Tag: homosexuality

Impressions and Expressions of the Gospel (Romans 1:16-32)

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, Paul's Letter to the Romans, Uncategorized1 Comment

As our pastor is preaching through this most images powerful of Paul’s letters (to the Roman Christians) my desire is to make note of the impressions that the Lord is leaving on my own heart and life; with the prayer that the gospel to which Paul was called and set apart, and was not ashamed, would be revealed in me, so powerful and impressive; so as to be the expression of my own life.

In the middle of the first chapter of Romans (vs. 16-17) he speaks of “the power of God,” a reference of the same “power” in verse 4 ~ “the Son of God in power.” It is the same power and the same “gospel of His Son.” (vs. 9)  In these verses he also is setting the stage for the whole of the letter, as it refers to “salvation,” “righteousness” and “faith.”

Before he goes on to encourage with the main elements of the gospel for salvation he inserts the reason for this salvation, the knowledge and need of the gospel, using the backdrop of God’s wrath. Why can we not look over the wrath of God when we speak of the gospel? Why can’t the gospel be preached simply from the center of God’s mercy and love?

Before we can know where we need to be we must know where we are. Without understanding the power and depths of our depravity we cannot fully understand the need for the gospel and its power.

Oppression and Suppression of the Truth
“The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness.”   In Romans 1: 18-32 we have a description of humanity in its lowest state of sin and misery. Since the antithesis began in the garden oppression has a grip on the hearts and minds of the creatures that God created to be His image-bearers. Instead of obedience to God man has rebelled, and stirred the wrath of God upon us all.

Instead of accepting all that God has created as evidence of His rule and reign over us, man continues to suppress the truth. “For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God, but became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools.”

Even as God proved the weakness of our thinking and living on our own, with Adam and Eve, so in giving man up to their own lusts, He reveals how deep into our own depravity we come without Him. Under the power of oppression and sin man suppresses the truth and love of God; and becomes as the lowest creatures, following their own lusts as they have no power of righteousness within them.

Having read and studied Paul’s letter to the Romans, meditating on the truths that are written there, I was not prepared for the tears that came during this sermon. Knowing the mercy and love of God that comes through the power of the gospel of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, and how Paul was not ashamed to live and proclaim this salvation for righteousness, I am amazed at how the ungodly are not ashamed of their sin, and of those who “give approval to those who practice them.”

We, as a congregation, were reminded that we, though believers are part of this fallen humanity, still subject to the oppression and temptation to sin.  It is only through the saving work of our Lord Jesus Christ that we have any hope of righteousness and of escaping God’s wrath.

I praise the Lord for such power of God and His Son, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit that works faith by His grace, (Ephesians 2:8-10) to make known to us and overcome the ungodliness and unrighteousness in us who believe.  This power is the same power that raised Jesus from the dead.  (Ephesians 1:19-20; Ephesians 2:1-6) a power greater than the oppression of this world and our sin.

“So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11

Dear Father in heaven, thank you for this letter to the Romans. Please open our hearts to hear, and obey the gospel wherein your righteousness is revealed from faith for faith to us. Keep us aware of our own nature; keep us close to you. Search us and know our hearts; try us and know our thoughts; see if there be any wicked way in us; and lead us the way everlasting. Fill us with the power of your Spirit to speak the truth of Christ ~ not ashamed but eager to share the gospel of Christ wherever you lead us.

Related articles:
The Purpose of Paul’s Letter to the Romans
Obligated and Eager
The Father’s Glory and Mother Nature

God’s Glory and Mother Nature

On By francesrogersIn GOD'S GLORY, GOD'S GRACE, GOD'S WORD, Paul's Letter to the Romans1 Comment

God’s glory, and mother nature, are complimentary.  More than this, nature is a reflection of the glory of God, the Father.  And yet in this visible world the natural man only sees and knows the mother.

Within three days I have encountered this phenomenon from the witness of a landscape designer and a photographer.  One states that she was brought up as a Catholic, and though she does not attend church, she is a Christian through her knowledge and joy of nature.  The photographer, in his own video, gives all the credit to the beauty of his work to mother nature; even explaining that when someone responds to his work, using the name of God in vain, they are expressing the god within themselves. In both cases all the work, the sustaining, the maintenance and beauty of the Father is negated to what the human eye can see.  The creation—the mother—is worshiped, instead of the Creator.

The full scope of this negation is recorded by Paul in the first chapter of Romans.  Interestingly enough, he ties this misplaced devotion to the nature of man.  Years ago I wrote an article with a simple theme of the common denominator of homosexuality. What it is is the annihilation of the role of the father.  Look at both the female and the male role in this way of life.  There is no father figure; there is only the nature of man becoming all that he or she feels.  There is no authority or leadership beyond the human form and what we know as the “self.”

We are first, born of the natural, living after the flesh and its lusts and desires (whatever makes me feel good).  The same Father that created us—and all that we see in mother nature—sires us again, by His Spirit, through faith in Jesus Christ.  This “new creation” sees the Father in His glory, and the new mother—the heavenly Jerusalem.  We see, through all the beauty of what is created here, the glory of the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, and what they have prepared for us with them in glory.

If you are a part of this deceptive phenomenon, look up, look beyond what you see with your natural eyes, and what you feel in yourself.  Find a Bible, read the New Testament, cry out to the Father who created you—to open your eyes to see Jesus Christ, in whom He has given all that you need to worship Him.  This is the purpose of your creation.  Don’t let men deceive you; don’t deceive yourself.  If you miss the Father’s glory in Jesus Christ, you will miss it all, with only your eyes and body to see and feel what you have now, for eternity.   Men—you can be the man that God created you to be—in Christ.   Women—you can be the woman God created you to be—in Christ.

“As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust,
and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.”
1 Corinthians 15:48

Dear Father, I thank you that you have not left us as we are, to ourselves and our own feelings, but “before the foundation of the world” prepared with, and through Jesus Christ, your Son, the means of escape and salvation for the holy life for which you created us in your own image.  Through this message I pray you would call and draw to Christ those whom you desire to know you, love you, and worship you, the Father of glory.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.