11/21/2024
In Romans 1, Paul is writing a letter to the church in Rome about God's plan for salvation and righteousness for all. Starting in verse 1, he states that he was "set apart for the gospel of God", just as we believers are.
Verse 16 & 17: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation (rescue) to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "But the righteous man shall live by faith."
Verses 18-32 describe how from the beginning of time, man has known and understood God and who He is, because He made it known to them. They knew God, but did not honor Him or give Him thanks. They chose to live in unrighteousness and chose an image of corruptible idols instead of the glory of the incorruptible God that He is.
They chose to dishonor Him, exchanging truth for a lie causing them to exchange man and woman's natural function for that which is unnatural resulting in them "receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error."
God eventually gave them over to a depraved mind to do those things which are not proper because they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer. "And although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them."
This sounds an awful lot like the world today. There's so much unrighteousness and idolatry plastered all over the TV, radio, social media, and pretty much anywhere you look these days. We are told that it's natural for a person the feel like they were born in the wrong body and want to be another gender, or want to be with someone their same gender. Don't believe the lies the devil and the world want you to believe.
You were "fearfully and wonderfully made", as it says in Psalm 139:14. You were put together with great reverence and respect. You are unique and SET APART. Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations." Be who God made you to be, and says you are, not who the world says they think you should be. Walk in salvation, walk in righteousness, walk in the freedom that was given to us through Jesus Christ.
