THURSDAY, APRIL 5
Scripture: Romans 1:20-32

In Romans 1:20-32 we find some critical verses that explain why God, both in the Old Covenant and the New, proclaimed His terminal judgment on homosexuality. Verses 23-27 state, “…and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.” The key phrase in verse 24 is God gave them up. Verse 26 says again, “For this reason, “God gave them up…” Verse 2 proclaims the penalty of their error was due. What is the divine penalty due? Verse 28 says, “God gave them over…” which means repentance is no longer an option. “Giving them over” most likely refers to the seared conscience where even the amygdala in the brain changes and their fate is sealed for eternity. One autopsy study found the amygdala section of the brain, which is linked to sexual function, for homosexuals mimics that of the opposite sex. A homosexual man’s amygdala acts and displays behavior that is clearly indicative of the female sex. That study is often cited to claim homosexuality is nature, not nurture. But when a person transfers worship from the Creator to the creation, there is a point of no return! According to verses 29-31, it leads to, “…being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;…” Haters of God are driven to murder those who love God. Murderers and haters of God, according to Romans 1, are worthy of the judgment of death. No nation that ever sanctioned homosexuality has survived. That will be true for every nation embracing it today. There is a cultural war on and we need to understand the foundation of it. The New Testament is very clear about mocking God. Verse 32 says, “…who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” One way we register our approval is by the people we vote for!