Romans 1:26-28 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 recompense of their error which was meet. 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
‘For this cause God gave them up’ because of the apostasy of Romans 1:21-25. ‘Vile’ [Greek: atimia] vile (1:26); shame (1Cor. 11:14); reproach (2Cor. 11:21); and dishonour (9:21; 1Cor. 15:43; 2Cor. 6:8; 2Tim. 2:20). ‘Affections’ [Greek: pathos] affections (1:26; Col. 3:5) and lusts (1Thess. 4:5). Vile affections are passions of infamy and shame. ‘Natural use into that which is against nature’ this is lesbianism – unnatural, homosexual relations between women.
‘Leaving the natural use of the woman’ this is sodomy or homosexuality (Gen. 8:21; 19:5; Lev. 20:13; Deut. 23:17; 1Kin. 14:24; 15:12; 22:46; 2Kin. 23:7; Joel 3:3; Eph. 5:4; 2Tim. 3:3, 13; 2Pet. 2:7-22; Jude 1:7-19).
‘Burned in their lust’ [Greek: ekkaiomai] were inflamed. Most people see lust or attraction to another person as love. It is not, it is an attraction of lustful spirits which roam in individuals minds as they succumb to evil thoughts (2Cor. 10:3-6).
‘Unseemly’ [Greek: aschemosune] indecent. ‘Receiving’ [Greek: apolambano] receiving back in full. ‘Recompense’ [Greek: antimisthia] retribution. ‘Error’ [Greek: plane] wandering – the wrong action, wickedness. Both men and women weakened and debilitated their bodies by unnatural prostitution, so that they received in themselves (mostly sickness in mind and body) the penalties of their wickedness.
‘God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient’ three things God gave them up: To dishonour their bodies (1:24); to vile affections in their souls (1:26); to reprobate minds (1:28).
‘Reprobate’ [Greek: adokimos] reprobate (1:28; 2Cor. 13:5-7; 2Tim. 3:8; Tit. 1:16); rejected (Heb. 6:8); and castaway (1Cor. 9:27). Christ is not in reprobates.
Living the Word 