THE RESULTS OF MAN'S REBELLION Rom. 1:24-32

Intro: We are still dealing with the theme of God's divine wrath against sin. In this passage, we find the results of man's rebellion against God told in clear, precise language.

I would like to call you attention to three terms that are used in our text this evening. They are: "God also gave them up", v. 24; "God gave them up", v. 26; and "God gave them over", v.28. These phrases tell us that there is a limit to the patience and longsuffering of God. As we study these verses, it will become apparent that when man makes his choice to abandon God, God will also choose to abandon man! That is a sobering thought!

We are surrounded by millions of people who have been abandoned to the lifestyle they have chosen over God. These people are capable of any sin imaginable this evening. The truth is, there are people we all know who are living a life that exists under the shadow of that is the result of their abandonment of God and of His subsequent abandonment of them.

I. V. 24-25 THE SUBSTANCE OF MAN'S SINFUL REBELLION

 A. V. 24 BASED IN SINFUL CHOICES - Mans chooses sin over God because sin is bound  up in his own heart, Matt. 15:15:19-20; James 1:14. Man is a sinner and nothing can remedy  that short of the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 B. V. 25 BASED IN SINFUL CHANGES - Since man refuses to live by God's law, v. 18, he  invents his own law! The result is that man also invents his own gods. The chief god usually  being "Self." God calls this behavior the exchange of a truth for a lie! Man trades that  which is living, helpful and vital for that which is dead, harmful and vain!

II. V. 26-27 THE SYMBOL OF MAN'S SINFUL REBELLION

 A. V. 26-27A MAN'S ATTRACTIONS ARE SICKENING - In these verses, the Apostle  describes the sin of homosexuality. Yes, I said sin! He uses it to picture the absolute depths of  depravity. Why this sin and not any of the thousands of others? I think the answer lies in the  fact that homosexuals are typically given to more promiscuous behavior than heterosexuals.   1-One statistic has found that many homosexual males have as many as 300 different   sexual  partners a year.

 2-The sad thing for us is that the homosexual community in America is estimated to be about 1% of the population.

 3-They are given special privileges and are promoting their lifestyle in the open, demanding that people like you and me endorse them, accept them and affirm them   in what they are doing!

  3- Those at the highest echelons of our government are extending special favors to    homosexuals and promoting the homosexual agenda.

 4-I still find the thought of same sex relationships revolting, abominable and utterly   sinful and depraved. And, I'm in good company because God does too!

 B. V. 27B MAN'S ADDICTION IS SETTLED - This choice of lifestyles, and it is a choice,  brings its own judgment. What used to bring a twinge of shame when committed, now  doesn't phase them at all, opening the door for them to sink to ever deeper levels of sinful  depravity. That is the "recompense of the sin". Being abandoned by God enslaves a man to  His sin fully! It is as though God had been actively restraining them and now He takes away His hand and giVes them fully to their sin and its ultimate end!

III. V. 28-32 THE SCOPE OF MAN'S SINFUL REBELLION

 A. V. 28A SEEN IN HIS DECISION - At this point, man's rejection of God is complete.  They give themselves more fully to their sins, the less room they have in their minds for God.  Eventually, He is rooted totally out of the picture by the vile affections that have these people  trapped! Even the gods of his own invention become less and less necessary. The person who  has come this far in his rebellion comes to think of himself as his own god.

 B. V. 28B-31 SEEN IN HIS DEPRAVITY - We are told that God gives them over to a  "reprobate " mind. That refers to something that has been put to the test, failed the test and  has been rejected. The word was used to refer to the refining of metals. The idea is that men  did not want God in their lives, so He gives them over to the power of a totally depraved  mind. At this point, they are absolutely capable of any sin imaginable!

 C. V. 32 SEEN IN HIS DESTINY - Man knows in his heart where his sin will lead! However,  he chooses to sin against his own conscience and go on in his sinful activity. He pursues his  sin with everything in his power. And, to make matters worse, he passes his sinful behavior  on to others by encouraging them to follow in his footsteps. They also delight in all those who  live the same lifestyle. These people encourage one another in their sins while both plunge  headlong toward Hell!

Conc: I don't know about you, but I find this image troubling. It is a harsh, but true reality that those who reject God will ultimately be rejected by God. When they seer their conscience, 1 Tim. 4:2, they close the door to God's activity in their lives. Even though He is a God of love, mercy, grace and longsuffering, He is still a God of holiness, justice, judgment and wrath. There is a price to pay for rejecting Him.

There is a species of ant in Africa that builds its colonies and nests in deep underground tunnels. It is here that their young and their queen live. Even though these ants may be a great distance from the nest foraging for food, they can sense when their queen in being attacked and they all become extremely nervous and uncoordinated. If she is killed, they become frantic and rush around aimlessly until they die.

What a perfect illustration of the person who has rejected God in his life. Being unable to find direction and peace apart from a relationship with God, he rushes around aimlessly, pursuing his sins until he too dies and enters eternity. If you are in that shape, let me invite you to come to Jesus for salvation this evening. If you know someone in this shape, let me challenge you to pray for them.

It may even be that you are saved, but have allowed some of these sins mentioned in these verses into your life. You need to get that dealt with right now. I invite you, saint of God, to come to the Lord and seek a fresh, renewed walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let's mind Him this evening!