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Romans 1:32 NASB

NT

Romans 1:32

nasb

32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of a death, they not only do the same, but also b give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Block Diagram

Romans 1:28-32

1:18-32

And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God

Cf

any longer,

God gave them over

to a depraved mind,

Ac/Res

to do those things

Ac/Res

which are not proper,

Id/Exp

a) being filled with all

a) unrighteousness,

Id/Exp

b) wickedness,

c) greed,

d) evil;

b) full of

a) envy,

Id/Exp

b) murder,

c) strife,

d) deceit,

e) malice;

[S]

Gn/Sp

c) they are

a) gossips,

Id/Exp

b) slanderers,

c) haters of God,

d) insolent,

e) arrogant,

f) boastful,

g) inventors of evil,

h) disobedient to parents,

i) without understanding,

j) untrustworthy,

k) unloving,

l) unmerciful;

and although they know the ordinance of God,

Csv

that those ... are worthy of death,

Gn/Sp

who practice such things

Gn/Sp

a) they not only do the same,

[P]

Id/Exp

hearty

Ac/Man

b) but also give ... approval to those

who practice them.

Gn/Sp

mine

phrasing

notes

Romans 1:32 - Those who give hearty approval to sinners

Death, here, speaks of eternal death, not physical. It points back to Genesis and the fall of man, where sin was introduced, and at the same time, eternal death as the consequence. Paul is not necessarily saying here that encouraging sin in others is worse than doing the sin yourself. He does specifically say that "they not ONLY do the same, but also give hearty approval." It could be that Paul is saying that practicing these sins, and being this sinful, is in itself bad, but also encouraging others into the same sin is even worse. While Paul is focusing here more on the unregenerate gentile who may never have had any specific revelation, but only general revelation in that which is seen of God in nature, he says that they "know the ordinances of God." We have to ask how it is possible to know God's ordinances without special, specific revelation about them. Paul somewhat clarifies this in chapter 2 when he says "For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them" (Romans 2:14-15). It can be said then that every person instinctively knows that it is wrong to murder, to steal, to rape, etc. And while they know this and still do it, they make themselves equally guilty before the God who created them, regardless of the type of revelation they had. We all are obligated to obey God's commandments. And whether they are written in a physical Book, or written in our hearts, we all have them. Can anyone then be saved without specific revelation about Christ? No, because then he or she would need to be declared righteous based on their obedience (good works) to these ordinances written in their hearts, and then they would earn salvation, which Paul makes abundantly clear can't happen. Paul also said specifically that it is the Gospel "which is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16), and later says that "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17). It can also then be asked, and often is, "What about people then who never actually receive special revelation? Who never hear about Christ? Who never hear the gospel? Isn't it unfair toward them that they are eternally punished?" In answer to this, we don't have the direct answer. But we do know that God is good and does good (Ps 119:68), and that He doesn't want any to perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). We also know that God is sovereign, and "can do all things" and that "no purpose of His can be thwarted" (Job 42:2). We can say then, knowing these facts, that if ANYONE, ANYWHERE, at ANY time, responds positively to the general revelation of God in nature and written in his heart, and cries out to God in true humility and repentance, recognizing the fallen state he is in, God is faithful and righteous, and He WILL orchestrate everything in His creation to ensure that the Good News of the Gospel reaches that person. That he hears about Christ, who died on the cross to save him from the penalty that his sin deserves, and from the power that his sin held over him. That he hears how he should respond - in repentance and belief in the gospel. That if he "confess with his mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in his heart that God raised Him from the dead, he will be saved" (Romans 10:9). And then, "his old self will be crucified with Him, in order that his body of sin might be done away with, so that he would no longer be a slave to sin." Acts 17:26-27 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us;