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NASB | Romans 1:24 ¶ Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 1:24 ¶ Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their own hearts to [sexual] impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them [abandoning them to the degrading power of sin], |
Bible Question:
Was does this verse mean? -When God does this, are they living, yet have no hope of becoming saved? How does verse 26a, "For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions," fit in with this? What is God doing? What can we do so God does not act this way? |
Bible Answer: Steve: Since it is the Holy Spirit who regenerates the sinful heart, "giving them over" carries the idea of not restraining them and letting their sinfulness run its full course. Does God call some of them to Himself (I don't use back in the case of individuals because they never really were with Him in the first place)? Yes, just like he calls malicious murderers and greedy gossips into a relationship with Him (like those mentioned in 1:29) Notice that this has occurred after the sinful man has already rejected God, exchanging His truth clearly revealed in nature for a lie, which is what all of us did in our hearts before the Lord called us. Paul is referring to the excesssive pagan practices here that clearly demonstrate just what lengths man goes to in his rejection of Him. And From the thrust of Romans 1-3, my understanding is that Romans 1:24-32 is merely a non-exhaustive list of examples of how our universal depravity manifests itself. --Joe! |