THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE NOT CONVENIENT
By John C. Carpenter
The church of believers in Rome was full of wickedness and sin.
The apostle Paul addressed these sins: vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against
nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working
that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to
retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient [opposed to holiness
and God]; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate,
deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that
they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them (Rom 1:26-32). The
widespread sin of the Roman church, which included homosexuality, was apparent to Paul, but what was the reason for that sin?
FILLED
WITH ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS
As with some in the modern day Christian church, the body of believers in Rome was full of many types
of sin, sins of the flesh (Rom 1:24, 1:26) as well as sins of the mind (Rom 1:28). As the author of the book of Hebrews wrote, the
believers in Rome, had been enlightened, had tasted of the heavenly gift of salvation, had been partakers of the Holy Ghost, had tasted
the word of the gospel, and had experienced the powers of the world to come (Heb 6:4-5), yet they were deeply in sin. These believers
in Rome were indivuduals who had come to a saving knowledge of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and professed to
love God, yet sin remained rampant in their church. For His own reasons, which we shall discuss later, God the Father gave them up
to uncleanness [physical and moral impurity], through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves (Rom
1:24) as well as gave them up unto vile [dishonourable, disgraceful, shameful] affections (Rom 1:26). Homosexuality was not uncommon
in the Roman church. In his letter, Paul also accused the church of having vile affections, inordinate passion and lust for the forbidden,
resulting in dishonour, reproach, and shame. Paul further explained that the women in the congregation had exchanged the natural,
instinctive use of their bodies for that which was beside, beyond or opposed to the natural use, as originally designed and intended
by God. The women were lusting after and having sexual relations with other females; they had become homosexual. Likewise, the men
in the congregation exchanged their natural sexual relations with women for unnatural relations with other men, and burned, or were
consumed, with lust for one another, and also had become homosexual. Paul warned that because the men in the church were performing,
in error, deeds and acts that were indecent, unseemly, and shameful, they would fully receive in themselves the resulting payment
and reward for their intentional, delusional, and deceitful straying from piety and God's standards. The reward and fruit of their
homosexual behavior may have well been physical or emotional illness. Additionally, Paul also explained that their resulting reward
[consequences, fruit] was meet, that is, the reward was necessary and appropriate. If what he had already written was not painful
enough, Paul added that the church in Rome was filled with all unrighteousness (injustice, iniquity, wrong), fornication (harlotry,
including adultery and incest), wickedness (malice and plots), covetousness (extortion, greediness), maliciousness (badness, depravity,
malignity, evil, wickedness); full of envy (jealousy, spite), murder (slaughter), debate (quarreling, contention, strife, variance),
deceit (craftiness, subtilty), malignity (bad character, mischievousness); whisperers (slanderous detraction), Backbiters (talkative
against others), haters of God, despiteful (insulting maltreatment, injurious), proud (appearing above others, haughty), boasters (bragging),
inventors of evil things (contrivers of worthless, bad, and injurious things, wicked, depraved), disobedient to parents (unpersuadable),
Without understanding (unintelligent, foolish), covenantbreakers (disagreeable and treacherous to contracts), without natural affection (hard
hearted), implacable (implacable, truce-breader), [and] unmerciful (merciless). Wow! The quantity and quality of sins is shocking.
Remember, these sins were occurring in those in Rome who professed to love God the Father and considered themselves to be believers
in Jesus Christ. Sadly, this sounds and looks very much like the modern day Christian church. Paul added that the individuals committing
these sins not only well knew about the judgment of God, that those committing such sins were worthy of death, but that some in the
church in Rome not only continued to sin, but took pleasure in such sins (Romans 1:27-32). The Roman church was in a low state. The
church in Rome was not only practicing sin, but was in bondage to numerous extremely heinous sins, a bondage which God the Father
had certainly allowed, if not engineered. Despite knowing of God's coming judgment of their sins, some of the believers in Rome not
only continued in these sins, but continued to enjoy them.
GOD ALSO GAVE THEM UP TO UNCLEANNESS
The church at Rome was in
deep sin, which God had turned them over to; but why. Paul gives us the answer in the verses preceeding our subject verses. After
the apostle Paul wrote believers in Rome that he was ready to preach the gospel to them (Rom 1:15), that he was not ashamed of the
gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek [Gentile],
and that the righteousness of God is revealed to the Jewish faith as well as the Gentile faith, and that the just shall live by faith,
Paul immediately gives the reason for their bondage to sin: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness [wickedness] and
unrighteousness of men, who hold [know, yet resist and oppose] the truth [of the requirements of the gospel] in [while continuing
in] unrighteousness [iniquity, injustice, wrong]; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed
it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that
are made [the physical creation which can be seen], even [specifically] his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified [to give honor, to magnify] him not as God, neither were thankful [refusing to express
gratitude]; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became
fools [simpletons who truly did not understand the truth, became insipid, lost their ability to influence], And changed the glory
of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore
[because of these things] God also gave them up [cause to surrender to, bring into bondage to, be controlled by] to uncleanness through
the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped
and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause [because of these things] God gave them
up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature (Rom 1:18-26). In essence,
their entire focus changed from God to man, and for this reason God allowed their bondage. Their hearts had lusted after the flesh,
after self, after worldliness, and God gave them what they had desired. However, there was a catch: God gave them the lust which they
desired, but the fulfillment of that lust also came with something they did not expect - bondage.
