26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 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 of those who practice them.
*Commentary* This is the part of the cycle, where God gave them over to their own sinful beliefs and actions. In this sin, man exchanges God’s laws for laws that allow them to commit their sins without repercussions, in their own minds. They will create idols to worship that better fit their new desires and will commit sins that their new idols do not condemn them for.
- Do you see similarities between this shift in beliefs and deeds, as we also see in today’s disbelievers?
- What are the most important things for us believers to do to help those who reject God?
Just remind them how deliciously fulfilling Jesus is and doing God’s work is more satisfying than anything else in the world.
I do believe this. great inspiration Jamey.