A REPROBATE MIND – PART I

Romans 1:28  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;

[God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient] Three things God gave them up too:

1. To dishonor their bodies (Romans 1:24).

2. To vile affections in their souls (Romans 1:26).

3. To reprobate minds (Romans 1:28).

[reprobate] Greek: adokimos (GSN-96), reprobate (Romans 1:28; 2 Cor. 13:5, 6, 7; 2 Tim. 3:8; Titus 1:16); rejected (Hebrews 6:8); and castaway (1 Cor. 9:27).  Christ is not in reprobates.

[convenient] Greek: katheko (GSN-2520), fit; proper (Acts 22:22).

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Romans 1:16-23  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. [17] For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. [18] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; [19] Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. [20] For 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: [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.

Romans 1:24-27  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.

Romans 1:28-2:1  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. [2:1] Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

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[ashamed] Greek: epaischunomai (GSN-1870).  Here; Romans 6:21; Mark 8:38; Luke 9:26; 2 Tim. 1:8, 12, 16; Hebrews 2:11; Hebrews 11:16.  Paul here fulfills Isaiah 28:16.

[gospel of Christ] Another term for "gospel of God" (Romans 1:1).

[power] Greek: dunamis (GSN-1411), inherent power; the ability to reproduce itself, like a dynamo.

The Gospel Is God's Power:

1. To produce the new birth (1 Peter 1:23).

2. To give salvation (Romans 1:16; Ephes. 1:13).

3. To impart grace (Acts 20:24).

4. To establish people in the faith (Romans 16:25).

5. To generate faith (Romans 10:17).

6. To set free (John 8:31-36).

7. To nourish spiritual life (1 Peter 2:2).

8. To cleanse the church (Ephes. 5:26).

9. To search the life (Hebrews 4:12).

10. To make partakers of Christ (Ephes. 3:6).

11. To impart immortality (2 Tim. 1:10).

12. To bring peace (Romans 10:15).

13. To give protection (Ephes. 6:17).

14. To give fullness of blessings (Romans 15:29).

[salvation] Greek: soteria (GSN-4991).  Translated "salvation" 40 times; "saved" (Luke 1:71; Romans 10:1); "deliver" (Acts 7:25); "health" (Acts 27:34); and "saving" (Hebrews 11:7).

Salvation

Salvation is the all-inclusive word of the gospel, gathering into itself all the redemptive acts and processes.  It is used 119 times in the Old Testament.  There are 7 Hebrew and Greek words for "salvation."  They are used 388 times and are translated by 23 English words, some with various endings, which mean salvation, deliverance, save, health, help, welfare, safety, victory, Savior, defend, avenge, rescue, and preserve.

Salvation is used of:

1. Deliverance from danger (Exodus 14)

2. Victory over enemies (1 Samuel 14)

3. Healing of the body (Acts 3:6; Acts 4:12)

4. Forgiveness of sin (Luke 19:9; Romans 10:9-10; Psalm 38:18-22; Psalm 51:1-13; Psalm 79:9)

5. Freedom from prison (Phil. 1:19)

6. Deliverance from captivity (Psalm 14)

7. Deliverance from wrath (1 Thes. 5:9)

Salvation from sin comes through:

1. Confession (Romans 10:9; 1 John 1:9)

2. Grace through faith (Ephes. 2:8-9)

3. Sanctification of the Spirit and

4. Belief of the truth (2 Thes. 2:13)

5. Godly sorrow (2 Cor. 7:10)

6. Faith in His blood (Romans 3:25)

7. Faith in His name (Acts 4:12)

Romans 1:17

[For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith] God's righteousness is revealed in the gospel on the ground of faith as the absolute condition of salvation, and is only effective in those who believe.

[The just shall live by faith] Quoted from Habakkuk 2:4.  It means that the just must live by continued faith, and go from faith to faith as light is received (1 John 1:7).

Romans 1:18

[For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven] The wrath of God is also revealed in the gospel as part of God's righteousness.

[wrath of God] This phrase is found ten times in Scripture (Romans 1:18; Psalm 78:31; John 3:36; Ephes. 5:6; Col. 3:6; Rev. 14:10,19; Rev. 15:1,7; Rev. 16:1).

[against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men] This is what God's wrath is against.  In Romans 1:18-32 Paul proves the utter ungodliness of the Gentile world and it’s deserving God's wrath.  In Romans 2:1-3:8 he proves that the Jews are also ungodly and deserving of God's wrath.  In Romans 3:9-20 he sums up the case of both Jews and Gentiles, proving the whole world guilty.

[ungodliness] Greek: asebeia (GSN-763), impiety; no reverence for God or sacred things; irreligious (2 Tim. 2:16; Titus 2:12; Jude 1:18).

[unrighteousness] Greek: adikia (GSN-93), all wrongdoing; immorality; wickedness of heart and life (Luke 18:6; Romans 1:18, 29; Romans 2:8; Romans 6:13).

[hold the truth in unrighteousness] Hold down, suppress; imprison; bridle.

Romans 1:20

[For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made] Romans 1:20 explains Romans 1:19.  All invisible things, even the eternal power and Godhead, are clearly seen by the visible things of creation.  See Deut. 29:29.

