Romans 1:16-32

New International Version (NIV)

16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 

17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 

20 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.

21 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. 

22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.

24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 

25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 

27 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.

28 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.

29 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, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy.

32 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 3:10-19

10 As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; 11 there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

13 “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.”

14  “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16  ruin and misery mark their ways, 17 and the way of peace they do not know.”

18     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God.

Is There a Remedy of this Trouble that is Plaguing the world? Yes

2 Peter 3:9

9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with us, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

2 Corinthians 5:18-21

18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

20 We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

John 3:16-21

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believesin him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 

20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 

21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

Matthew 4:17 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

Luke 13:1-5

1 Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

2 Jesus answered “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

4 Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

John 1:11-14

11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.

12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 3:35-36

35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.

36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

God's Ultimate Plan:

Revelation 21:1-8

A New Heaven and a New Earth

1 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 

2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 

4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

 

Study on Christian Relation to the World.

The term "world" (cosmos) often refers to the vast system of this age that Satan promotes and that exists independent of God. It consists not only in the obviously evil, immoral and sinful lifestyle and values of the world, but also refers to the spirit of rebellion against or indifference to God and his revelation that exists within all human enterprises not under Christ's lordship.

In this age Satan uses the world's ideas, morality, philosophies, psychology, desires, governments, culture, education, science, art, medicine, music, economic systems, entertainment, fashions, mass media, religions, sports, agriculture, etc., to oppose God, his people, his Word and his Righteous standards (Mt 16:26; 1 Co 2:12; 3:19; Tit 2:12; 1Jn 2:15-16).

For example, Satan will use the medical profession to promote the killing of unborn babies, agriculture to produce life destroying drugs such as alcohol and narcotics, educational systems to promote ungodly and humanistic philosophy, fashion industry to break down modesty, and the entertainment media to undermine Biblical moral standards and values.

Believers must be aware that behind all human enterprises there is a spirit or power that moves against God and his Word, some to a lesser degree, some to a greater degree. Finally, the "world" also includes all man-made religious systems and all unbiblical, worldly or lukewarm "Christian" organizations and churches.

    (1) Satan (see Mt 4: 10, note on Satan) is the god of the present world system (see Jn 12:31, note; 14:30; 16:11; 2Co 4:4; 1 Jn 5:19). Along with a host of subordinate evil spirits, he controls it (Da 10:13; Lk 4:5-7; Eph 6:12-13.

    (2) Satan has organized the world into political, cultural, economic and religious systems that are innately hostile toward God and his people (In 7:7; 15: 18; Jas 4:4; 1 Jn 2: 16, 18) and that refuse to submit to his truth, which exposes its evil (In 7:7).            .

(3) The world and the true church are two distinct groups of people. The world is under Satan's dominion (see Jn 12:31, note); the church belongs exclusively to God (Eph 5:23-24; Rey 21:2; Thus, believers must separate themselves from the world, i.e. the spirit of this age

(see articles on Spiritual Separation for Believers, below).

(4) In the world believers are aliens and strangers (Heb 11:13; 1 Pet 2:11). (a) They are the called-out-ones from the world (Jn 15:19), who are exhorted to no longer conform to the world (see Ro 12:2, note) or love the world (1Jn 2:15), to overcome the world (1Jn 5:4), hate the world's evil (see Heb 1:9, note), die to the world (Gal 6:14) and be delivered from the world

(Col 1:13-14). (b) Loving the world (cf. 1 Jn 2:15) defiles our fellowship with God, is spiritual adultery and leads to spiritual destruction.

It is impossible to love the world and the Father at the same time (Mt 6:24; Lk 16:13; see Jas 4:4, note). To love the world means to be in intimate fellowship with and devoted to its values, interest, ways and pleasures; it means taking pleasure in or enjoying what is offensive and opposed to God (see Lk 23:35, note).

Note, of course, that the terms "world" and "earth" are not synonymous; God does not forbid a love or appreciation for the created earth, i.e.,. Nature, mountains, forests, and the like.   

(5) According to 1 Jn 2: 16, three aspects of the sinful world create open hostility to God:

(a) "The cravings of sinful man": this includes impure desires and running after sinful pleasures and sensual gratification (1 Co 6:18; Php 3: 19; Jas 1:14).

(b) "The lust of his eyes": this refers to coveting or lusting after things that are attractive to the eye but forbidden by God, including the desire to read about or watch that which gives sinful pleasure (Ex 20:17; Ro 7:7).

In the present modern age this includes the desire to entertain oneself by viewing pornography, violence, ungodly conduct, nudity or immorality on stage, cinema, television, videos. Internet or magazines (Ge 3:6; Jos 7:21; 2Sa 11:2; Mt 5:28). (c) "The boasting of what he has and does": This refers to subtle pride and arrogance that often arises with wealth or material blessings, positions of power, promotions, personal achievements or honor, and self-sufficient independence It is the spirit that. Seeks to exalt, glorify or promote oneself in life (Jas 4:16).

