Originally in the article: Ashamed of Yourself?
The progressive nature of evilness
– Romans 1 –
I. The conditions are set by the individual – for evil to to take hold: Romans 1:18-23
A – They Suppress the Truth. verse 18-19 (people) “who in their wickedness suppress and stifle the truth, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them [in their inner consciousness], for God made it evident to them.”
B – They Fail to Believe & Trust. verse 20 “For ever since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through His workmanship [all His creation, the wonderful things that He has made], so that they [who fail to believe and trust in Him] are without excuse and without defense.“
C – They Do Not Honor God. verse 21a “For even though [d]they knew God [as the Creator], they did not [e]honor Him as God or give thanks [for His wondrous creation].
D – Their Thinking Becomes Worthless. verse 21b “On the contrary, they became worthless in their thinking [godless, with pointless reasonings, and silly speculations], and ….“
E – Their Heart is Darkened. verse 21b “On the contrary, …their foolish heart was darkened.“
F – Now Fools, They Exchange God for Idols. verse 22-23 “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory and majesty and excellence of the immortal God for [f]an image [worthless idols] in the shape of mortal man and birds and four-footed animals and reptiles.“
Do you see yourself
anywhere here
on this spectrum?
It’s not too late.
II. Evil takes hold of the individual: Romans 1:24-32
1 – Impure Hearts. verse 24 “Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their own hearts to [sexual] impurity…“
2 – Degrading Passions. verse 26 “For this reason God gave them over to degrading and vile passions“
3 – Depraved Mind. verse 28 “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or consider Him worth knowing [as their Creator], God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do things which are improper and repulsive, 29 until they were filled (permeated, saturated) with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil“
4 – Tolerate Evil Practices. verse 32 “Although they know God’s righteous decree and His judgment, that those who do such things deserve death, yet they not only do them, but they even [enthusiastically] approve and tolerate others who practice them.“
Originally in the article: Ashamed of Yourself?
FOR MORE:
Satan’s progressively degenerate agendas
Salvation in Christ is beyond huge
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