Romans 1:16-32
I’m sure many of you have heard of Josh McDowell, a Christian author (Evidence That Demands a Verdict; More Than a Carpenter, etc.) and popular speaker. Years ago (1976, I believe), in my early born-again years I had the pleasure of serving as his driver when he visited the University of Illinois campus. Back then very few students had cars, but I was older and lived off campus, so it fell very nicely to me. I got to know him better than most and bought ETDAV and asked him to sign it. His signature was “Josh McDowell, Romans 1:16”. I remember that every time I read this verse! Sweet!
Therefore God gave them up… (v. 24a); For this reason God gave them up… (v. 26a); And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up… (v. 28a). Three times within five verses Paul mentions “God gave them up”! Note that Paul does not say that God gave up on them, only that He was letting these Gentiles deal with the results of their own passions. Their choices, their outcomes! How different it is when we give ourselves up to His control, His guidance, His outcomes!!
I’ve always been impressed with Paul’s logic in these “natural world” verses: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (vv. 19-20) How can someone look at our natural world and not believe in God? Can all this creation just be happenstance? Evolution? Random?? I look at our 6-week-old granddaughter across the driveway; I’m stunned at the perfection that she is. Glory, GLORY!!
Slava Bohu!