Bible Study with Danelle

Paul spares no time in getting right to the point in this next part of the letter. He writes plainly that God will have wrath for those that are unrighteous. Now, this is not the wrath that we see in the Old Testament. Old Testament wrath was floods, plagues, etc., but because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, He paid the price for that wrath. We have the opportunity to escape that wrath because of grace through our faith in Jesus, but we must turn away from our sin, accept his forgiveness and yield our lives to Jesus.

If we turn away from Jesus, who is the Truth, we will have eternal separation. God has made it very clear, unfortunately, people choose to suppress the truth, ignore the truth and continue to go about their day living for the world instead of God.

This was obviously happening almost 2000 years ago when Paul was preaching and traveling as a missionary. (Remember, this was only approximately 20-25 years after Jesus’s death.) Trying desperately to spread the word of God and the truth of Jesus everywhere to anyone that would listen and believe. In a time where there was no cell phones, internet, social media, or any of the instant communication we have today, it would take weeks or months to get his letter to the people it was intended.

Unfortunately, even with all the technology in the world, it is still happening today. People continue to ignore the truth. And I think Satan is working even harder to silence God’s truth by continuing to perpetuate the lie he told Eve in the very beginning…”you will be like God.”

We try to be “like God” or make others “like God” in many ways. How many celebrities, politicians, preachers, musicians, athletes, etc. have we put on a pedestal and “worshipped”. And it does not even have to be people. It can be “things”. The newest phone, the latest makeup that an influencer has raved about, the newest [FILL IN THE BLANK] that everyone has to have. We put it on a pedestal.

Sometimes we have to check ourselves (me included , I am just a guilty). It is so easy to get caught up in it.

Paul tells us in verse 22 that “claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.” I think Paul was warning the Romans of the reminder of what happened even in Moses’ time. Remember the golden calf? The short attention span of man sent them to worshipping something that was not of God.

Paul then goes on to talk about sexual immorality and that because of people’s lack of acknowledgment of the truth, they give in to “dishonorable passions”.

God is very clear on his stance when it comes to sexual immorality. He is very clear that we are not to give in to our sinful desires. Like any sin, God has said this is unrighteous.

Now, I want to clarify, that does NOT mean that as a Christian we hate, dislike or treat badly people who choose this lifestyle. Far from it! If anything, it means we need to show them the love of God even more. You don’t have to condone sin to show love to someone. Jesus did not condone the sin of the people he healed and saved. He showed them love and compassion. That is what we are called to do. Tomorrow, you will see what Paul says more about this.

At some point, we all have to make a choice in regards to ALL our sins. (Idolatry, sexual sin, gossip, slander, faithlessness, envy…the list goes on.)

Are we going to choose to give into our sin or live in the Spirit of worshipping God and growing in our relationship with Him? Are we going to work toward the righteousness path He has called us to?

All those years ago, Satan told the very first lie to Eve. To believe that lie is to reject the truth of God.

I pray today that during your reading God will speak to you. What are you holding onto that may be separating you for God? Is there truth that He is trying to reveal to you?