This is the seventh in a series of verse-by-verse expositions of the book of Romans. This message was delivered at Hillcrest Baptist Church on the morning of April 14, 2013. This message deals with when God gives people up to their sin. This contains an audio recording of my message, along with my sermon notes and a study outline. Please note that the sermon notes are not a full transcript.
AUDIO – Listen Now:
SERMON OUTLINE:
SERMON NOTES:
Romans 1:24-25 / When God Gives Up
v.24:
Idolatry always leads to immorality, which has consequences.
How did God deal with this situation?
First, He gave them up.
We can think of this as God taking His hands off, and letting sin run its course.
This should be disturbing to anyone, because the prospect of God stepping away, and letting sin have its way should terrify us.
I can’t think of anything worse, other than hell itself.
This same fate is mentioned twice more in this portion of Scripture (vv.26 &28).
This is God’s normal response to persistent idolatry.
Judges 10:13
Psalm 81:11-12
Acts 7:41-42
What did He give them up to? Uncleanness.
The heart is the source of all wickedness. It is in our heart that sin originates.
Genesis 6:5
Jeremiah 17:9
Mark 7:21-23
Only Christ can cleanse our wicked hearts, and when you forsake Him, all hope is lost.
The wickedness of the heart is as evident today as it ever has been.
Just like then, one of the main consequences of this wickedness, is that people dishonor their bodies.
In the context of this letter, this referred to sexual sins.
In this verse, it refers specifically to prostitution, but there will be other sexual sins listed in the following verses.
Today’s society is no better. Sex is no longer related to God’s covenant of marriage, its simply a recreational activity.
The sad consequences are seen all throughout our land.
Rampant disease, abortion by the millions, fatherless children, and broken families.
We, as a society, have forgotten that the very body we dishonor is God’s temple.
1 Corinthians 6:19
We are created in the image of God, and to dishonor our body, in such a manner, is to dishonor and disrespect God.
v.25:
Paul no takes his argument back to where this behavior originally began, with the “lie.”
Idolatry, or simply compromising the Word of God with man’s words, has the same effect. You begin to believe a lie.
A lie provides no basis for morality, because a lie, itself, is immoral.
Therefore, belief in a lie can only lead to immorality. Nothing good can come of it.
The only absolute truth is the Word of God.
Romans 3:4
Proverbs 30:5-6
We must set our mind on God’s Word, things above, and diligently study His Word.
Colossians 3:1-2
2 Timothy 2:15-16
We cannot allow ourselves to be conformed to the standards of this world.
Romans 12:2
This is our only defense against falling for a lie.
We cannot trust in the things of this world, they are only temporary.
We need to trust in God, because He is “blessed FOREVER.”
In Defense: The Blog 
Posted on April 18, 2013
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