June 20, 2024 -- Romans 1:18-25 -- Considering everything: both books of God's testimony

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Romans 1:18-25 ESV

Creation is one book of God’s revelation. All of creation declares the glory of God. His divine attributes are clearly evident in them—from the amoeba to the asteroid—all things animate and inanimate—reveal there must be a Creator. Why does this matter? When anyone takes God out of His creation, or denies He is the One and Only Creator—then perversions begin.

The Bible itself, inspired by the Holy Spirit of God, reveals God, so that creation can be rightly interpreted. Men and women are created for the glory of God. Those who follow God, single or married, are called to control their bodies, their lusts and urges so that God is praised.

Marriage is between one man and woman, for life, to the exclusion of all others. The others also means pornography, or other media representations of lust to satisfy selfish urges.

Singleness for the Christian requires a man or a woman to refrain from indulging lustful desires—images, pornography in any form, and print or video. Sexual encounters, of any kind, between a man and a woman are inappropriate. The Bible standard is God’s standard. It is holy. And His holy standard is wholly for the good of His creation, His people whom He made.

Reading this passage one realizes the root of many of today’s evils, from idolatrous worship to hateful interactions, from the disrespect of children against parents to the fact that what is good is called evil in our world, stems from the fact that people do not believe God is the Creator. When book one, creation, is joined to book 2, God’s self-revelation in Scripture, then one has a fully rounded understanding of life that is holy, and wholly dedicated to God.

Purity is worth fighting for. The sanctity of marriage is something Christians in today’s world need to uphold. It is not a hopeless endeavor. Jesus promised His followers, “I have overcome the world”. Those who are in Christ, are people who despite the pressures of the world, the allure of sex, and the promptings of the evil one, stay devoted to Jesus and pure in all their conduct. When a believer fails, and who among us does not stumble, then there is forgiveness full and free in Jesus. Such forgiveness is not a licence to sin, it is an incentive to live boldly for Jesus every moment of day and night.

A Present Salvation
Creator and Redeemer God,
Author of all existence, source of all blessedness,
I adore thee for making me capable of knowing thee,
for giving me reason and conscience, for leading me to desire thee;
I praise thee for the revelation of thyself in the gospel,
for thy heart as a dwelling place of pity,
for thy thoughts of peace towards me,
for thy patience and thy graciousness,
for the vastness of thy mercy.
Thou hast moved my conscience
to know how the guilty can be pardoned,
the unholy sanctified,
the poor enriched.
May I be always amongst those who not only hear but know thee,
who walk with and rejoice in thee,
who take thee at thy word and find life there.
Keep me always longing for a present salvation
in Holy Spirit comforts and rejoicings,
for spiritual graces and blessings,
for help to value my duties as well as my privileges.
May I cherish simplicity and godly sincerity of character.
Help me to be in reality before thee as in appearance I am before men,
to be religious before I profess religion,
to leave the world before I enter the church,
to set my affections on things above,
to shun forbidden follies and vanities,
to be a dispenser as well as a partaker of grace,
to be prepared to bear evil as well as to do good.
O God, make me worthy of this calling,
that the name of Jesus may be glorified in me and I in him.
Prayer from "Valley of Vision"

https://youtu.be/LoE-uNsGc2E?si=fJEzIzukgcfL8Xr1 “Come Thou Fount — I Will Sing”

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