Passage: Romans 1:24-32
The Big Idea
The gospel is God’s plan to transform people and give them hope. Romans 1:24-32 shows what happens when we refuse that plan and walk our own way. It isn’t pretty, but God shows us the map so we will turn to the only way that leads to life: Jesus.
No Winking, No Wiping Out
The gospel shows how good and right God is in dealing with sin (Romans 1:16-17).
God doesn’t wink at sin and say it’s fine. That wouldn’t be good. Who would want to live in a community where crime was never dealt with? That would be a little version of hell.
But God also doesn’t just wipe people out.
No winking. No wiping out. He washes away our sin in the blood of Jesus. Jesus died as my substitute, rose from the dead, and brings that new life into me. All by faith. All by grace.
But people don’t have to come to God. Many spend their lives chasing fulfillment in things that offer no hope, no grace and no mercy. God has provided the medicine. He has built the bridge. It is all Jesus, every single time.
Read: Romans 1:24-32
God gave them up (Romans 1:24-25)
God doesn’t force people to be whole. He has provided the way, but He allows another way. And He mercifully shows us where that way leads, hoping we will turn to His Son.
It is not about changing our sinful ways first. It is about turning to Jesus, who changes our hearts, and that changes our ways.
Jesus said the wide road leads to destruction and the narrow road leads to life (Matthew 7:13-14). Here are the sights along the wide road:
- Uncleanness
- The lusts of the heart
- Dishonoring our bodies
- Trading the truth of God for a lie
- Worshiping created things instead of the Creator
Walking the wide road is like drinking salt water. You think you need more to be satisfied, but it’s killing you inside.
Vile passions (Romans 1:26-27)
On the wide path, our desires get poisoned. We want more and more of what brings death instead of life. Things that steal satisfaction and leave emptiness and sorrow.
Paul names the distortion of sexuality as one clear example. Relationships designed to bless us and bring life become self-serving. People get used. And the pleasure always gets poisoned, because the whole road is broken. You can’t drink salt water and expect something good.
This is not about singling out one group. Paul is describing all of us apart from Christ, and the next chapter will turn the spotlight on the religious too (Romans 2:1).
A debased mind (Romans 1:28)
Going down the wide road means forcing God out of your mind. You have to, because you can’t handle the guilt and shame. So you ignore that He exists. And that breaks your thinking, which breaks your actions.
The cancers of the heart (Romans 1:29-32)
Like bacteria growing out of control, sin fills and overflows a life. Paul lists over twenty: unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, greed, malice, envy, murder, strife, deceit, gossip, slander, hatred of God, violence, pride, boasting, inventing evil, disobedience to parents, lack of understanding, untrustworthiness, lack of love, unforgiveness, lack of mercy.
Cancer leads to death. And the final step is hopelessness: “We’re all dying anyway, so let’s just do what we want,” and even cheering others on.
That is exactly why we are not ashamed of the gospel. Jesus gives life and heals the sin disease.
Questions to Talk Through
- Is this passage about politics? Should we spend our energy trying to legislate good versus evil?
- What if I see some of these things in my own life as a believer?
- What is the narrow road? (Hint: faith in Jesus.)
- How can we share the gospel with someone walking down the wide path?
Grace Takeaway
Every one of us has walked the wide road. The good news is that Jesus came down it to find us. Don’t start by trying to clean up your ways. Turn to Him. He changes the heart, and the heart changes the life.