The Sin Full Life – Romans 1:29-32

Romans verse by verse. The Apostle concludes chapter one in a powerful, pointed 23 point sin list to further demonstrate the sinfulness of men and the fact of God’s judgment against sin.

The 23 point list again demonstrates the damning consequences of man’s rejection of God.

The words ‘filled’ and ‘full’ reveal the extent of their sinfulness. Speaks of a full cup brimming with sin.

The Sins that Dominate Them (Vs. 29)

Unrighteousness = broad term

1. Same word used in Vs. 18.
2. Consequence of ungodliness (irreverent attitude towards God)

Fornication = illicit sexual activity outside of the marriage union

1. 1. Definition: porneivan – The related word pornh is translated ‘harlot(s)’ 8 times in the N.T. and 4 times as ‘whore’. Our English word ‘pornography’ comes from two Greek words porneia and grafh meaning, “to write about a whore or harlot.” It is a broad term encompassing any form of illicit sex.
   2. The Grecian view: “We have courtesans (prostitutes) for the sake of pleasure; we have concubines for the sake of daily cohabitation; we have wives for the purpose of having children legitimately and of having a faithful guardian for all our household affairs.” Demosthenes (Greek Orator/statesman)
   3. The Roman view: The marriage bond was almost extinct. Seneca (Roman Philosopher) says that Roman women dated the years by the names of their husbands.

Wickedness = General term for evil

Covetousness = the insatiable desire to have more even at the expense of harming others (materialism)

Maliciousness = a disposition to injury and revenge

Envy = jealousy towards others (e.g. their blessings & achievements) Envy motivated the Jewish religious leaders to crucify Christ (Matt. 27:18)

Murder = killing of another human being (on news almost every day!) The blood of the murdered victim cries out to God for justice (Gen. 4:10)

Debate = contention, strife, wrangling. “Strife about words for vain glory and not truth” (Haldane)

Deceit = lit. a bait used to entrap an animal. Refers to a tendency to dishonesty, covering the truth with false impressions

Malignity = a desire to hurt others without any other reason than that of doing evil to them, and finding pleasure in their sufferings

The Sins that Describe Them (Vs. 30-31)

Whisperers = secret slander

1. Means, to speak into the ear (RWP) “The man who pours his poison against his neighbor by whispering in the ear.” (Godet)
2. One who speaks ‘confidential’ rumors about others (Moo)
3. “false accusers” & ‘slanderers” (1. Tim 3:11, 2. Tim 3:3; Titus 2:3) = these terms are translated from Greek word ◻◻◻◻◻◻◻◻ which is the word translated 35 times in the N.T. as ‘devil’!!!
4. Prov. 16:28 “A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends.”
5. Prov. 18:8 “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”

Backbiters = lit. Those who speak against, speak evil of others. Those who take pleasure in scandalizing their neighbors (Haldane). More open and brazen than ‘whispering’

Haters of God = blatant and brazen in their rebellion against the Almighty. The both show and feel this hatred.

Despiteful = a person who thinks they are superior to others, and insults others accordingly. Injurious to others with reproach & insult. “Lacerating others by slanderous, abusive, passionate declarations.” This vice aims at attaching disgrace to its object (Haldane)

Proud = arrogance, insolence, haughtiness; persons puffed up with a high opinion of themselves, and regarding others with contempt, as if they were unworthy of any intercourse with them. (Haldane)

Boasters = exaggerated claims, desire for self-promotion and self- glory (social media?)

Inventers of evil things = developing new forms of vice

1. ‘inventors’ = an inventor is one who find out something new; one who contrives and produces anything not before existing; a contriver. (Websters) Here it is used in an evil sense. They apply their minds and hearts to creating and discovering new ways to commit sin. Example: The movie industry
2. Micah 2:1 “Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand.”
3. Prov. 6:18 “An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,”

Disobedient to Parents = rebellious towards parental authority. Sign of the last days (2 Tim. 3:1-2)

Without Understanding = same root word as ‘foolish’ in Vs. 21. They are devoid of moral and spiritual understanding.

Covenant Breakers = they treat covenants as “a scrap of paper” (RWP). E.g. Divorce and Remarriage

Without natural affection = love of family

1. The root word often refers to the love of relatives for one another. Shows how deep the moral corruption when people fail to exhibit the affection natural to family relationships (Moo)
2. Children often murdered in Roman Era: “The custom in that day was that when a child was born, it was placed before its father’s feet, and, if the father stooped and lifted the child, it was to be kept. If he walked away, it meant that he refused to acknowledge it and the child could quite literally be thrown out. Unwanted children were commonly left in the Roman forum and fell victims to evil men who took them and made them prostitutes. The Roman poet Seneca wrote, “We slaughter a fierce ox; we strangle a mad dog; we plunge the knife into sickly cattle lest they taint the herd; children who are born weakly and deformed we drown.” (Hester)
3. Modern Illustration: There are an estimated 80-90 thousand abortions every year in Australia, equating to nearly 250 abortions per day. 1 in 3 Australian women will have an abortion in their lifetime (Right to Life NSW)

Implacable = lit. “not willing to consent to a truce, to cease hostilities” (Newell); unreasonable, not able to be appeased

Unmerciful = without compassion, unkind, unloving and cruel

The Sins that Damn Them (Vs. 32)

Their Knowledge = they are conscious of God’s judgment

1. “knowing the judgment of God” = witness of conscience
2. “they which commit such things are worthy of death” = Divine penalty (Rom. 6:23). Second death described in Rev. 20:14

Their Stubbornness = they persist in their sin and rebellion despite the witness of conscience (“not only do the same”)

Their Attitude = they approve of others sin also

1. “have pleasure” = hearty approval. Same word used of Saul in Acts 8:1 where he was ‘consenting’ to Stephen’s death
2. “We are not only bent on damning ourselves but we congratulate others in the doing of those things that we know have their issue in damnation.” (Murray)
3. “It indicates complete victory over conscience, and complete callousness to the moral ruin of others.” (Moule)

Conclusion

1. Question: We might ask, is there any hope for someone in such a condition? Answer: Yes! The fact you are still here is proof you have been given an opportunity to turn from your sin to Christ for cleansing. The Apostle shows how hopelessly lost man is in order that he might then appreciate the mercy and grace extended to him through the Gospel of grace.
2. Christian: Are you indulging in sinful practices that characterize the lost?

Sermon 8 of 42 in Romans Series

Sermon Audio Id: 617172235252