Grace Unveiled: How to Get a Reprobate Mind #4 | Jim Hammond
Recap
Pastor Jim taught his fourth installment in his series entitled, “Grace Unveiled,” with the subtitle being “How to Get a Reprobate Mind.” This is a series on the book of Romans, a book considered to be the greatest writing of Christian doctrine in all the Bible. Pastor Jim says it has multiple themes on redemption. It touches on our inability to work for the favor of God, the guilt that we have to deal with on a daily basis, and the fact that salvation is only to be received by believing. Romans 1: 24–32 is the subject of this message.
Dive Deeper
Fun fact: Twenty years after his conversion, Paul wrote the book of Romans toward the end of his third missionary journey.
Fun Fact: So powerful is the revelation of grace in the book of Romans that it has sparked many revivals once people become aware of the grace of God.
Scriptural reference…
Romans 1:24–25, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor 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.”
Pastor Jim said, “Who gave them over? God gave them over! When they hit a certain point, God gave them over to the lusts of their own flesh.”
One highly respected scholar said, “This is judgment on a society for not recognizing the Creator of the universe.” When a society changes the truth of God into a lie, He gives them over. This is not a light thing.
Scriptural reference…
Romans 1:26–27, “For this cause God gave them up unto 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.”
This is talking about sexual relationships: females with females, males with males. It’s talking about homosexuality. Yes, homosexuality is a sin, but according to these verses, it seems to go to a higher level. This is the judgment of God on a culture that denies Him as Creator.
Scriptural reference…
Romans 1:18, “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.”
The wrath of God is revealed for all those who suppress the truth. They ignore the revelation of God in His creation, then they work to change the glory of an incorruptible God into an image they want… whether it be climate change, evolution, or the Viking gods.
The Roman Empire was so large, it was divided into two parts: the Western Roman Empire and the Eastern Roman Empire.
The Western Roman Empire did not believe in God Jehovah, who created the world. They worshiped many different gods, like the Greeks. The Eastern Roman Empire had a “skewed” type of Christianity, but it embraced Christianity, nonetheless. It would later come to be known as the Byzantine Empire.
Even with their skewed legalistic Christianity, the Eastern Roman Empire lasted a thousand years longer than its pagan counterpart, the Western Roman Empire.
At one time, those cultures looked as if they would not fail. They did not believe they could fail. But they failed. Paul said the pattern for failure starts by not believing and/or acknowledging that God is the Creator.
Scriptural reference…
Romans 1:28, “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.”
“Reprobate mind” means a mind void of judgment.
Let’s examine the phrase, “Even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge.” This is talking about how the human race wants a god that fits their specifications. And when He does not meet their specifications, the secular world refuses to approve of Him. And due to their rebellion against God, thus they sink further and further into sin.
This is where we are right now in our society: a reprobate mind. “God gave them over…” That is when the Lord takes away the restraining forces and allows them to have what they desire.
Greek scholar Kenneth Wuest on the words “reprobate mind” says, “It carries the idea of the human race putting God on trial. And the human race finds God guilty, rejects God. Then God gives the human race a trial-less mind. They are incapable of discharging the functions of a mind with respect to the things of salvation.”
What is that saying? It’s saying they’re too far gone to get it. God “giving them over” also means “depraved mind.” Reprobate means depraved. This is an act of judgment because they have rejected God.
Read About It
Romans 1:24–25, “Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor 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 forever. Amen.”
Romans 1:26–27, “For this cause God gave them up unto 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.”
Romans 1:28, “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.”
Discussion Questions
Can you describe someone that has a reprobate mind?
Can you make a comparison between the culture of the Roman Empire and the culture of America?
How is America in danger of becoming one that “God gave them over…”