[eternal] Greek: aidios (GSN-126), twice (Romans 1:20; Jude 1:6).

[Godhead] Greek: theiotes (GSN-2305), Deity.  Only here.

[without excuse] No excuse for people to be ignorant of the invisible things.  Same word in Romans 2:1.

Romans 1:21

[knew] Greek: ginosko (GSN-1097), to know by experience (John 1:48; 1 John 5:20; Ephes. 5:5).

[they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations] They made God a mystery and gave the people images of all kinds (Romans 1:23).

[imaginations] Greek: dialogismos (GSN-1261), reasoning’s. Substituted foolish concepts of God, and fooled themselves.

Romans 1:23

[uncorruptible] Greek: aphthartos (GSN-862).  Here; 1 Cor. 9:25; 1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Tim. 1:17; 1 Peter 1:4, 23; 1 Peter 3:4.

[corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things] Images of people, birds, cattle, dogs, crocodiles, frogs, and snakes are common among all idolaters.  Such idolatry has been the root of all the abominable immoralities of the heathen.  The idols have been the patrons of licentiousness (Romans 1:23-32).  When they formed their gods in human shape they endowed them with passions and represented them as slaves to disgraceful sexual perversions and as possessing unlimited powers of sexual gratification.

Romans 1:24

[gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves] God permitted them to give themselves over to homosexual sins and similar perversions.

[uncleanness] Greek:  akatharsia (GSN-167).  A scriptural term for homosexuality and other sexual perversions of men and women (Romans 1:24; 2 Cor. 12:21; Galatians 5:19; Ephes. 4:19; Ephes. 5:3; Col. 3:5; 1 Thes. 4:7; cp. 2 Peter 2:10).

Romans 1:25

[changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator] Established idolatry for the true worship; a lie for the truth; and worshiped creatures more than the Creator.  Idols are called "lies" in Isaiah 44:20; Jeremiah 10:14; Jeremiah 13:25.

Romans 1:26

[For this cause God gave them up] Because of the apostasy of Romans 1:21-25.

[vile] Greek: atimia (GSN-819), vile (Romans 1:26); shame (1 Cor. 11:14); reproach (2 Cor. 11:21); and dishonour (Romans 9:21; 1 Cor. 15:43; 2 Cor. 6:8; 2 Tim. 2:20).

[affections] Greek: pathos (GSN-3806), affections (Romans 1:26; Col. 3:5) and lusts (1 Thes. 4:5).  Vile affections are passions of infamy and shame.

[natural use into that which is against nature] This is lesbianism—unnatural, homosexual relations between women.

Romans 1:27

[leaving the natural use of the woman] This is sodomy or homosexuality (Genesis 8:21; Genesis 19:5; Leviticus 20:13; Deut. 23:17; 1 Kings 14:24; 1 Kings 15:12; 1 Kings 22:46; 2 Kings 23:7; Joel 3:3; Ephes. 5:4; 2 Tim. 3:3,13; 2 Peter 2:7-22; Jude 1:7-19).

[burned in their lust] Greek: ekkaiomai (GSN-1572), were inflamed.

[unseemly] Greek: aschemosune (GSN-808), indecent.

[receiving] Greek: apolambano (GSN-618), receiving back in full.

[recompence] Greek: antimisthia (GSN-489), retribution.

[error] Greek: plane (GSN-4106), wandering—wrong action, wickedness. Here; Matthew 27:64; Ephes. 4:14; 1 Thes. 2:3; 2 Thes. 2:11; James 5:20; 2 Peter 2:18; 2 Peter 3:17; 1 John 4:6; Jude 1:11.  Both men and women weakened and debilitated their bodies by unnatural prostitutions, so that they received in themselves  the penalties of their wickedness.

Romans 1:28

[God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient]

Three things God gave them up to:

1. To dishonor their bodies (Romans 1:24).

2. To vile affections in their souls (Romans 1:26).

3. To reprobate minds (Romans 1:28).

[reprobate] Greek: adokimos (GSN-96), reprobate (Romans 1:28; 2 Cor. 13:5, 6, 7; 2 Tim. 3:8; Titus 1:16); rejected (Hebrews 6:8); and castaway (1 Cor. 9:27).  Christ is not in reprobates.

[convenient] Greek: katheko (GSN-2520), fit; proper (Acts 22:22).

Romans 1:29

[Being filled with all unrighteousness ...]

Twenty Stages of World Apostasy

1. They did not glorify God (Romans 1:21).

2. They became unthankful (Romans 1:21).

3. They were vain in their imaginations (Romans 1:21).

4. They became dark in their hearts (Romans 1:21).

5. They professed to be wise (Romans 1:22).

6. They became fools (Romans 1:22).

7. They changed God's glory (Romans 1:23).

8. They dishonored their bodies (Romans 1:24).

9. They changed the truth to a lie (Romans 1:25).

10. They worshiped creation as God (Romans 1:25).

11. They served creatures, not God (Romans 1:25).

12. They submitted to vile passions (Romans 1:26).

13. Women became lesbians (Romans 1:26).

14. Men went into sodomy (Romans 1:27).

15. They rejected knowledge of God (Romans 1:28).

16. They became reprobate in mind (Romans 1:28).

17. They were completely perverted sexually (Romans 1:28).

18. They were filled with iniquities (Romans 1:29-31).

19. They despised the coming judgment.

20. They gloried in wickedness (Romans 1:32).

[filled] Greek: pleroo (GSN-4137), to fill up, complete.

