The Downward SpiralWhen We Reject God

When Men TurnTheir Backs On God

Romans 1:18-32

Man’s ViewpointFrom uncivilized savage monkeyTo modern civilized sophisticated humanTo future evolution into perfection

Modern Anthropologists

Man’s ViewpointCaveman – fearful of outside world, insecureSo: worships things greater than selfMillenniums: discredits “gods” – accepts 1 GodScience: discovers “no God” – human “progress”Finally: full potential … perfection!

Evolution of Man’s Religion

God’s ViewpointGarden of Eden: Man’s perfection (walk w/ God)Gen. 3 – Sin and The Fall (cast out)Gen 6 – Thoughts evil continuallyRom 1 – Depravity “God gave them up” (savages)

Devolution of Man’s Religion

Romans 1:18-20God is angry

Not because punishes man for not figuring God out

But because gives evidence and intentionally denies God

“who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” “God has shown it to them” “invisible attributes clearly seen… they are without excuse!”

1- Intentional Denial of God

Romans 1:18-20Evidence Is Everywhere

Adam Lived 930 years – till days of Lamech (father of Noah)

Adam (130) – Seth (105) – Enosh (90) – Cainan (70) – Mahalalel (65) – Jared (162) – Enoch (65) – Methuselah (187) – Lamech (56 at Adam’s death)

Intentional Denial of God

Romans 1:18-20Evidence Is Everywhere

Noah Gen 6:5 “Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.”

Heb 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”

Intentional Denial of God

Romans 1:18-20Evidence Is Everywhere

Noah 2 Peter 2:5 “and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, one of eight people, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly”

Intentional Denial of God

Romans 1:18-20Evidence Is Everywhere

From Adam to Paul to Us“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse” (Rom 1:20)

Intentional Denial of God

TeleologicalArgument

Psalm 19:1-6

Romans 1:21-23“I Don’t See God Anywhere”

Willful Ignorance vs 21 “although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God”

Unthankful vs 21 “nor were thankful”

Consequences: vs. 21 “became … minds (futile), hearts (darkened)”

2- Futile Minds / Foolish Hearts

Romans 1:21-23The Devolution of God

Glory of Incorruptible GodImage of Corruptible ManBirdsFour-Footed Animals Creeping Things

Downward Spiral

Romans 1:24-27“God gave them up”

Gen. 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.”

3- A Growing Dishonor

Romans 1:24-27“God gave them up”

Rom. 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son”

3- A Growing Dishonor

Romans 1:24-27“God gave them up”

I Cor. 11:7 “For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God”

Col. 3:10 “And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him:

3- A Growing Dishonor

Romans 1:24-27“God gave them up”

Heb. 2:6-8 “But one testified in a certain place (Psa 8:5) saying: "What is man that You are mindful of him, Or the son of man that You take care of him? You have made him a little lower than the angels; You have crowned him with glory and honor, And set him over the works of Your hands. You have put all things in subjection under his feet."

3 - A Growing Dishonor

Romans 1:24-27“God gave them up”

3 - A Growing Dishonor

Save the Owl

Romans 1:24-27“God gave them up”

To Uncleanness (v. 24)

To Vile Passions (v 26)

3 - A Growing Dishonor

“… and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.”

“… to dishonor their bodies among themselves”

Hetero ManHetero Woman

Homo ManHomo Woman

Bisex ManBisex Woman

2 = 6

Romans 1:28-32“God gave them over”

To A Debased Mind

To Ungodly Lifestyle

4 - A Decadent Life

Filled with…

FILLED WITH…4 - A Decadent Life

all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,

wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness;

full of envy, murder, strife,

deceit, evil-mindedness;

whisperers,backbiters,

haters of God, violent, proud,

boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

undiscerning, untrustworthy,

unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful