Romans 1:28 “Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.”
Moral perversion brings mental perversion. Paul writes about those that did not like to retain God in their minds and how their minds were affected by such a decision. The mind is a very powerful place. Perhaps the human mind is one of the most powerful things on earth next to God. With the mind, humankind has placed men on the moon, we can send information by the click of a button around the globe, we can breathe underwater using SCUBA gear, etc…. our mind controls our actions, and whoever or whatever controls our minds will certainly control us.
At the time when Paul was writing Paul addressed that there were those people who refused to see it to be rational and relevant to acknowledge God. If one acknowledges God then it stands to reason that the one is accountable to God as their Creator. Many do not desire to acknowledge God and therefore create idols and systems that are secular (without God). As ones conscience convicts them of breaking God’s Law, and as Creation proves there is a Creator, some still refuse to give in and submit to God, and one’s pride keeps them from retaining the knowledge of God. One can sit in a class and hear information, or read a book, but retaining information is when that information becomes part of a person. Each of us can attest to this when we have studied for our tests, and although we reviewed the material, there was some information, or formulas that we did not retain at that time, and the test revealed that to us.
What did God do because many felt it undesirable, or unnecessary to retain the knowledge of God? God “gave them over to a depraved (reprobate-KJV) mind to do what ought not to be done.” The word “reprobate” (adokimion) means “rejected after testing.” God would reject those that rejected him, because He gave many chances to them, notice they were rejected after testing, not prior to. Man was created in God’s image and because of sin that image has been distorted, and only through Christ can that image be restored to its rightful place whereby God intended it to be. At salvation God pronounced a divorce from us to our father the Devil that “nourished us” with the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life, and called us out of darkness into His marvelous light. John writes that men stay in darkness because men love darkness rather then light, because light exposes us for who we really are. Just as the sunlight reveals the dust on the surface of a table that has just been dusted, likewise does the light of God’s truth reveal our lives, our minds in truth. Hebrews 4:12 states, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,…it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart [mind].” God gave these men up to minds which held thoughts that He disapproved of to the judgment of their sin. That sinful mind will go head to head with God on Judgment and their will be no excuses to appease the Judge of the universe. These men because of their darkened minds did those acts which ought not to be done.” Through our conscience and Creation, God still has shown us right from wrong. We desperately need Christ so we can think right, about God, others, and ourselves. Is He in you! “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus”, (Philippians 2:5).” Don’t only read His Word, but obey it!
Until the nets are filled…Blessings, Pastor Phil <><
He Has Magnified His Word 