Paul further explained that
many in the church at Rome hold [possessed] the truth in unrighteousnes, meaning that they knew the truth of the gospel, and they
knew the behavioral requirements of the gospel of Christ, yet they resisted and opposed doing what was right and desired by God. Paul
explained that they should have known about the invisible things of God and His gospel because God had shown it to them through the
visible things in life, which things were evident from the time of creation. Through His creation, God had shown them, specifically,
his abundant, miraculous, eternal power, as well as His Godhead, or divinity. In God's view, the believers in Rome had no excuse for
their lack of understanding of the invisible things [expectations] of God. Additionally, the church of believers in Rome knew about
God, but they did not glorify [give honor and magnify] to God, neither were they thankful for God, for creation, for their lives,
nor for what God the Father had done in them, through them, and for them. They became vain, foolish, and idolatrous in their minds
and thinking, and their hearts were darkened, or became full of error. They also began to think of themselves as wise, or having worldly
understanding and knowledge beyond reality. In God's view, many in the church became fools [simpletons who truly did not understand
the truth, became insipid, lost their ability to influence] and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made more
like corruptible man and animals of creation. The scriptures teach us that because of their attitudes toward God and the lusts of
their own hearts, God caused them not only surrender to but become in bondage to physical and moral impurities through dishonoring
their own bodies between themselves. They went so far as to worship and serve the creatures, including man, rather than God the Father,
the creator of all, for which case God gave them up to be in bondage to vile, dishonourable, disgraceful, and shameful passions and
lusts. God turned the Roman believers in Christ over to sin and bondage because He was angry with them because, despite their knowledge
of, and resistance to, the gospel of Christ, their ungodliness and unrighteousness blatantly and persistently continued.
WHAT
SHALL WE SAY THEN? SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN
Paul responded to the problems in the Roman church by writing two things: First,
Paul warned the church about the consequences of their sin, and secondly Paul advised them what to do about it.
Paul clearly
warned that continued disobedience on the part of the believers in Rome would result in God's indignation and wrath: To them who by
patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious [resistant,
rebellious], and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation [affliction, pressure, trouble] and
anguish [calamity, distress], upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour,
and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile (Rom 2:7-10).
After giving his warning,
Paul posed the key question to the Roman believers, followed by his advice: What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that
grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were
baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death. Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ
was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted
together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified
with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve [be a slave to, be in bondage to] sin. For
he that is dead is freed from sin (Rom 6:1-7). Paul explained that because believers in Christ are [or should be] buried with Christ
by baptism into death, believers should not only be dead to sin, but walk in newness of life [priorities and behavior]. Paul explained
that believers in Christ should not be in bondage to sin, but be free from the slavery of sin. Paul exhorted the believers in Rome,For in that he [Christ] died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves
to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that
ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members [body parts, including the mind] as instruments of unrighteousness
unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto
God. For sin shall not [should not] have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin,
because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his
servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye [some
of you] were the servants of sin, but ye [some of you] have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being
then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness. I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your
flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants
to righteousness unto holiness (Rom 6:11-19). Paul summarized his advice: believers in Rome, and elsewhere, should not serve or be
in bondage to sin, should consider themselves dead to sin, should not let sin reign in their mortal bodies, should not yield [allowed,
aided, provided, used] their bodies as instruments of unrighteousness, but should yield their members as servants to righteousness
and holiness. Paul, again, summarized and simplified his argument by explaining that their unrighteousness, which they were now ashamed
of, would result in death, while their holiness would result in eternal life through Jesus Christ (Rom 6:21-23). Paul further added
that the righteousness of the law is fulfilled in believers who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, because those that
walk after the flesh live according to the the things of the flesh, while those who walk after the Spirit live according to the things
of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:4-5). Paul, again, summarized: For to be carnally minded is [results in] death; but to be spiritually minded
is [results in] life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against [the enemy of] God: for it is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God (Rom 8:6-8). Paul also warned that even though crucifying
the flesh and following the Spirit of God in the pusuit of righteousness and holiness was a struggle and war that would certainly
result in suffering, but Paul also encouraged the believers in Rome [and all believers] by saying this: For I reckon that the sufferings
of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us (Rom 8:18).
