"For this reason..."
This indicates to me that I need to look at what came prior. What he is about the say is directly connected to what he wrote before.
Since I have already looked at the verses prior, I know that what is about to follow is a direct consequence of man exchanging the truth of God for a lie and worshipping the created instead of the Creator.
In fact, this is the second time in only a few verses where this is mentioned. It was stated in verses 22 and 23 that man rejected the truth and worshipped the created instead of the Creator. In verse 24, we saw that because of this rejection, God gave them over to their impurities. It is stated again here, then, in verse 26. Since it is stated twice, it is important to note. It is emphasized by God, through Paul, so I better pay attention.
What is so important to note?
- That is was man who rejected God, not God rejecting us.
- That we chose a lie over the truth
- That we chose death over life
- That we chose man over God
- That God is the one who gave us what we wanted. He gave us to our impurities so that we might be dishonored among ourselves
"For this reason, God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error." Romans 1:26-27
"For this reason..." - Because man chose a lie over the truth of God and worshipped the created rather than the Creator.
"...God gave them over to degrading passions;"
What does it mean that "God gave them over"? The verb has a judicial quality in it. God allowed sin to run its natural course as an act of judgement. He did not pour out extra wrath and judgement on them, rather He simply removed His hand of restraint and allowed them to freely partake and thus freely receive the just consequences of their sin. "Moral degradation is a consequence of God's wrath, not the reason for it." (Cf. E. Kasemann, Commentary on Romans (Grand Rapids: Eerdmas, 1980)).
What are degrading passions? 1 Thessalonians 4:5 calls these same passions lustful and connects it to the Gentiles who "do not know God." The term degrading is the Greek word, atimia which comes from the word infamy. It means to dishonor, reproach, shame, vile.
In other words, filthy, disgusting, and despicable sins. Sadly, in our culture today, I am not sure that I or others really have a grasp on the dispicableness of sin. We have been so desensitized to sin, that many things do not strike us as vile as they should. Yet, this word is used to show the utter and complete shamefulness, vileness of sin and the sin that man was willingly throwing themselves too. They were giving themselves to every kind of shameful degrading passion.
Paul goes on to explain what those passions were: Homosexuality.
Homosexuality, despite what our culture is trying to convince us of today, is the direct consequence of refusing to honor God as God and for choosing a lie over the truth of God. When we refuse to honor God as God and worship the created instead of the Creator, we open the door for degrading passions and sins of all kinds to infiltrate our lives. Homosexuality is one such consequence.
The text says that woman exchanged (literally gave up one thing and took up another) the natural function for that which is unnatural and further more, so did the men. Men with men committing indecent acts together. Both men and women willingly gave up the natural functions of sex between one man and one woman and began to have sex with each other.
I think it is important to note that this makes clear that homosexual behavior is unnatural. Homosexual nature is a deviation from the beautiful act of sex that God created and ordained for us to enjoy in the confines of marriage. It is taking that which God created and called good, and corrupting it. And without the hand of God to restrain such behavior, we now see the perversion of God's creation at the level that it is today.
Paul ends the verse by saying that because of this behavior, man has received in themselves the due penalty for their sin. The penalty for sin is sin itself with all its inevitable consequences. Aids probably being the most predominate and most publicized one. Yet man is trying to soften that blow and make it acceptable and even safe to still maintain a sexual promiscuous life and avoid the natural consequence.
When I read this, I am saddened by the depth of depravity that man has fallen to, especially when the solution is so clear. If man would but acknowledge God as God and honor Him, giving their lives to Him in total surrender and turn from their sin, they would be saved.
I am also frightened when I read this. I know that in myself, I still possess the ability to worship the created instead of the Creator. I can still chose not to honor God with my life. I cannot lose my position as God's child, but I can chose to disobey Him and run like the prodigal son did. It is a voice of caution and warning for me. It is a solemn reminder that all of my sin derives itself from a refusal to honor God as Lord of my Life. May I always honor and surrender myself to You, My Lord.
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