All one need do is look around to recognize that we are surrounded by hate and corruption. A corruption that runs so deep within the fabric of our nation that we can only moan. It is hard to recognize what is true or right anymore with so much noise and ideologies surrounding us daily. What once we shirked at or thought unimaginable, we now accept as the norm! Instead of proclaiming the truth of the gospel to the world around us, we hide it away in our hearts. So, afraid that others will think us hate filled, we run into seclusion. Yet, should it be that way? When I look deep into my own heart, recognizing the evil that is me and the grace of a loving God who continues to work to transform my heart, why wouldn’t I want to share that? Only Christ can transform hearts.
As we look around us, we must recognize this truth.
And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, malice. … rife with envy, murder, strife, deceit, hostility. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, contrivers of all sorts of evil, disobedient to parents, senseless, covenant-breakers, heartless, ruthless. Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them. (Romans 1:28-32)
As a nation, we are guilty of pushing God aside. And as a people, we now have a choice. Either we turn, repent, and seek Him or we will perish.
God Gave Them Over
Three times in Romans 1 we read, God gave them over. The word used here, paredōken is a judicial term meaning to hand over a prisoner for sentencing. It is the same word used in Romans 8:38 “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all”. God placed our sentencing upon Jesus. He turned Him over, who knew no sin, to be the propitiation for us and to pay our penalty.
The three times in Romans 1 is accomplished so easily by God merely with holding His hand of grace, allowing sin to take its course. Sin leads to death through its own devastating lusts, destroying all senses of morality, truth, or joy. We see that in the progression laid out in Romans 1.
Romans 1: 24 (NET) “ Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves”. He stepped back, allowing their own lust to consume them. Man’s own lust for sexual pleasures lead the way to more and more perversion. What was such a beautiful gift of two becoming one, standing before God with such magnificent fulfillment of joy became perverted. What had been beautiful became tainted, (corrupt) filled with jealousy, anger, obsession, exploitation, as well as a source of sorrow, death, and pain.
Romans 1:26 (NET) “God gave them up to vile passions”. What had been lusts or desires now burned with passions, consuming the mind and heart with sin.
Leading to Hate and Corruption
Never learning from our mistakes, we have marched on. Refusing to turn, repent and follow God. “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done.” Romans 1:28 (NET). Hence arrives hate and corruption.
It began with desires, turned to passions, and continued until all that is good became consumed by men and women’s depraved hearts leading to death and destruction. Just as God warned in Deuteronomy 32:35 “ To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste.”
As a nation, we must recognize, we are there! Unless God’s hand of Grace steadies the tide, we will be drowned by our own sin. But how did we get here and what can we do to stop the hate and corruption before it is too late?
Turning Our Backs on God
How we got here is simple, we turned our backs on God. The truth of Him shines forth all around us; yet, we deny His existence. We have allowed our schools to transform His truth into a lie. Our very natures cry out for justice. Another way in which God revealed Himself to us. But, alas we allow the desire to be our own god over our lives to cause us to deny the one true God. Our pride prevents us from falling before His throne, accepting His gift of salvation; because we want to do it our way. We never realize the depth of depravity that lies within our own hearts. Yet, He is there, calling to us with open arms, waiting for us to return.
Romans 1:
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness. 19 … what can be known about God is plain to them… God has made it plain to them. 20 Since the creation of the world his invisible attributes—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen…They are understood through what has been made. So people are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks, but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image resembling mortal human beings or birds or four-footed animals or reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Their women exchanged the natural sexual relations for unnatural ones, 27 and likewise the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed in their passions for one another. Men committed shameless acts with men and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
28 …Just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. (NET)
So, What is Needed to Overcome Hate and Corruption?
A turning back to God.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, … pray,… seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven. I will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Deuteronomy 30: It shall come to pass, when all these things are come upon thee, the blessing and the curse, which I have set before thee. and thou shalt call them to mind among all the nations, whither the Lord thy God hath driven thee.
2 (When Thou) shalt return unto the Lord thy God, and shalt obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, thou and thy children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
3 Then the Lord thy God will turn thy captivity, and have compassion upon thee…
6 The Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.
CONCLUDING THOUGHTS:
Over the years, we have truly watched as God gave over this country to its own lusts, passions, and false ideologies. Why? Because we removed Him from our schools, our lives and in some cases even our churches. We have embraced sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, murder of fetuses, late term abortion, hate and corruption. Running after counterfeit joy and counterfeit religions, we are rotting from the inside out. Soon it may be too late. But there is hope, because God is a God of Grace. If only we turn, repent and stand firm in the truth of the gospel.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. It is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek 17 In it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” (Romans 1:16-17 NKJV)
But we must do so with this caution in mind. Though we condemn the sin, we must not ourselves condemn the sinner, for we are ourselves sinners. When I understand the depth of Grace and the price that Jesus paid, how can I condemn another. Rather, I must in love condemn the sin; but love the sinner so I might lead them to Jesus. “Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. For wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself.” (Romans 2:1). (That we will explore in more detail next time.)
If we turn to God acknowledging our sin and follow after Him—our creator, we can turn the tide of this nation. Thereby inviting in His Grace once more. Only then, can hate and corruption be destroyed. We must turn to Jesus and place Him on the throne of our lives, today.
DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR AND LORD?
If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. There is nothing more important than this; because He is the way, the truth and the life. Therefore, I urge you to seek Him today.
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©Effie Darlene Barba, 2019
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
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New King James Version (NKJV)
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
New English Translation (NET)
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