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Romans 1:24-25
Once again, we see in the NKJV the word “Therefore” which now we should be seeing a pattern from the Apostle Paul in which each statement is tied to his previous statement. Romans 1:24-25 is reflective of the wrath of God being revealed to the ungodly and the unrighteous people (Romans 1:18) and in their refusal to recognize God in His eternal power and Godhead, along with the idolatry in creating gods for themselves to worship as described in Romans 1:22-23. As God chose the Israelites to be His example to the world in proclaiming Him Almighty God of heaven and earth, the first commandment that He gave them was, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments” (Exodus 20:2-6).
This is a promise and example of the wrath of God that is due to the ungodly and unrighteous.
God does not force us to love Him in return for His great love that He has shown to us in sending His one and only Son to pay the price for our sins through the death that He died on the cross. And He does not force us to accept the forgiveness and redemption that He offers to us through the resurrection of His one and only Son. He allows us to choose the direction in which our lives will go as is the requirement for love. He gives us the guidance that we need to know the way, the truth, and the life that is found only in Jesus (John 14:6) and gives us the commands to follow in living the life that is respectful of our Savior. Ephesians 4:32-5:7 (ESV) states, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” We also know from 1 John 2:15-17 (HCSB), “Do not love the world or the things that belong to the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him. For everything that belongs to the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s lifestyle – is not from the Father, but is from the world. And the world with its lust is passing away, but the one who does God’s will remains forever.”
God gives us an example of true love in that which He offers to us through His Son Jesus, and He gives us directions that lead us in the way of love, but it is our choice to accept and follow that way or to continue in the way of this world; the choice is yours to make; my prayer for you is that you will choose Jesus – the love of God sent to save us from sin and grant us eternal life – in Christ.
Dear LORD,
You have given the ungodly and unrighteous up to uncleanness. You have also shown us the way to righteousness through our Savior Jesus. Please continue to call us to You each day that we will see Your great love for us and open the door of our hardened hearts to the freedom that is only found in the forgiveness of Christ Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.