Romans 1

I am always shaken by the second half of Romans chapter  1. This list of unrighteous activity is such a vivid and accurate portrayal of our current culture.

...those things which are not fitting; 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;  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.

But in this list of things God finds repulsive, there are a few things that really jump out at me.

#1 Unloving

Being unloving doesn't sound as bad as violent, or hater of God but the Lord lists it here right next to those. He calls us to love His children. 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34, John 15:12

1 Thessalonians 3:12, John 13:35, Romans 12:10, Ephesians 4:1-3

To love each person on this earth enough to be willing to offend them with His truth, because it has the power to save them from the fire of hell.  

Loving our neighbor is not a suggestion, it is a command. It includes not only our friends, but also those who hurt us, cause us pain, ruin our plans. We are commanded to love unconditionally. And if we don't WE are committing sin. 

#2 Unforgiving

This one hits home for me. As you can tell from previous posts, the Lord has been working in my heart in the area of forgiveness  the last couple years. He opened my eyes to how severe a sin unforgiveness really is. Here He lists it next to sexual immorality and murder! 

This is a sin I held on to for so long, not even realizing how bad it was until it started to fester and tear my life apart. I felt like I was justified, God showed me I was not. He opened my eyes to see t hat my unforgiveness was as big of a sin as any of the sins committed against me.  Once I realized this I was able to repent of my unforgiveness, and teh cloud of it's repercussions started to move out of my life 

For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:14-15

But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” 

 Mark 11:25

 

To be Continued ..
#3 Disobedient to Parents