Ephesians 5:5-8 "^[5] For this ye know, that no whore monger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  ^[6] Let no man deceive you with vain words:  for because of these things cometh the wrath [orge] of God upon the children of disobedience.  ^[7] Be not ye therefore partakers with them.  ^[8] For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord:  walk as children of light:"

Colossians 3:5-7 "^[5] Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:  ^[6] For which things' sake the wrath [orge] of God cometh on the children of disobedience:  ^[7] In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them."

Ephesians 2:1-5 "^[1] And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  ^[2] Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:  ^[3] Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath [orge], even as others.  ^[4] But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  ^[5] Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)"

     We as believers are no longer children of Wrath, but we have become Children of the Promise because of what Christ did for us.  We also see in our text that the wrath of God is directed toward those "who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"  This would be better translated as those who "hold down the truth in unrighteousness".  There are those in our world who "hold down" or "suppress" righteousness within themselves in favor of "unrighteousness".  This type of person want to avoid the truth about themselves and what they are doing in this life.  So they foolishly try to get rid of the truth.

Romans 1: 19 - 20

     First we see the relationship between verse 18 and verses 19 and 20.  In verse 18 we find that Paul is talking about people who "hold down" righteousness within themselves in favor of "unrighteousness".  In verses 19 and 20 Paul is explaining that those that "hold down" righteousness within themselves are without any excuse.  That is, they cannot say that there is no reason to be "righteous" because there is no God anyway.

     Why you ask?  In verse 19 we see this:  First off, the Greek word for "is manifest" is "phaneros" {fan-er-oce' }, which means "apparent, evident, known" and the Greek for "in them" is "autos" {ow-tos' }, which means "in their hearts or conscience".  So with these two interpretations we see that everyone has a basic knowledge that there is a God.

Putting verse 18 and 19 into today's english would go something like this:

     "Those that hold down righteousness within themselves are without excuse.  They cannot claim that there is no God and therefore no reason to be righteous, because God has put the knowledge that He exists within every persons heart.  God has also shown that He exists to them."

     Even a self confirmed athiest knows that there is a God.  They might not always own up to it ... but I've heard more than one "athiest" state that they believe that there is more than likely a supreme being of some kind.  First to be an athiest you have to look for God.  Then when they don't find "the God that they want" they declare themselves "atheist".

     Note that they can't find "the God that they want"!  Many cults have sprung up from this very thought.  When people can't find "the God that they want" ... then they either invent one or say that there isn't a God!

     A very good thought that I heard from somewhere ( not sure where at this moment ) that even we as Christians should always remember is this:

     And now in verse 20 Paul adds that not only has God put the knowledge of Himself in everyones heart, but also they can see the way God created the world around them and from that know that there is a God.  God has, from the beginning of all time, revealed Himself through the Nature which He created. There is a definite design and purpose in all facets of nature that cry out for the existence of God.  And then Paul adds "so that they are without excuse:"  Basically Paul is saying that when anyone stands before God they can never say, "I didn't know you existed".

     And if seeing the creation all around us on earth isn't enough ... speaking of a relatively new discovery by science Pastor David Buffaloe made this observation:

Every year 14,300,000 tons of dust from meteorites falls on both the earth and it's moon.  The majority of the dust that hits earth is destroyed by the atmosphere, but the moon has no atmosphere to impede this weird rain.  In 5 billion years the moon would have 137 feet of dust covering it's surface. Yet in the 70's manned space flight to the moon, Armstrong's footprint only went "one eighth of an inch" deep into dust.  Using this as a basis for computing the age of the earth, the earth is really only about "10,000 years old".  Scientifically the amount of dust on the moon "disproves evolutionary theory" ( though you'll never hear about this on a television newscast ). (refer. bibleteacher.org)

Romans 1: 21 - 23

     The Greek word used here for "knew" is "ginosko" {ghin-oce'-ko} which means "to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of".  Paul states here that when those that hold down, or choose unrighteous as a way of life, know who God is but still choose not to glorify Him and are also are not thankful for knowing Him.  Their imaginations become vain, that is they have a pride in their personal achievements, and their hearts become darkened.

     And then "Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools."  Fools is the Greek word "moraino" {mo-rah'-ee-no} which means "to be foolish, to act foolishly".  It is from this word that we get our English word "moron" and we all know what that word means.  And as the rest of verse 23 explains, man then starts to "make the God that he wants because he doesn't like the God that is" in images like other men, birds, beasts, and creeping things like snakes.

