January 14 Click on verses for Full Scripture

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Today's Pathway: Romans 1:24-27 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 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: 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,

We saw yesterday from this passage that because men did not want to acknowledge the true God, He gave them over to following after their own lusts. In today's passage we see the second thing that God gave them over to: vile affections. The word "vile" comes from the same Greek word as "dishonor" in verse 24. "Affections" is not a word for love, but rather it is a term for "passion". So, because men did not want to follow God, He allowed them to follow after their dishonorable and degrading passions. It is clear from verses 26 and 27 that these vile affections were homosexual.

Homosexuality has become acceptable in our society today, even to the point where same-sex marriages are legal, and those who oppose them are decried as "haters" and "bigots". A 2015 poll indicates that 54% of those who call themselves "Christians" (which is a very broad base) believe that homosexuality should be accepted, and even 36% of "evangelicals" think that it should be accepted. Among the evangelicals aged 25-40, that number rises to 51%. Yet God calls this behavior sin. Homosexuality was forbidden by the Mosaic law. Leviticus 18:22 states,

"Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination."

"If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them."

First, He calls homosexuality unnatural in verses 26 and 27. The word "use" is a sexual term, so the teaching here is clear: homosexuality is an act that is against nature. It is interesting to note that verse 26 says that the women "changed" the natural use, and in verse 27 that the men "left" the natural use. In other words, they made a conscious choice to behave in a vile manner which is not only unBiblical, but unnatural. They weren't born that way, they chose that way because they didn't want God to be in control of their lives. Second, Paul says in verse 27 that they made their choice because they "burned in their lust". They were set on fire by their lust. The word translated "lust" in this verse is different from the one in verse 24. Here it means "stretching out of the body to touch or grasp an object." There is no love here. These are people burning in their soul with desires for that which is perverted. Third, Paul calls this activity "unseemly". This word refers to something that is deformed, disfigured, or obscene. Finally, he says that those who indulge in this lifestyle will receive in themselves the proper penalty for their choice to abandon God's truth.

The teaching of this passage, and others, is clear: homosexuality is a vile sin against God. Don't let any politician, pastor, or psychologist convince you otherwise.

Pastor Mark J Montgomery