A Romans 1 World Pt. 20 Attacks on the Family. Build Your Home on Christ, the Solid Rock!

We are continuing to take a close look as the depraved culture Paul described. The traits and chief characteristics of the Romans 1 world shows what the people do when God gives them up to a reprobate mind. It is not a pretty picture but it highlights the very real need for each Christian to live out the truth of God's Word in the midst of a cancel culture that does reject absolute truth.  

A lack of Biblical love breaks down families. 

Romans 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31) Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32)  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Without natural affection. This phrase literally means without family love. It speaks of a person who is openly hostile to benevolent family love. It connects to being  "without understanding"  which is foolish, darkened hearts denying God is the Creator and Sustainer of all life. It also ties in to children either young or adult, who are disobedient to their parents. 

Putting "disobedient to parents" together with "without understanding" and "without natural affection" and we clearly see that the God ordained family unit will be under considerable stress.   

John 13:34  A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

John 15:12  This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

John 15:17  These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Our Lord Jesus Christ makes clear what is needed in our interpersonal relationships and in our homes. It is a command to love one another. This kind of love is a loyal, unquestioning love. It is a love that leads to respect between children and parents. It is an unconditional love that seeks the best for each child and each child seeks to submit to parental authority.

Failed marriage, co-habitation breaks down families.

Nearly 50% of all marriages in America end in divorce and this creates stress on the family unit especially if there are children involved. 78% of adults ages 18 to 24 (Generation Z) believe that cohabiting or unmarried couples living together is acceptable. Many people today turn  away from what God says, choosing to live together without the commitment of marriage. 

However, God's plan for the family is always best. Living together as an unmarried couple may sound good and seem convenient but such relationships will not be blessed by God. Those choosing to cohabit will one day have to give an account to Holy God for their choices. I realize that this may not be a popular view, but I must faithfully point people to what God says in His Word.  What He says is the final verdict regarding moral matters.

Cultural distractions break down families.

Matthew 7:24-27  Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26) And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27) And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 

Our culture offers many activities and experiences and some are good, while many are quite bad. The culture becomes a major problem when parents become too distracted by the culture and start building family life around the latest experiences, instead of building their families on the foundation of Jesus Christ. 

Hearing and doing the teachings of Christ is the foundation parents must choose to build their family upon. A home built upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, will endure through the storms of life that inevitably happen to all of us.  

A home that is not built upon the Rock, Jesus Christ, will not survive when the storms of life occur.  

Absentee parents break down families.

More than 50% of all births to Mothers under the age of 30 are out of wedlock pregnancies. Practically speaking this means that the majority of these homes will have children growing up without their Dad. 

A lack of a traditional, God honoring family unit is something that destroys societies and civilizations. One prominent religious leader noted that prosperity and education are directly linked to strong traditional families and Biblical values. 

The questions are "Do sectors in our society have stronger values and families because they are more educated and prosperous? Or are they more educated and prosperous because they have strong values and families?" 

God provides the answer. Strong families and values are directly connected to building your home on the Rock, Jesus Christ. Build your home, raise your children and train them up to love God and others and to serve God and others, and the nation will become more educated and prosperous. 

Deuteronomy 28:1-10  And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2) And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3) Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4) Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep. 5) Blessed shall be thy basket and thy store. 6) Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. 7) The LORD shall cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thy face: they shall come out against thee one way, and flee before thee seven ways. 8) The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 9) The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in his ways. 10)  And all people of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the LORD; and they shall be afraid of thee. 

Philippians 4:19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 

A healthy family and healthy society comes from hearing and heeding what God says in His Word. Period! Read through the detailed list of blessings that God promises to those who will live according to what He says. 

• Blessings for the nation and the culture.
• Blessings in the home of many children.
• Blessings of economic prosperity.
• Blessings of economic and national security.
• Blessings of a vibrant spiritual life centered upon Christ.
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Thoughts to Ponder...

We know that today as a Romans 1 culture presses in on us, the Christian family is under great stress. We could spend days listing the various manifestations of problems in the home today, but what will really help us? 

The only thing that will help us is to hear from God. Jesus often received children and used them for an example to His disciples. In the text below, Jesus points out the greatest task and greatest privilege that God gives to each Mom and Dad. That task is to bring each child to Jesus Christ. 

Jesus rebuked those who tried to keep people from bringing their children to Christ. Mark it down, parents. Jesus rebuked those who stood in the way of their children coming to saving, repentant faith in the Son of God. 

Instead, Jesus openly invited all children to come to Him. The idea is that Jesus will save all who turn to Him with repentance and faith in His saving work on the cross. He referred to childlike faith as a beautiful and essential thing. 

Luke 18:15-17  And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16) But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. 

Parents and grandparents, our responsibility is very clear. We need to remove any obstacles that hinder our children or grandchildren from coming to Jesus Christ for salvation. This includes living for Christ ourselves or else our children will perceive our hypocrisy of "Do what I say not as I do."

How is your relationship with God today? Are you born again? Have you repented of your sin and turned to Jesus Christ and called upon Him to save you? (Acts 16:31). If so, praise God. As a parent you must be committed to Christ. Do not expect your children to commit themselves to the Savior if they see that you do not commit yourself to Christ. Do not expect your children to make loving God and others a priority if you do not make loving God and others your priority. 

I pray that our Father in Heaven will remind us that He received us as adopted children into His family. May He show us the tremendous benefits and duties of our sonship through Jesus Christ. I pray that we will submit ourselves afresh to Jesus Christ and strive to be model Christian parents or grandparents, seeking the power and grace of God in this matter. May we live to lead our kids to Christ!

Bob