Quote Source – The Bible
A Biblical Christian worldview perspective – The phrase “God gave them up” appears three times in the book of Romans …
Romans 1:24 - Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
Romans 1:26 - For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
Romans 1:28 - And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
What is God trying to say?
Let’s answer that by looking at three questions.
Who is God referring to?
The short answer is the ungodly and unrighteous (Romans 1:18). These are people who reject the truth of God. Like the demons who shudder (James 2:19), they know of God but do not know Him, nor do they want to know Him or submit to Him.
What is God giving them over to?
In Romans, Paul is specific … (1) worshiping each other with impurity, (2) dishonorable passions, and (3) a depraved mind. The context of the first two involve homosexuality “dishonoring of their bodies … women exchanged natural relations for those contrary to nature, and men … were consumed with passion for one another … committing shameless acts with men” (Romans 26-27). The third use of this phrase was in the context of simply refusing to acknowledge God as who He is.
Why is God giving them over?
Some believe that there is a point when one has become so callused, with such a hardened heart, that God gives up on them. This suggests a free-will on the part of man to choose or reject God. Others believe that God not only has foreknowledge but predestines those who will come to accept Him as their Lord. Regardless of whether God’s omniscient foreknowledge, or irresistible grace is in play, these unbelievers have expressed the unforgivable sin found in Matthew 12:32.
What happens when God gives them over?
Sadly, the lost will spend eternity in Hell separated from the love of God (Revelation 21:8, Matthew 10:28, Romans 6:23).
It should be noted that there are numerous variants of this rejection by God throughout Scripture…
Judges 10:13 - Yet you have forsaken me and served other gods; therefore I will save you no more.
2 Chronicles 15:2b - If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.
2 Chronicles 24:20b - Because you have forsaken the LORD, he has forsaken you.
Hosea 4:17 - Ephraim is joined to idols; leave him alone.
Matthew 15:14 - Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.
Acts 14:16 - In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways.
Does God give up on mankind or does mankind reject God?
If God is all-knowing, then He knows even before we are born, who will come to Him as Lord at some point in our lives. If one can accept that belief, then the question of the free-will of man vs the predestination of God is moot. We do not have the mind of God to know who will accept Him and who will reject Him. What we do have is the Good News, ready to share with anyone willing to listen.
Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words
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