Paul McKenzie

Memory Verse, Sunday, November 23, Romans 1:28a, 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12

"And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done…" (ESV)

"Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (ESV)

We had our "Living Bibles" group Friday night, and my assignment was Romans 1:28-32. And with Daniel 7 in mind, it made me shudder to realize that there is a time where God "gave them up". Those who boast saying, "well, when the antichrist comes, then we'll believe", will be too wrapped up in their love for sin to consider repenting from it. Words like that reveal that they love their darkness rather than the light, for God's people are drawn to the light like a moth to a flame, and nothing will keep them from it.

God is patient, and has been patient for two millennia. But that patience will end, and He will "Give them up". The glorious Restrainer, the Holy Spirit, will no longer restrain. The warnings will cease, and instead of warnings they will become declarations.

Look at the Prophets. Read the Prophets. You'll see distinct changes from pleas to turn, to the point of no return. The ESV calls the seared mind of the wicked "debased". The KJV, from which I memorized the Romans passage, calls it "reprobate". The word (adokimos) is used in other passages as "disqualified", and "rejected".

The passage that describes this "reprobate mind" gives a description of what qualities it contains. And as I reviewed those passages it was eerily similar to what we call "the spirit of the age". I mean, these qualities have been around forever, but we in America are seeing these attitudes permeate our college campuses, and young minds are being inured to the things of God, and what was once a seething silence is now shouted from the rooftops. Listen to these:

"Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God; despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (29-31)

Some that really stuck in my mind were, fornication, without natural affection—taking the natural order and command of man and woman becoming one, being fruitful and filling the earth to an unnatural affection.

Another is covetousness, full of envy: We see a widespread "class envy" in a re-defined word called "equity", which now means, "I deserve your stuff, and will take it with government approval".

Another is "implacable, unmerciful". People refuse to be "placated". They want revenge and blood. They reject the morality of their parents, and think it is justified to silence any who disagree with them, and approve of violence to make it happen.

For the sad thing is this: They know that what they are doing is wrong and that God will judge, yet they are so seared that they really don't care:

"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." (32)

Pleasure in them that do them. They cheer these vile people on, and approve their rebellion. They are reaching the point of no return. And there is a point of no return: ask Pharaoh. They are willfully rejecting God, and will in their self-delusion believe the lie that the Bible calls the "man of sin", otherwise known as "the Beast".

If you are loving your sin and rejecting the righteousness of God, re-examine your heart. If you hear that voice leading you to repentance, turn to Him now.

Today if you hear His voice, harden not your heart.

*ESV used unless noted*

Memory Helps:

Again, here is chapter 7:

Chapter 7: "First HEAVEN-LY Vision:

The Four Beasts,
The Ancient of Days: King of HEAVEN, and
The Son of Man comes from HEAVEN"