In the world, and
even in the Christian church, worldly values and standards have replaced Godly values and standards. Today, many in the world, and
the Christian church, are calling good things evil and evil things good, including the evil of homosexuality: woe [grief and lamentation] unto
them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet
for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink
wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous
from him. Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and
their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One
of Israel. Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath
smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned
away, but his hand is stretched out still (Isa 5:20-25).
Despite what many out of the church and some in the church claim, scriptures
clearly warn that homosexuality is a sin: Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination [morally disgusting
and abhorrent]. Neither shalt thou lie with any beast to defile thyself therewith: neither shall any woman stand before a beast to
lie down thereto: it is confusion [unnatural, evil, naughty, wicked, without profit, worthless]. Defile not ye yourselves in any of
these things: for in all these the nations are defiled which I cast out before you: And the land is defiled: therefore I do visit
the iniquity thereof upon it, and the land itself vomiteth out her inhabitants. Ye shall therefore keep my statutes and my judgments,
and shall not commit any of these abominations; neither any of your own nation, nor any stranger that sojourneth among you: (For all
these abominations have the men of the land done, which were before you, and the land is defiled;) That the land spue not you out
also, when ye defile it, as it spued out the nations that were before you. For whosoever shall commit any of these abominations, even
the souls that commit them shall be cut off from among their people. Therefore shall ye keep mine ordinance, that ye commit not any
one of these abominable customs, which were committed before you, and that ye defile not yourselves therein: I am the LORD your God (Leviticus
18:22-30).
The old testament also warns us about many other sexual sins: and the man that committeth adultery with another man's
wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death. Andthe man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their
blood shall be upon them. And if a man lie with his daughter in law, both of them shall surely be put to death: they have wrought
confusion; their blood shall be upon them. If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an
abomination [loathsome, detestable, disgusting, abhorrent]: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them. Andif a man take a wife and her mother, it is wickedness [heinous crime, lewd, mischief, wicked]: they shall be burnt with fire, both
he and they; that there be no wickedness among you (Lev 20:10-14).
Paul also warned sinners in the Corinthian church about the
fruits of their sin: Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators,
nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor
revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified,
but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor 6:9-11).
Paul wrote Timothy, Knowing
this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy
and profane [heathenish wicked], for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers [prostitutes,
debauchees, fornicators], for them that defile themselves with mankind [sodomites], for menstealers [enslavers], for liars, for perjured [falsely
swearing] persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine (1 Tim 1:9-10).
Many in the church believe
that salvation cannot be lost, but Jude corrects this error. Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, wrote I will
therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward
destroyed them that believed not. And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved
in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day. Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in
like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance
of eternal fire (Jude 1:5-7). Jude give us three examples of salvation gained and lost. Israel [a type of new testament believers
in Christ] was initially saved, but God later destroyed those who believed not, some angels who rebelled against God left their own
heavenly habitation in the presence of God and were reserved into everlasting judgment and darkness by God the Father, and, according
to God, some Sodom and Gomorrah believers in God who gave themselves over to fornication and homosexuality will eventually suffer
the vengeance of eternal fire and damnation. Salvation followed by sin [rebellion against God] cannot only result in bondage, but
eternal damnation as well.
The apostle John taught that Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression
of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not:
whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous,
even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son
of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth
in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever
doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother (1 John 3:4-10). Regarding fornication, Paul instructed
Corinthian believers in Christ, Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her
own husband. Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband. The wife hath not
power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife (1 Cor 7:2-4).Scriptures teach us that Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed [should be] undefiled: but whoremongers [a debauchee, fornicator,
one who prostitutes themselves] and adulterers [paramour, apostate] God will judge. Let your conversation [life] be without covetousness;
and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee (Heb 13:4-5). Believers are
instructed to do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in
and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers (Deu 6:18). Paul instructed the believers in Corinth, But he that
is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication
sinneth against his own body. What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God,
and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's (1
Cor 6:17-20). In the book of Leviticus, we are instructed to Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your
God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you (Lev 20:7-8). While addressing sin in the Corinthian
church, Paul gave them the following instuctions: Casting down imaginations [vain sinful and destructive thoughts], and every high
thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God [and His will for us], and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience
of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled (2 Cor 10:5-6). To those in Thesalonica,
Paul defined God's will for believers in Christ when he wrote For this is the will of God, even [specifically] your sanctification,
that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:
because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness,
but unto holiness (1 Thes 4:3-7).
In response to the sin of some of the believers in Rome, Paul described the all of salvation:And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For
whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many
brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified,
them he also glorified (Rom 8:28-30). The apostle later instructed Roman believers I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies
of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed
to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God [which is the believer's sanctifiction] (Rom 12:1-2).
The apostle Paul also exhorted the believers in the Roman church
to behave in ways which would please God as well as benefit the contemporary Christian church: ...now it is high time to awake out
of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast
off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness,
not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh,to fulfill the lusts thereof (Rom 13:11-14). AMEN.