Viewpoints on ROMANS 1

By Michael Griego on February 2, 2024 • ( 0 )

Romans Chapter 1 is about a nebulous thing called faith. Then it gets very practical – too practical for some as it talks about sex. ◊

It’s clear in Romans Chapter 1 that Jesus is real and that Paul is writing to real people, both Jews and Gentiles, living in Rome, the center of the known world in AD 56.

Paul is proclaiming the gospel, of which he is not ashamed.

And what is the gospel?

As he states in Romans 1:16:

…it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who has faith (who believes), to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (Gentile, or anyone non-Jewish).

Paul is essentially saying that it’s all about our Redemption in Christ (we are identified as pure in the eyes of God) which can be experienced by anyone, no matter their race or background.

And that redemption comes only through faith or belief:

For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness from that is by faith from first to last (from faith to faith), as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” (Romans 1:17)

Faith Alone?
Yes, faith or belief is a big deal to God. That is why Christianity places such a big emphasis on “believing in God.” This written word “the righteous will live by faith” is referenced in 4 other places in the Bible:

Genesis 15:6 – “And Abraham believed the Lord, and God credited to him as righteousness.” – This is the first time God declares a man righteous based on belief.
Habakkuk 2:4 – “…but the righteous shall live by his faith.” – Salvation is granted by grace through faith.
Galatians 3:11 – Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” – We are not saved by works or adhering to the law.
Hebrews 10:38-39 – “But my righteous shall live by faith. And I (God) take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” – God values those who believe.

Then Why the Emphasis on Homosexuality?
Then Paul makes a big left turn in Romans 1:18 that proceeds through the rest of the chapter. Some see this section as all about homosexuality and sexual sin. Some, strangely, will deny it’s about sin at all. That’s a big misread.

It’s clearly about sin and guilt and the wrath of God for all those that do not live by faith but overtly reject God and deny His creative power all around us. They choose wickedness and suppression of truth.

There’s an odd issue about our sexual nature. We’re all created male or female, in the image of God, and are naturally designed for procreating and multiplying. We have a natural attraction to sex, but since our creation we have been directed to natural sexual union between a man and woman, in the confines of marriage.

This is ordained by God in the first book of the Bible:

That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh. Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. – Genesis 2:24

Interesting to note that prior to Adam’s disobedience, there was no shame associated with nakedness. All that changed is a fallen world after Adam’s mistake and rejection of God’s instructions.

No Shame Whatsoever
Ironically, as in Paul’s time in Rome, in Noah’s time before the flood, and in our time across a godless culture, there are many who have no shame when it comes to sexuality. Many have simply said “No” to God or simply decided on their own to reject God’s design and moral precepts and conclude that they are going to do whatever they want and feel when it comes to meeting sexual desire and needs. They simply don’t care.

And God doesn’t zap them.

No, He actually just lets them be. God “gave them over” to their own foolish minds and the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. (Romans 1:24)

It’s their choice. It’s our choice. Free to do whatever we want: sex with men, women, sex with anything. Our call.

Body and Mind in Need of a Renewal
Foreshadowing what he will teach us later in Romans Chapter 12 about what to do with our minds and bodies, here in Chapter 1 Paul doesn’t stop with our sinful and unfettered misuse of our bodies, he also speaks about our depraved minds and other corrupted actions we conduct:

Filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity
Full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice
Gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful
Inventing ways of doing evil
Disobeying parents
Having no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. (Romans 1:28-31)

You’ll note that sexual sin is actually not in a different category from sinful corrupted actions or behavior – it’s all sin in God’s eyes, conducted with our bodies and our minds.

It’s all a violation of God’s moral law.

The interesting thing is that some of us have a conscience and feel remorseful. We come to God in quiet confession, submission, and repentance, and actually work to move away from our sinful behavior.

In many cases, not easily.

But nevertheless, moved by heart, and guilt, and regret, we surrender ourselves to the God of our creation. Because we believe Him:

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)

And He does forgive us.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves here in Romans Chapter 1. We all need to face being called out by God. Pretty clearly. As we move through the entire Book of Romans we’ll get clear instructions of what to do in our sinful plight.

Are you convicted by your behavior against God?
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Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them. – Romans 1:32