Romans Devotional #10: Given to Dishonorable Passions

Review:

1.  Romans chapters 1-3 talk about sin.  We must first understand the nature of sin before we can understand God's salvation in chapters 3-5. 

2. Romans chapter 1 talks about "their" sin.  Romans chapter 2 talks about "your" sin.  The words "they," "them," and "their" are mentioned 25 times in Romans chapter 1. The words "you," "your," and "yourself" are mentioned 35 times in Romans chapter 2.  

3.  Romans talks about "their" sins before it talks about "your" sins because it is easier to see the destructive nature of sin in another person's life than it is to see it in "your" life.  

4.  Romans chapter 1 lists 4 sins "they" committed.  The first sin is the sin of betrayal.  As my Liberian friends would put it, "They knew God good, good but they did not worship Him (Romans 1:19-23).  God revealed everything there was to know about Himself but they rejected Him to worship and serve created things.

  

5.  The second sin "they" committed was the sin of impurity.  Romans 1:24 says, "Therefore God gave them up in the lust of their hearts to impurity..."  It is a fearful thing for God to give a person to sin.  Notice, God gave "them" to this sin only after "they" gave "their" own hearts to it.  

Impurity refers to the lust of "their" flesh.  The person who has been given to impurity is no longer controlled by God, the driving force of "their" life is their fleshly desires. 

The Greek word for impurity is often translated in Scripture as uncleanness and is used only 10 times in the New Testament (Matt 23:27; Rom 1:24; 6:19; 2 Cor 12:21; Gal 5:19; Eph 4:19; 5:3; Col 3:5; 1 Thes 2:3; 4:7).  In the Old Testament, an "unclean" person could not enter the temple to worship God.  The sin of impurity separated "them" from God.  The fruit of this sin is best seen in Matthew 23:27, "Woe to you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!  For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people's bones and all uncleanness."  The person who has been given to impurity often looks good on the outside but is full of rotting bones and everything unclean on the inside.  

Romans Devotional #10:  Given to Dishonorable Passions.

"26.For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions.  For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27.and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error" (Romans 1:26-27).

The third sin they committed is the sin of dishonorable passions.  The context for this study on sin is Romans 1:18, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men..."  A close look at this verse reveals that God's wrath in Romans chapter 1 is not against sinful man but against the sin that is in man.  Notice Romans 1:18 does not say that the wrath of God is against all ungodly and unrighteous people but rather that His wrath is against ungodliness and unrighteousness.  God wants to destroy sin and save the sinner.  In Romans chapter 1, God gave people over to sin as a means of destroying sin.

Luke 15:11-32 explains how giving a person to sin destroys the sin.  These verses talk about a wayward son who asked his father for his inheritance early.  The father knew the condition of the son's heart.  If the money were given, the son would leave and spend the money on wild living.  Though the son was living under the father's protective roof, the son's heart had already moved far away from home.  Knowing the condition of his son's heart, the father gave the inheritance hoping the son would see that sin never satisfies and return home.  In Romans chapter 1, we see God giving people over to deeper and deeper levels of sin. God's desire is for "them" to repent and return home.    

When we read the words "gave them up" in Romans 1:18, our minds should picture a second wedding that took place between "them" and sin.  Long before God gave them to dishonorable passions, God gave them to "impurity" (Romans 1:24-25).  Picture in your mind a second wedding taking place where God walked "them" down a second spiritual isle, placed their hands into the hand of "degrading passions," let go, and gave ownership of their lives to this darker, more destructive slave master.  By giving "them" to this sin, God removed more of His protective covering over their lives and allowed sin to reap havoc.

What are dishonorable passions?  The word dishonorable  is used 6 times in the New Testament (Lk 20:11; Jn 8:49; Ac 5:41; Rom 1:24; 2:23; Jas 2:6).  The word means without honor, dishonor, to treat with indignity, and to abuse.  The word passions is used only 3 times in the New Testament (Rom 1:26; Col 3:5; 1 Thess 4:5).  The root for the word passions is "to suffer."  Dishonorable passions afflict a person's mind, emotions, and passions while bring dishonor and shame.

The sins of dishonorable passions differ from the sins of impurity in that dishonorable passions are sins that are publicly seen, thus bringing shame to a person.  Romans 1:26-27 lists homosexuality as an example of dishonorable passions.  It is important to know that homosexuality is only one of many sins Paul could have listed to describe this sin.  All sins that brings public dishonor and shame are dishonorable passions.  

Notice the progression of "their" sin.  "Their" sin started inwardly with impurity but worked its way into the public arena of "their" lives with dishonorable passions.  A drunkard never set out to become the towns drunk when he took his first drink.  Sex offenders never aspired to be listed on their communities public list of dangerous people when they indulged in their first secret sin.  Over time, sin always works its way from the private to the public areas of a person's life.  When degrading passions are exposed, they bring shame but the addictive nature of the sin makes a person hunger for the sin more than they hungered for honor.  In time, "they" become labeled by their sins.

Application:

Since Romans 1 talks about "their" sin and not "your" sin, take a moment and think of sins that have become public in your friends' and family's lives.  Every sin of impurity has the potential to grow and become a sin of dishonorable passion.  Think of people who have become labeled by "their" sin.  Let "their" sin be a warning to you.  All sin leads to bondage. 

Bible Marking:

Next to Romans 1:26 write, "Given to Dishonorable Passions."

Prayer to Pray:

Father, You are a merciful God.  Thank You for pursuing me even while I chase after sin.  I know all sin leads to bondage. I also know that my sins start inwardly and grow until they become public.  Father, I repent now.  I am turning away from my sin and am turning to You.  Please lead my life.  Please break the chains of the sins that hold me fast.  My hope is in You alone.