate this process of turning women corrupt, and into whores, behaving badly, and in turn suffering for the errors of their ways, and greatly so.
He then goes onto say that even given that they have their present reprobate minds, they can still atone and repent and reform, finding faith, and eventual salvation. They must first change their lives, and put down the wicked behavior, the fornication, unrighteousness, and other wicked ways, like covetousness (jealousy,) envy (greed,) murder is pretty clearly murder.. Debate – This one is interesting, because it has multiple meanings, but anyone living virtuously can tell you there's the word of God, and then there is debate. God is very clear in his word, and what he does and does not like, and there are those who debate this, and attempt to sway people by discussing things such as the “scientific creation of the universe,” or even simpler items like “the virtues of abortion.” All of these things, go against God's laws, and how he intended for us to live.
Deceit (cunning wicknedess, dishonesty,) is something most people seemingly will never get over, because they cannot be honest with themselves, they don't fear God, because they don't acknowledge his existence, and have nothing to live up to, but their own wicked ways and gluttonous base and carnal desires – This is what Paul was talking about earlier, in referencing 18, 21, 23 – the end of this scriptural excerpted passage. Malignity describes all “bad” behavior, and goes onto mention people who gossip, people who stab eachother in the back for their own gain, and lists some other examples humans stuck in cycles of depravity in their behaviors exemplify, namely pride, which is a terrible sin, those who boast, people who create evil things, and those who are disobedient to their parents, disavowing the commandment, “Honor Thy Mother, and Father.”
He then says that these people lack the understanding of God's word, and become breakers of man's covenant with God, and his word and laws, and don't at this point have natural affection – which is to say the way they behave has become wholly unnatural, and is deleterious to their existence and possible salvation. They have become implacable – A word many don't know – but it means those which cannot be soothed. Meaning very specifically here, those that are nearly without hope. They have become unmerciful, that is to say, fearless in their bad behavior.
Does this sound like the times we are currently living in? Quite a lot of all of this, going around...
Paul then goes onto say that at one point they likely knew the judgement of God for such behaviors and actions, and that they behave this way anyhow, they are earning themselves a spiritual death, and likely an early physical one as well. But alas, that they take pleasure in such bad behavior!
If only they would change their ways, repent, and work on the process of atonement for their sins, accepting God into (or back into) their hearts.....
Asking to be filled with the holy spirit, so that perhaps just perhaps they may begin to live a life of miracles, and have a shot at their spiritual salvation, once again...
Here now, is the #scriptural passages that I'm referencing in the above, this is from Romans i 15-32, in the King James Bible.
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
#scripture #sermon #bible #life #paul