It is the opposite of submission to God and his Word, and a humble trusting of God in all our ways.

(6) Believers must not be yoked with those who participate in the world's evil system

(See Mt 9: 11, note; 2Co 6: 14, note). Must expose evil (In 7:7; Eph 5: 11, note). Must be light and salt to the world (Mt 5:13-14), must love unbelievers (In 3:16) and must attempt to win unbelievers to Christ (Mk 16:15; Jude 22-23).

 (7) From the world the true Christian may experience trouble (In 16:2-3), hatred (In 15:19), persecution (Mt 5:10-12) and suffering (Ro 8:22-23; 1 Pe 2:19-21). By the various forms of temptation and enticements of the world, Satan makes an unceasing effort to destroy the life of God in the true believer (2Co 11:3; 1 Pet 5:8).

  (8) The world system is temporary and will be destroyed by God (Da 2:34-35, 44; 1 Co 7:31; 2Th 1:7 -10; 2 Pet 3:10, note; Rev 18:2). Even now it is in the process of passing away (l Jn 2:17).

 

See Study on Three Kinds of People.

Basic Division. Scripture typically divides all humans into two classes.

(1) The natural, or unspiritual, man/woman (psychicos, 1 Co 2:14) identifies the unregenerate person, i.e., one governed by mere natural instincts (2Pe 2:12).

This kind of person does not have the Holy Spirit (Ro 8:9), is under Satan's dominion (Ac 26:18), and is enslaved to the body and its passions (Eph 2:3). He or she belongs to the world; is in sympathy with it (Jas 4:4) and rejects the righteous ways of the Spirit (1 Co 2: 14). The unspiritual person is not able to understand God and his ways, but instead relies on human reasoning or emotions.

      (2) The spiritual man/woman (pneumatikos, 1 Co 2: 15; 3: 1) identifies the regenerated person, i.e., one who has the Holy Spirit. This person is spiritually minded, thinks the thoughts of God (1 Co 2:11-13) and lives by the Spirit of God (Ro 8:4-17; Gal 5:16 - 26). Such an individual believes in Jesus Christ, strives to follow the leading of the indwelling Spirit, and resists sensual desires and sin's dominion (Ro 8:13-14).

How does one become a spiritual man/woman? When a person accepts by faith the salvation provided through Christ, he or she is regenerated; the Holy Spirit imparts to him or her a new nature by an infusion of divine life (2Pe 1:4.  He or she is born again (Jn 3:3, 5.7), renewed (Ro 12:2), and made a new creation (2Co 5:17) and recipient of God's righteousness through faith in Christ (Php 3:9).

Further Distinction among Christians.

Although born-again believers receive the new life of the Spirit, they retain the sinful nature with its evil inclinations (Gal 5:16-21). The sinful nature that remains in them cannot be made good; it must be crucified with Christ (Ro 6:6; Gal 2:20; 5:24) and overcome through the Spirit's power and grace (Ro 8:13).

Believers overcome by denying themselves daily (Mt 16:24; Ro 8:12-13; Tit 2:12), removing every hindrance or sin (Heb 12:1), and resisting all sinful temptations (Ro 13:14; Gal 5:16; 1 Pe 2:11).

By the power of the Spirit believers themselves wage war against the sinful nature

(Ro 8:13-14; Gal 5:16-18), crucify it (Gal 5:24) and put it to death daily (Col 3:5).

By this process of self-denial and yielding to the Holy Spirit's sanctifying work, they will be set free from the power of their sinful nature and live as spiritual Christians (Ro 6:13; Gal 5:16):

Not all Christians make the required effort to fully overcome this 'sinful nature. In addressing the Corinthians, Paul notes (1 Co 3:1, 3) that some of them are behaving in a worldly or unspiritual manner; instead of consistently resisting the inclinations of their sinful nature, they often yielded to at least some of them. Although they were not living in persistent disobedience, they were in the process of compromising with the world, the sinful nature and the devil in some areas of their lives, while still wanting to remain a part of God's people kkkkkk(10:21; 2Co 6:14-18; 11 :3; 13:5).

(1) The condition of worldly Christians.

Although sin and rebellion were not the rule in their lives, nor had they entered into the serious immorality and unrighteousness that would separate them from God's kingdom (see 1 Co 6:9- 11; cf. Gal 5:21; Eph 5:5), these worldly Christians were behaving in such a way that they were no longer growing in grace, acting as if they were new converts who did not yet understand the full implication of salvation in Christ (1 Co 3:1-2).

