Quote:
Originally Posted by n david
First, God will not give up on you. You can walk away from God. You can deny God. You can blaspheme God. But God will never give up on you. He will never walk away. He will never discard you.
Second, let's read through this scripture.
It begins "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against ALL ungodliness and unrighteousness of men ..."
"Because that, knowing God, they glorified Him not as God ... [they] changed the glory of the incorruptible God for the likeness of an image of corruptible man, and of birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things."
"Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness ..."
I don't believe verse 24 applies to all, but only those who refuse to acknowledge God, who have lifted themselves above God and who do not regard God as the incorruptible God of salvation, but have turned to idolatry, worshipping or putting their faith and salvation in corruptible things.
You understand that God will never force anyone to worship Him. He's a jealous God, but He will not force anyone against their will. This is why the verse is written, "God gave them up." It's not because God doesn't love them. It's not because He's finished with them and they have no hope of salvation. Instead, it is them who have rejected Him. And being the loving God He is, He will not force them against their will.
I believe one must actively reject God for God to give them up to "the lusts of their hearts." And btw, "the lusts of their hearts" is more than sexual sins, IMO.
So to answer your question: "How are some people supposed to not be hopeless when reading this scripture?" As long as you are repentant and keep trying to live holy before God, He will never give you up.
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Does the, "God gave them up" in
Romans 1 speak of a permanent, unchanging, eternal disposal of an individual who has persisted in their sins?
Never mind, Esaias has hit on this above.
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