WHEN MEN ABANDON GOD... Romans 1:28-32 I. Introduction. A. When men follow God's word, they are moral; when men refuse to follow God's word, they are immoral; when men do not believe in God, they are amoral. B. If a person does not believe in God, the task is to persuade the person to believe. C. If they refuse, there are consequences that must be paid. D. So Paul said: Romans 1:28-32. II. Body. A. "Refused to have God in their knowledge...." 1. Imagine the relief they must feel if they do believe in the Judge of mankind... 2. The problem: It is in their knowledge, not in reality. 3. If a person accepts the concept of a Higher Being, to whom one will answer, will have some affect on behavior. 4. There is a place to start reasoning. B. "God gave them up unto a reprobate mind..." 1. God never gives up until the person gives up! 2. There is a place when all hope is lost! 3. A reprobate mind: a. I am going to do it my way--regardless. b. Reprobate: Metals so full of impurities that they cannot pass the test.(Implies they are so corrupt--cannot be clean.) C. "To do those things that are not fitting..." 1. For human beings--not just Christians. 2. They are not following the only proper course. 3. Not decided by man's law, one's conscience, one's feelings, but by the word of God. 4. If is never fitting to do these things. 5. The people before the flood reached this level of depravity: Genesis 6:5. 6. As did Sodom. D. "Filled with...* 1. "All unrighteousness..(Term for wrong-doing; not righteous with others). 2. Wickedness..(lawless). 3. Covetousness..(a desire to have more--in a bad sense). 4. Maliciousness..(bad in quality: opposite of excellence). 5. Full of envy..(Displeasure induced by hearing advantage or prosperity of others). 6. Murder..(slaughter). 7. Strife..(contention, expressing enmity). 8. Deceit..(craft, guile, wanders from truth). 9. Malignity..(evil disposition putting the worse meaning on every situation). 10. Whisperers..(one who slips around slandering others). 11. Backbiters..(to speak against, to speak evil). 12. Hateful to God..(haters of God). 13. Insolent..(violent, injurious, despiteful). 14. Haughty..(showing oneself above others). 15. Boastful..(vagabond who is an impostor). 16. Inventors of evil things..(to find ways to do more evil). 17. Disobedient to parents..(unwilling to be per- suaded). a. "But they need to express themselves..." b. They need an expression that will impress them(in the right place). 18. Without understanding..(no intelligence). 19. Covenant-breakers..(transgressors). 20. Without natural affection..(what is inborn). 21. Unmerciful..(without mercy) E. "Knowing the ordinance of God...(Could not even plead ignorance..) 1. "That they that practice such things are worthy of death" a. A just and righteous judgment. b. If not in this life, the next. 2. "Not only do the same" a. Continue in spite of knowledge, consequence, pleadings, etc. b. They love the lust more than God. 3. Also "consent with them that practice them" a. What one endorses--one supports! b. Think that one over! c. So long as the public, the government, the community, etc. support an evil practice--it will continue. III. Conclusion. A. When men no longer believe--there is no way but down. B. When men really believe in God--they is no way but up! *Definitions based on An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words by W. E. Vine