Their worldliness was expressed in "jealousy and quarreling" (3:3). They were indifferent to and tolerant of immorality within the church (5:1-13; 6:13-20). They did not take God's Word or his apostle with utmost seriousness (4:18-19). They were going to law courts over trivial matters (6:6). Note that Paul considers the Corinthians who had entered into sexual immorality or other gross sins to be excluded altogether from salvation in Christ (1 Co 5:1, 9-11; 6:9-10).

(2) The perils of worldly Christians.

These worldly Corinthian Christians were in danger of being led astray from sincere devotion to Christ (2Co 11 :3) and being more and more conformed to the world (2Co 6:14-18). Because of this, they would be chastened and judged by the Lord, and if they continued to conform to the world, they would ultimately be excluded from God's kingdom (1 Co 6:9-10; 11:31-32). In fact, spiritual death had already occurred for some of them who had committed flagrant sin leading to spiritual death (see l Jn 3:15, note; 5:17, note; Ro 8:13; 1 Co 5:5; 2Co 12:21; 13:5).

(3) The warnings to worldly Christians.

 (a) Worldly Christians must know they are in danger of departing from the faith if they are unwilling to put to death the sinful nature with its passions and desires (Gal 5:24; cf. Ro 6:16; 1 Co 6:9-10; Gal 5:19-21; 6:7-9).

(b) They must learn from the tragic example of the Israelites whom God destroyed because of sin (1 Co 10:5-12).

(c) They must understand that it is impossible to participate in the things of the Lord and the things of Satan at the same time (Mt 6:24; 1 Co 10:21). (d) They must separate themselves completely from the world (2Co 6:14-18) and purify themselves "from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God" (2Co 7:1) .

 

Spiritual Separation for Believers

The concept of separation from evil is fundamental to God's relationship with his people.

According to the Bible, separation involves two dimensions-one negative and the other positive:

(a) Separating ourselves morally and spiritually from sin and from everything that is contrary to Jesus Christ, righteousness and God's Word;

(b) drawing near to God in a close and intimate fellowship through prayer, worship, the Word and loving service, Separation in this twofold sense results in a relationship where God is our heavenly Father who lives with us and is our God, and we in turn are his sons and daughters (2Co 6:16-18),

    (1) In the OT God's people were called to be holy, different and separated from all other peoples in order to belong to God as his very own (Ex 23:24, note; Lev 11:44, note; Dt 7:3, note; Ezr 9:2. One key reason God punished his people with exile into Assyria and Babylon was they persistently accommodated themselves to the idolatry and wicked lifestyles of the nations around them (see 2Ki 17:7-8, notes; 24:3, note; 2Ch 36:14, note; Jer 2:5,13, notes; Eze 23:2, note; Hos 7:8, note),

      (2) In the NT God calls believers to be separate

       (a) From the corrupt world system and from unholy compromise

(Jn 17: 15-16; 2Ti 3:1-5; Jas 1:27; 4:4; see article on The Christian's Relationship to the World above,)

(b) From those in the church who sin and refuse to repent (Mt 18: 15-17; 1 C05:9-11; 2Th 3:6-1 5),   and (c) from false teachers, churches or cults who teach error and deny Biblical truths         Mt 7:15; Ro 16:17; Gall :9, note; Tit 3:9-11; 2Pe 2:17-22; 1 Jn 4:1; 2Jn 10-11; Jude 12-13),

(3) Our attitude in separation must be one of

(a) Hatred toward sin, unrighteousness and the corrupt world system                       (Ro 12:9; Heb 1:9; l Jn 2:15),

(b) Opposition to false doctrine (Gal 1:9),

(c) Genuine love for those from whom we must separate (Jn 3:16; 1 Co 5:5; GaI6:1; Ro 9:1-3;  2Co 2:1-8; 11:28-29; Jude 22- ), and (d) fear of God as we pursue holiness (2Co 7:1),

(4) The purpose of separation is that we as God's people might (a) persevere in faith

(1 Ti 1:19; 6:10, 20-21), purity (2Cor 7:1; Tit 2:12-14) and godly love (Heb 13:1-8;      1 Jn 2:15-17; 3:11, 14-18; 4:1-12);

(b) Love God with an undivided heart (Mt 22:37; 2Co 6:16-18); and

(c) Be light in a dark, unbelieving world, testifying about the truth and blessings of the gospel (Jn 17:21; Php 2:15),

(5) If we separate ourselves properly, God himself rewards us by drawing near with his protection, blessing and fatherly care. He promises to be everything that a good Father should be, He will be our counselor and guide; he will love and cherish us as his own children (2Co 6:16-18),

(6) The refusal of believers to separate themselves from evil will inevitably result in the loss of fellowship with God (2Co 6:16), of acceptance by the Father (6:17) and of our rights as children (6:18; cf. Ro 8:15-16),