Romans 1:26-27 - Trading Natural for Unnatural

26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
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Indecent Acts

Vs. 26 - For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,

“For this reason” - They rejected God’s truth. They chose to go their own way. Being “wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight” (Isa. 5:20, 21) they make choices which violate God’s standards, and suffer the consequences.

“God gave them over” - It is no surprise when someone becomes addicted to alcohol, cigarettes, drugs such as marijuana, meth, coke, etc. God does not force a person to become an alcoholic, a drug addict, or addicted to pornography. God warns us that these activities are bad for us. On the other hand, He does not prevent the effects to take control of someone who will not listen.

That is the idea expressed in the fried egg commercial: “You do the drugs and this is what will happen to you.” When the ravages begin to take over the body and mind, no one can legitimately say, “I had no idea this would happen.”

As bad as the effects of alcohol, drugs, or sexually transmitted diseases may be, the eternal perspective of the result of rejecting salvation through Jesus Christ is far, far worse. Jesus was clear, believing in Him had benefits for the here and now, not just in a nebulous future. He came that we might have life, and that in abundance. (John 10:10)

“their women exchanged” - This is third time in just a few verses (vss. 23, 25, 26) the word “exchanged” is used. We do not turn to and beleive in nothing when rejecting one way of ordering our lives. We do not operate in a spiritual vacuum - we always live out our lives based on some principle. Whether you choose Christianity or atheism, Judaism or Islam, naturalist or nihilist, your belief system is the paradigm used to make life decisions. God here uses sexual mores to illustrate when people reject His principles they take up others. God is not picking on women in this verse, because:

Vs. 27 - and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.

“in the same way also the men” - These two verses show that God does not approve of a homosexual lifestyle. In verse 26, above, women ‘exhanged the natural function for that which is unnatural’. In this verse, ‘men abandoned the natural function for... men with men committing indecent acts’.

There are many people who claim it is none of our business what others want to do. We cannot, should not, be telling others how to live their lives. It is their personal life, and not ours. The claim is the strictures against homosexual behavior are written because of the times and places where written, and really don’t apply to us. In the very narrow sense of you must live your life; I cannot live it for you, you must make the decision of how you will live.

However, ‘All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness’ (2 Tim. 3:16), and written for all time, not just for first century Middle Eastern cultures. I do not believe Paul is picking on homosexuality because it is a particularly egregious sin. There is no difference between adultery and homosexuality and murder and theft - these are all sin, and sin leads to death.

“receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error” - Spiritual and physical penalties are exacted. The conscience is dulled, becoming incapable of telling right from wrong. The mind and body become addicted - many want to treat addiction like a disease. I cannot think of any disease as a good thing. Likewise, anything that will destroy the mind, spirit, and body is not good for you or me.

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