Romans 1:26
26 For [dia] this [touto] cause God [theos] gave [paradidomi] them [autos] up [paradidomi] unto [eis] vile [atimia] affections [pathos]: for [gar] even [te] their [autos] women [thelus] did change [metallasso] the natural [phusikos] use [chresis] into [eis] that which is
against [para] nature [phusis]: KJV-Interlinear
26 For
this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women
exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ESV
I know that some are having difficulty in believing
that God does turn away, but that disbelief or resistance to believe something
is just what we have been studying here.
And in this verse, God does give them up. Why?
For the reasons that we have been studying in these
last several verses.
God provided us with the written scriptures so that
we can learn truth and orient correctly to life. But arrogance in people turns
into resistance toward the scriptures and in so doing they have only one place
to go, which are the lies of the world.
From the very simple things, like not believing
something that is written in the Bible, to the more grotesque things of life,
like pursuing unnatural lifestyles or patterns of life, everything begins with
resistance toward the written word. And when you resist the word, and refuse to
learn, then you have nowhere to go but down in life.
And for this cause, which is exactly how this verse
opens up, God gives you up, which simply means that he turns away from you, and
lets you go your way.
Rejection of Bible doctrine, may seem like a simple
thing, but that repeated pattern of life, throughout ones life, can and will
turn you into a despicable person.
The example given here, is of women actively
engaged in unnatural sexual relationships. But this is only an example. Almost
everything that people do when they are outside of the will of God, becomes in
a sense, unnatural.
And, sooner or later, the unnatural becomes
acceptable behavior.
Whether the bad behavior is in regard to
prostitution, or homosexuality, or other social activities that are generally
frowned upon, these things are just as bad as criminal behavior, or prejudicial
behavior, or any deceitful behavior, or even the simple behavior of refusing to
listen to truth.
The whole point of this verse, is that when you
refuse to engage in a daily study, meaning that you are not learning the way
you are supposed to be learning, then you have only one path to follow, which
is the wrong path for life.
And when you continue down the wrong path of life,
you surround yourself with all of the dysfunctions of life, which eventually
will see your losing all contact with God and truth and reality.
This is a very dangerous thing for the individual.
We all know that unbelievers will go to the Lake of
fire, because they have rejected Christ. God does not want them to go to the
Lake of fire, but he allows them, because that is their choice.
But these verses are directed toward believers in
Christ, not unbelievers, and what believers in Christ risk losing, are their
spiritual livelihood and resources and growth, and all of the benefits of the
spiritual life. And that too is running a huge risk, because all of the
spiritual benefits of the spiritual life extend into eternity, and far beyond
this life. And losing something that is infinite is a huge loss.