     And so it has always been.  Rather than watch and learn of God's existence through Nature, man has always turned to vain philosophies and theories to do away with His existence.

     In ignoring the true Creator man began, and still is trying, to create his own god.  "Why?  Because even our conscious demands that there is a God."  Even the most atheistic person will, when confronted with a life threatening situation, automatically turn "religious" and call on his Creator.  The old saying, "There's no atheists in foxholes", is absolutely true.  "Man must have something to worship."

Romans 1: 24 - 25

     The Greek word used here for "gave them up" is "paradidomi" {par-ad-id'-o-mee}, which means "to give into the hands of another, to give over into one's power or use".  When man moves farther and farther away from God eventually God gives up on them.  That may seem harsh ... but God has given us all "free will" and lets us choose whether or not we want to recognize or follow Him.

     As we are told here once God gives up a person and allows them ( of their own free will ) to be what they want to be instead of what God wants they to be, they are free to follow "uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves:".  They then change the truth of God into a lie and start to worship and serve themselves and others above God.  Our Father wants His creation to follow Him of their own accord.  When man refuses, he cuts himself off from God's controls.

     Howbeit ... at anytime man may choose, as in the story of the prodigal son told by Jesus in Luke chapter 15, to once again return to God the Father.

Luke 15: 21 - 24 "^[21] And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.  ^[22] But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him;  and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:  ^[23] And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it;  and let us eat, and be merry:  ^[24] For this my son was dead, and is alive again;  he was lost, and is found.  And they began to be merry."

Romans 1:26-27

     Here once again we see the term "gave them up" used by Paul.  And what did God give them up to?  Vile affections!  The Greek word used here for "natural use" is "cheris" which means "the natural sexual function".  No matter how you read these verses, no matter who tells you other wise, homosexuality is exactly what is being talked about here.  There is no other way to read it.

     Homosexuality is not an alternate lifestyle, but clearly "that which is against nature".  It is, to all but the most thoughtless of people, something that is not natural.  The Greek word "cheris" used here means "the natural sexual function".

     As a hetrosexual man or a woman we can give into our sexual feelings and say, "I choice not to follow God and commit adultery.  It's fun to have sex with others!"  That is, we have the choice.  But I know that is abhorrant to God so therefore I don't do it.  "People are not born homosexual" as so many would try to make you think today.  "It's a choice, just as a hetrosexual choicing to commit or not commit adultery is a choice."

     And what happens to people that choose to do these things?  Paul says in verse 27 that they start "receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet."  The Greek word used here for "recompense" is the Greek "antimisthian", which means "a reward or compensation for something".  In other words, they got what they asked for.

     This brings us to the question of the multiple types of sexually transmitted diseases we see in our society today.  Is AIDS or Herpes a judgment from God on the human race?  "Well, no, not really."  It is the consequence of doing what is not natural, the final result of a bad decision to ignore God and personally "holding down" righteousness.  What about the innocent, those who did no wrong who suffer under AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases?  Again, because mankind chose a poor path, mankind caused the innocent to suffer.

Romans 1: 28 - 31

     The Greek word used here for "reporbate" is "adikos" {ad'-ee-kos}, which means "unrighteous, sinful".  So since they did not like to retain God within their own minds He let them ( again, free will ) have what they wanted, "a sinful and unrighteous mind" so they could do as they wanted.  And what do these people do?  Simply read verse 29, 30, and 31 for your answer.  You can't be more discriptive than that.  And note the word "filled" which means "having been filled in the past and they continue to do so."

     The Greek word "astorges" is used for "without natural affection" and means, "without natural familial love".  In this case without natural familial love basically means that type of love which God created to occur between a husband and wife.  Those that are having sexual relations of any type, except for within a marriage, would be considered "without natural affection".

     No one can do good works apart from God.  And the farther from God you move, the farther from morality and decency you move also.

Romans 1:32

     Here we see Paul ending talking about those that "hold down" righteousness within themselves.  He notes that they know there will be a judgement from God and that they are worthy of death but continue on their choosen path.  And he ends this conversation noting that they also "have pleasure in them that do them", that is, they join together with others that do the same thing and derive more pleasure in knowing that they are choosing the same path of destruction.

     You probably have here this statement on TV, in a movie, or from someone else: " I'll see you in Hell! "  That is exactly what will happen to people choosing this path.