How does Romans 1 describe the consequences of rejecting God?

Romans 1 is a profound and sobering chapter in the New Testament that delves deeply into the consequences of rejecting God. Written by the Apostle Paul, this chapter serves as an introduction to the theological and moral arguments he presents throughout the Epistle to the Romans. In Romans 1:18-32, Paul outlines the spiritual, moral, and societal ramifications of turning away from God, providing a vivid picture of the descent into depravity that results from such rejection.

Paul begins by asserting that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their wickedness (Romans 1:18). This statement sets the stage for understanding the gravity of rejecting God. According to Paul, humanity has an inherent awareness of God's existence and His divine nature, which is evident in the creation itself. Paul writes, "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse" (Romans 1:20, NIV). This means that God's presence and attributes are manifest in the natural world, leaving humanity with no justification for denying Him.

Despite this clear revelation, Paul explains that people chose to reject God. "For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened" (Romans 1:21, NIV). This rejection is not merely an intellectual or philosophical stance but a willful decision to turn away from the truth. The consequence of this decision is a darkening of the heart and mind, leading to futile thinking and a loss of spiritual insight.

One of the most striking consequences of rejecting God, as described by Paul, is the exchange of the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal human beings, birds, animals, and reptiles (Romans 1:23). This idolatry represents a fundamental misdirection of worship. Instead of honoring the Creator, people revere the creation, which leads to a distortion of values and priorities. This exchange signifies a profound spiritual degradation, as it involves valuing the finite over the infinite, the created over the Creator.

As a result of this idolatry, God "gave them over" to their sinful desires (Romans 1:24). This phrase, "gave them over," is repeated three times in this passage (Romans 1:24, 26, 28), emphasizing the severity of the consequences. When Paul says that God "gave them over," he means that God allowed them to follow their sinful inclinations, withdrawing His restraining grace. This divine permission to pursue sin leads to various forms of moral corruption.

Paul first mentions sexual impurity as a consequence of rejecting God. "Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another" (Romans 1:24, NIV). The rejection of God's truth results in a distortion of human sexuality, leading to behaviors that degrade the body and violate the sanctity of sexual relationships as intended by God.

The next consequence Paul describes is a further descent into dishonorable passions. "Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way, the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error" (Romans 1:26-27, NIV). Here, Paul highlights how the rejection of God leads to a complete inversion of natural sexual relations, resulting in behaviors that are contrary to God's design.

The final "giving over" that Paul describes is to a depraved mind. "Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done" (Romans 1:28, NIV). A depraved mind is one that is morally corrupt and unable to discern right from wrong. This leads to a litany of vices that Paul enumerates: "They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy" (Romans 1:29-31, NIV). This extensive list underscores the comprehensive moral decay that ensues when humanity rejects God.

Paul concludes this section with a chilling observation: "Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them" (Romans 1:32, NIV). This final consequence is perhaps the most damning. It indicates a complete moral inversion where not only are sinful behaviors practiced, but they are also celebrated and endorsed. This societal approval of sin reflects a deep-seated rebellion against God's righteous standards.

The consequences of rejecting God, as described in Romans 1, are both individual and communal. On an individual level, there is a progressive hardening of the heart, leading to a loss of spiritual and moral discernment. On a communal level, the collective rejection of God results in societal decay, where sin is not only rampant but also normalized and celebrated.

In reflecting on Romans 1, it is important to recognize that Paul's intention is not merely to condemn but to illuminate the dire need for the gospel. The bleak picture he paints of humanity's condition apart from God sets the stage for the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Paul is building a case for the universal need for redemption, which he will expound upon in the subsequent chapters of Romans.

Theologian John Stott, in his commentary on Romans, aptly summarizes the message of Romans 1: "Paul's analysis of the human condition is intended to show that mankind is in a state of rebellion against God. It is not just that people are ignorant of God; they are actively suppressing the truth about Him. This suppression leads to a cascade of consequences, each more severe than the last, culminating in a society that is morally and spiritually bankrupt."

In light of this, the message of Romans 1 serves as both a warning and a call to repentance. It warns of the inevitable consequences of turning away from God and calls individuals and societies to return to Him. The chapter underscores the seriousness of sin and the urgent need for the transformative power of the gospel. As Paul will later declare in Romans 3:23-24, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (NIV).

Romans 1 is a powerful reminder of the consequences of rejecting God, but it also points us to the hope and redemption available in Christ. It calls us to acknowledge our need for God, to turn away from sin, and to embrace the life-giving truth of the gospel.