Romans 1:21-32 [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, [23] And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. [24] Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: [25] 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. [26] 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: [27] 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, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. [28] And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; [29] Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, [30] Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, [31] Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: [32] 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.
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• The Occasion – Fourth of July
• Thankful for the blessings of God on this nation
• Mindful of the dangers of forgetting those blessings
• Psalm 9:17The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
  See All... – The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
• The Context – Romans as a book of doctrine
• Romans 1-3 – Sin
• Romans 1 – the Gentiles guilty
• Romans 2 – the Jews guilty
• Romans 3 – all men sinners before God (Romans 3:10As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
  See All..., 23)
• Romans 4-5 – Salvation
• Romans 6-8 – Sanctification
• The Emphasis of this Passage
• Deals with the Gentile nations (Romans 1:20For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
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• Deals with those who knew God (Romans 1:21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
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• Special application to America
• The Lesson of this Passage
• Precept One: “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” (James 4:8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
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• Precept Two: Turn away from God, and He will turn away from you.
• 1 Samuel 15:23For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
  See All... – “…Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
• Hosea 4:6My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
  See All... – “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.”

1. MAN MOVED AWAY FROM GOD
1. He Gave No Glory to God (Romans 1:21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
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1. Though he knew God; Note: all nations knew God if you trace their history back to the time of Noah
2. They did not glorify God
3. They were not thankful; an unthankful heart is a sign of the last days (2 Timothy 3:2For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
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2. He Changed the Glory of God (Romans 1:23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
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1. He transformed the glory of God into something else
2.  In his understanding, he gave God a body
3. This path always goes downhill quickly
1. Man
2. Birds
3.  Fourfooted beasts
4. Creeping things
4. Our desire to visualize God is a form of idolatry
5. Exodus 20:4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
   See All... – “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:”
3. He Changed the Truth of God (Romans 1:24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
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1. He changed the truth of God into a lie
1. Consider the other versions of the Bible
2. He did not “exchange” the truth of God for a lie as is taught in most Bible versions
2. He worshipped and served the creature
3. Note: notice the progression
1. In the previous point, man brings God down to the level of man
2. In this point, man brings the creature up the level of God
4. He Removed the Memory of God (Romans 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
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1. He did not want to think of God
2. So, he tried to remove God from his memory
1. Psalm 10:4The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
   See All... – “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
3. Examples
1. Removal of prayer from the schools
2. Removal of Ten Commandments from public
3. Removal of “under God” from the pledge of allegiance
5. He Took Pleasure in the Wickedness of Man (Romans 1:32Who 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.
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1. His knowledge
1. Of the judgment of God
2. Of the sins worthy of death
2. His pleasure
1. In the sins themselves
2. In those who commit these sins
3. Ephesians 5:12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
   See All... – “For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.”
2. GOD MOVED AWAY FROM MAN
1. He Hid His Glory From Man (Romans 1:21-22 [21] Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. [22] Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
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1. As man gave no glory to God, so God did not show His glory to man
2. He became vain in his imaginations
3. His foolish heart was darkened
4. He became a fool while professing to be wise
2. He Gave Them Up to Uncleanness (Romans 1:24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
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1. As man gave God the shape of a body, so God gave man up to dishonor their bodies in uncleanness
2. God gave them up to uncleanness
3. They were unclean through the lusts of their own hearts
4. They followed their lusts to dishonor their bodies
3. He Gave Them Up to Vile Affections (Romans 1:26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
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1. As man gave his heart to worship the creature, so God gave man up to vile affections (feelings of the heart)
2. They changed the natural use into that which is against nature
4. He Gave Them Over to a Reprobate Mind (Romans 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
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1. As man tried to remove the memory of God from their minds, so God gave man over to a reprobate mind
2. They did those things which are not convenient
3. They were filled with all unrighteousness
5. He Assigned Them to Judgment and Death (Romans 1:32Who 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.
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1. As man took pleasure in the wickedness of men, so God will judge them with wicked men
2. They will face the judgment of God
3. They are worthy of death
3. HOW TO MOVE BACK TO GOD
1. Fear the Judgment of God (Romans 1:32Who 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.
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1. Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
   See All... – The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
2. Ecclesiastes 12:13Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
   See All... – Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
2. Acknowledge the Hand of God (Romans 1:28And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
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1. Proverbs 3:6In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
   See All... – In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
3. Exalt the Truth of God (Romans 1:25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
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1. John 17:17Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
   See All... – Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
4. Recognize the Loftiness of God (Romans 1:23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
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1. John 4:24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
   See All... – God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
5. Give All Glory to God (Romans 1:21Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
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1. Revelation – 15:4
   See All... Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Conclusion

1. Pray for our nation
2. Stand against the evils in our nation
3. Guard ourselves from the sins of our people
4. Return to God in those areas where we are guilty