[unrighteousness] Greek: adikia (GSN-93), every vice contrary to justice and righteousness.  See Romans 1:18.

[fornication] Greek: porneia (GSN-4202), unlawful sexual sins of single and married people.  See Matthew 5:32.

[wickedness] Greek: poneria (GSN-4189), depravity; iniquity; wicked acting of the evil nature; criminal.

[covetousness] Greek: pleonexia (GSN-4124), intense lust for gain. See Luke 12:15.

[maliciousness] Greek: kakia (GSN-2549), the vicious disposition and desires, rather than their exercise.

[envy] Greek: phthonos (GSN-5355), to pine away; the pain felt and malignity conceived at the sight of the blessing of another.

[murder] Greek: phonos (GSN-5408), murder (Matthew 15:19; Mark 7:21; Mark 15:7; Luke 23:19, 25; Romans 1:29; Galatians 5:21; Rev. 9:21); slaughter (Acts 9:1).  Also hating another (1 John 3:15).

[debate] Greek: eris (GSN-2054), strife (Romans 13:13; 1 Cor. 3:3; Phil. 1:15; 1 Tim. 6:4); contention (1 Cor. 1:11; Titus 3:9); debate (Romans 1:29; 2 Cor. 12:20); and variance (Galatians 5:20).  It means to cause strife and discord.  It is not the same as disputing for truth as in Acts 9:29; Acts 15:2,7; Acts 17:17; Acts 19:8-9.

[deceit] Greek: dolos (GSN-1388), lying, falsity.  From delo, to take with a bait.  Translated "guile" (John 1:47; 2 Cor. 12:16; 1 Thes. 2:3; 1 Peter 2:1, 22; 1 Peter 3:10; Rev. 14:5); "deceit" (Mark 7:22; Romans 1:29); craft (Mark 14:1); and "subtilty" (Matthew 26:4; Acts 13:10).

[malignity] Greek: kakoetheia (GSN-2550), a disposition producing evil habits.  It means malignity of the mind, which leads its victim to put the worst construction on every action; ascribing to the best deeds the worst motives.

[whisperers] Greek: psithuristes (GSN-5588), slanderers; those who pretend secrecy, and carry out accusations against people, whether true or false; blasting their reputation by clandestine gossip.

Romans 1:30

[Backbiters] Greek: katalalos (GSN-2637), evil speakers; false accusers; slanderers of absent people.

[haters of God] Greek: theostuges (GSN-2319), hateful to God; atheists; condemners of sacred things; despisers of providence; scorners of good.

[despiteful] Greek: hubristes (GSN-5197), insolent; stormy; boisterous; abusing the characters and persons of those under them; scornful; hateful.

[proud] Greek: huperephanos (GSN-5244), to indulge in pride or self-congratulation; be exalted; elated; glory in self; display or strut self before others; undue sense of superiority; unnatural self-esteem; arrogance; wishing all people to receive their sayings as oracles.  Here; Luke 1:51; 2 Tim. 3:2; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5.

[boasters] Greek: alazon (GSN-213), self-exalted, vain, and arrogant braggarts.  Here; 2 Tim. 3:2.

[inventors of evil things] Greek: epheuretes (GSN-2182), originators of wicked, immoral, and sinful customs, rites, and fashions; inventors of the abominable religious orgies of Bacchus, and every other form of entertainment rooted in horror, cruelty and base immorality.

[disobedient to parents] Rebellious against parents; indifferent to rule and order; irreverent.

Romans 1:31

[Without understanding] Ignorant and destitute of capacity for spiritual things; stubborn.

[covenantbreakers] Greek: asunthetos (GSN-802), not morally bound to any agreement; not dependable; treacherous to covenants; faithless to promises; false to trusts.

[without natural affection] Destitute of natural affection; that is, filled with desire for unnatural affection experiences with husband or wife or same-sex partners in the homosexual and other sexual deviation sins of Romans 1:24-28.

[implacable] Greek: aspondos (GSN-786), without libation (which accompanied a treaty).  Greeks used it to appease the angry gods and reconcile them to the contracting parties.  A person who would not pour libation was at deadly enmity with the other one and showed the highest pitch of an unforgiving spirit.  He could not be placated, appeased, or pacified by God.

[unmerciful] Greek: aneleemon (GSN-415), pitiless; destitute of all benevolence to the needy; cruel; merciless; irreconcilable; severe; unappeasable; unforgiving; unyielding

Romans 2:1

[thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things] Paul here addresses the Jews without naming them.  He accurately describes them by their well-known disposition to justify themselves and condemn others (Luke 18:19).  They are guilty of some of the same things God condemns in Romans 1:21-32, so they are liable to God's just judgment on sin