Romans 1:18-2:16

Romans 1:18-2:16

God has given light to mankind
“What may to known about God is plain” (1:19)
“God’s qualities…have been clearly seen” (1:20)
“They knew God” (1:21)
“The requirements of the law are written on their hearts” (2:15)
“Their consciences also bearing witness” (2:15)
“Their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them (2:15)

RESULT: Men are without excuse

Mankind willfully chooses darkness
“The wicked suppress the truth” (1:18)
“They exchanged the truth of God for a lie” (1:25)
“They did not…retain the knowledge of God” (1:28)
“Because of your stubbornness” (2:5)

RESULT: Futile Thinking & Darkened Hearts

God gave mankind over to their own devices
“Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires” (1:24)
“Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts” (1:26)
“He gave them over to a depraved mind” (1:28)

RESULT: Idolatry Immorality Heart-Level Wickedness

There is a future Day of Judgment
“You are storing up wrath against yourself” (2:5)
“His righteous judgment will be revealed” (2:5)
“God will give to each person according to what he has done” (2:6)
“There will be trouble…for every human being who does evil” (2:9)
“God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ” (2:16)

Statistics
1. Less than 1% of the population is exclusively homosexual
2. Only 1 out of 7 homosexuals has had fewer than 50 partners
3. 79% of male homosexuals have had sex with a stranger
4. 10% of homosexuals are relatively monogamous
5. 60% of homosexuals have had more than 250 partners
6. The average heterosexual male has had 5-9 partners
7. 70% of AIDS patients are homosexual/bisexual
8. 86% of homosexuals use drugs to increase sexual stimulation
9. Homosexuals are 3 times more likely to commit suicide
10. Life expectancy for homosexuals is 33 years fewer

BIBLICAL TEACHING ON HOMOSEXUALITY

Genesis 2:18-25
The Lord brought woman to man as a sexual partner
Only a male/female union can produce ‘one flesh’
Sexual activity is only pure in the context of biblical marriage

Genesis 19 (Jude 1:7)
The men of Sodom sought homosexual sex
Lot & the Lord considered their desire wicked
The New Testament affirms this interpretation

Leviticus 18:22, 20:13
Homosexual activity is considered detestable to God
Homosexual activity was punishable by death
These laws were part of the moral law of God

Romans 1:18-32
Homosexual desires are products of mankind’s rebellion
Homosexual activity is unnatural in God’s creative order
God has set up consequences to such sins

1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 1 Timothy 1:9-10
Homosexual offenders are ‘wicked’ and won’t see heaven

Question to Consider
1. Do you joke about homosexuality and/or ridicule homosexuals?
2. What do you think about rallies against homosexuality?
3. What definition of marriage should the government work with?
4. What kind of rights should homosexual couples have?
5. How do you think Jesus treated homosexuals?