Twisted Life (Romans 1:18-23)
Twisted Life (Romans 1:18-23)
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Intro)
1. Normally, in Canada there is a law if you come across person in need of help you must help. But in China if you help someone in need of help you may take a fall for the fault, so lots of people just pass by people who needs help. Some countries support 1 husband and many wives, but some countries don’t.
2. Church members think God is alive is a normal thing, but people outside of church thinks this is not normal. Christians go to church during weekend and spend time in church, but others go to hiking, shopping or do other leisure.
Today’s verse 20 says, ‘20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse’ but sometimes some people say there is no God, things just naturally created, and say bible makes them uncomfortable..why?
Psalm 14:1 says, ‘The fool has said in his heart,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt,
They have done abominable works,
There is none who does good.’
And Romans 3:23 says, ‘23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,’
This means we are sinner that we aren’t holy or immortal like God.
If someone say, “You are sinned, and you will be punished” none will like this, but what if this actually happens what would you do? To be honest none is pure and sinless. If we don’t take care of the sin we have we can’t be righteous men.
(In fact people who are smart like went to Harvard and earn Novel Prizes think God does not exist, and more time passes there are more of people like this why this is happening? Between people like this and not who is to say normal? Let’s think about this for a moment.)
Body)
A) Shape of life that does not have God.
How is the life style of People who do not think God does exist?
Saint Paul says to people who deny God’s existence on verse 21, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.’
First look of People who don’t believe in God is that they do not glorify God, or praise or worship. To them worship is polish act.
Funny thing is people who don’t serve God serve something else. Today’s verse 23 says, ‘23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.’ But even in modern day of Asia we used to serve our ancestor.
There are also people who are serving nothing, no religion. Maybe they are serving themselves. Maybe they are serving their life, power, family, and goal etc.
In today’s verse 23 there is a word ‘exchanged’ it means that things are changed, so people who do not believe in God are normal. Abnormal became normal.
When we drive car sometimes it breaks, the cause can be various things, but either way when it breaks we need to replace it. When we replace the part if we buy something that is knockoff? That part can cause further more of problem in car.
God has given sense of presence of living God in their lives, but when they switch that with something else than God, they will face unfortunate.
Saint Paul give good example in Romans 1:26-27, ‘26 to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.
In other word Homosexual love.
President Obama have pushed the law through and legalized same sex marriage in United States.
Genesis 2 2:24 says, ‘24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.’ This is basic order of mankind, but going against it is big sin.
Saint Paul explains what will happen to people who do not have God in their lives in Romans 1:28-32, ‘28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,[c] wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,[d] unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.’
Leaving them being what they are does not mean they are off the hook. It means God gave up on them. This means parent is cutting the relationship, this is Horrifying punishment.
Some people think freedom from God means happiness, but is it really? Our lives have duty and responsibilities. If you give up on things or two you will see other things fading off from your life as well.
B) Situation that is different when God is present.
Therefore, if mankind is free, they will become slaves of desire and sin. Many Christians think they were normal before they believe in God, but they realized they were wrong. When we have God in our lives we have happiness. David says in Psalms 23:1-6, ‘
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in
green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through
the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before
me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy
shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell[a]
in the house of the Lord
Forever.
Indeed, when we walk into meet God he comes in our lives. When we walk into valley of shadow with God we gain courage, so nothing will fear us. A stick that God gave us was a tool that is not to control us, but guide us to right path.
John 3:16-19 says, ‘16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 14:6 says, ‘6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
In today’s verse people who turn the glory of God into idolatry, the first characteristic is they do not think praising and worshiping God is pointless and has no thankfulness to it. How is your life?
If you have little bit of thinking that worshiping God is wasting time and boring? Have feeling of complaining rather than thankful? Have you lost your attention to something else instead of church service time? Love your hobby way more than church service time? If you have this kind of thought of feelings maybe it is time for you to turn around and have time to correct yourself.
Conc)
Nowadays, we live in this world of chaos, in confusion of what is normal and not. More time goes people think the science is God who created this world. Science is just discovery part of what God have created not something new that is created. So, we need to focus on God as a creator of world and not serve science as idolatry. We should not live a life that puts God a side and have science as idolatry, twist the truth to false, and live in life that has no order.
Let us go back to God and realized what is normal and not normal.
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