Romans 1:22-32

Romans 1:22-32 (WEB) Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and traded the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed animals, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves; who exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason, God gave them up to vile passions. For their women changed the natural function into that which is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural function of the woman, burned in their lust toward one another, men doing what is inappropriate with men, and receiving in themselves the due penalty of their error. Even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, malice; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil habits, secret slanderers, backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also approve of those who practice them.

🔑 Key Points

1. The Great Exchange

The fundamental sin of fallen humanity is refusing to honor God as God and refusing to be thankful. We trade the glory of the incorruptible God for idols — serving the creature rather than the Creator. This exchange of truth for a lie lies at the root of every other sin.

2. Judicial Abandonment — "God Gave Them Up"

Paul repeats three times that God "gave them up" — He removes His restraining grace and abandons sinners to the full expression of their own desires. Sproul stresses that this is not infinite mercy: there comes a point when God says, "If you don't want Me, you can have what you want." This judicial abandonment is the most terrifying form of God's wrath.

3. The Reprobate Mind

When people refuse to retain God in their knowledge, God gives them over to a debased, reprobate mind — one filled with impurity, lust, jealousy, and hatred, a mind that loves the lie and flees from truth. Our basic nature as fallen human beings is to suppress the truth unless the Holy Spirit rescues us.

4. Detailed Catalog of Sin

Paul does not speak in generalities but gives a concrete list of sinful behaviors: envy, murder, strife, deceit, slander, boastfulness, disobedience, covenant-breaking, heartlessness, and ruthlessness. Sin corrupts every dimension of human life — personal, social, and spiritual.

5. Not Only Doing Evil but Approving It

The darkest note is that sinners not only practice these things but give enthusiastic approval to others who do them. A culture that celebrates what God condemns reveals a mind fully given over by God to its own chosen darkness.

💬 Discussion Questions

Where do you see the "great exchange" — trading the glory of God for created things — in your own life or in the culture around you?
Sproul calls "judicial abandonment" the most terrifying form of God's wrath. How does understanding that God can simply "give us up" to our own desires shape the way you think about sin and grace?
Paul says those who sin also "approve of those who practice them." How can you love people caught in this pattern while refusing to endorse what God condemns?

📖 The Passage