A Romans 1 World Pt. 11 God Gave them over to Reprobate Minds

God abandoned them to corrupt lifestyles.

Romans 1:26-27  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27) And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. 

Many teachers attempt to explain away this text but what God says here is very clear and understandable. Again, we read that God gave people up to vile affections. Literally, God abandoned them so they could live corrupt and perverted lifestyles. 

The word "vile" means behavior that is dishonorable, disgraceful and ignominious. It means to practice morally depraved perversion. The word "affections" refers to the diseased condition of our soul which yields to the lust of the flesh. 

The apostle Paul explains for us what it looks like when God gives people up to their own vile lusts. People of both sexes turned away from natural, heterosexual relationships in favor of unnatural sexual relationships. The beautiful, monogamous relationship of Biblical marriage is discarded and replaced by relationships that God says are vile affections. 

God abandoned them to an unfit mind.

Romans 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;    

It is sad to note that the people Paul speaks of in this chapter, did not like to retain any thoughts of God in their minds. They did not want to learn any truth about God from the scriptures, they did not want to hear anything from God and they did not want to submit to Him. They twisted the truth about God into a lie, thus creating a "god" in their own image that they were comfortable acknowledging. They stubbornly refused to bow the knee to Jesus Christ in repentant faith. 

Because they chose to live in rebellion against God, He gave them over to a reprobate mind. A reprobate mind refers to a mind that is unfit, defective and substandard. Webster's 1828 Dictionary defines the word "reprobate" as  someone who is abandoned to sin and lost to saving grace. The word "mind" in this text refers to our cognitive ability to learn, to discern right and wrong, or to judge soberly, accurately and impartially. A reprobate mind is irreparably  broken, irretrievably condemned and irreversibly shackled by the chains of sin and degradation. 

This is a shocking and sobering  reminder that God will not allow sinners to continue in rebellion against Him. The act of God giving sinners over to a reprobate mind is clearly connected with the limits on how long God's Spirit will strive with rebellious hearts.

Paul tells us that the sins committed by those with reprobate minds are not convenient. Sins committed by those with a reprobate mind are mired in unnatural actions that pervert the natural order established by God. 

We learned about mankind's stubborn rebellion during our End Times studies since the great tribulation period will end with the final, complete judgment and eternal damnation of all who reject Jesus Christ. The same principle is operating in this text.   

The vacuum of a reprobate mind is filled with lust and sin.

Romans 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 

A reprobate mind has no true spirituality and lacks the knowledge of God. Therefore, it is filled with many wicked things. It is like that old proverb "Nature abhors a vacuum" and this is certainly true in creation. We have to work hard to kill weeds so our lawn or garden will be beautiful. If you don't apply something to kill the weeds, then weeds and invasive vines will quickly sprout up in your yard. 

This is what happens to a person who has been given over to a reprobate mind. Into the void created when they chose not to retain the knowledge of God, rushes all manner of fleshly lusts that lead to sinning. A reprobate mind is filled with defiling thoughts. The phrase "being filled" means a reprobate mind is filled to the brim and liberally supplied with all unrighteousness. The word "unrighteousness" means a violation of God's holy law resulting in a life pattern of wickedness.  

As the text unfolds, Paul is going to show us what kind of unrighteousness a person with a reprobate mind will commit.

Fornication. The Greek word translated "fornication" is a very strong word that refers to  illicit sexual intercourse. Any sexual relationship apart from the marriage relationship is illicit or prohibited by God.  Thayer's Greek Lexicon tells us that the word refers to forbidden sexual relationships including beastiality, men with men or women with women. It includes a married spouse having a physical relationship with someone who is not their spouse. It includes unmarried people having a physical relationship outside of marriage.

You would recognize the Greek word transliterated into English because it forms the word "pornography" and this connects what we see and lust for with what we choose to do. 

Wickedness. The word "wickedness" means depravity with a malicious intent. This word is only used seven times in the New Testament and is always found in the context of spiritual wickedness. 

Luke 11:39  And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.  

Jesus rebuked the Pharisees because they were the hyper religious conservative sect in Israel and yet, they adhered to men's rules rather than obeying the law of God. They always emphasized the external actions that made them appear "religious" to those who were around them. They liked to pray on the corner of busy streets so others would notice that they were praying. They liked to sound a cymbal when they put money in the offering so others would notice their charitable contribution. This is why Jesus condemned them for being white and clean on the outside but full of wickedness on the inside. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

We will continue to examine the inspired descriptions of a Romans 1 culture in our next post. We have learned that a lot of common behaviors in our culture are clearly condemned by God and this indicates that people with reprobate minds are actively pursuing the lusts of their flesh. 

We know that God will not let people slide by in their sins nor will He excuse those who plead ignorance, for Creation is a bold witness of God. 

Paul is showing us the reason why our culture has become so defiled and depraved. People are turning their backs on God and seeking to wipe out the knowledge of Him from their lives. 

Our mission is the same: accurately sharing the truth of God in love with people who need to hear it. We must teach God's Word to our children and seek to anchor their hearts to what God says, so that they may follow Jehovah and shun man centered philosophies. 

I pray that God will bless and anoint His Word as it goes forth, and that He will reap a bountiful harvest of souls for His kingdom.

Bob