Jesus, Romans 1, and a Culture in Rebellion – A Deep Dive (Not for the Faint of Heart)
We’re doing a deep dive into the book of Romans, written by the apostle Paul. The main themes of this powerful letter are:
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The righteousness of God by faith
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Justification by faith
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Law and grace
Romans doesn’t skim the surface. It goes deep into what it means to be right with God—and Romans 1 is one of the most controversial chapters in the entire Bible. It confronts exactly what our culture is trying to make us accept today.
Paul Knew Who He Was – Do You?
Paul begins with a bold introduction:
“Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God…”
(Romans 1:1)
From the very first verse, Paul:
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Declares that he is a servant of Jesus Christ
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States clearly that he is called to be an apostle
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Says he is separated to the gospel of God
Paul wasn’t ashamed of who God called him to be, despite his past. Remember, Paul had been a persecutor of Christians—a violent religious extremist of his day. But once he encountered Jesus, he became completely dedicated to the calling on his life.
Until you know why you are on this earth, you will misuse your life.
Just like Paul, you are called and separated for the gospel if you are a child of God. The “gospel” literally means “good news”—so good it almost sounds too good to be true.
Jesus in the Old Testament – The Promised Son of God
Paul reminds us that the gospel was not a random new idea:
“…which He had promised before by His prophets in the holy scriptures, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; and declared to be the Son of God with power… by the resurrection from the dead.”
(Romans 1:2–4)
Key truths:
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Jesus was prophesied in the Old Testament. The whole Old Testament testifies of Him.
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He is of the seed of David according to the flesh – fully human, a real man, born into a Jewish lineage.
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He is declared to be the Son of God with power by His resurrection – fully divine.
This confronts what many people say today:
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Some say Jesus was just a prophet or a good teacher.
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Others treat Him like one of many “spiritual figures.”
But according to Scripture, Jesus is Lord. Either He is who He says He is, or He was a liar and a deceiver. There is no in-between.
“First John tells us that anyone who denies that Jesus is the Son of God is not of God.” (see 1 John 2:22–23; 4:15)
You must settle this: Do you truly believe Jesus is the Son of God, God in the flesh, crucified and risen?
Called to Belong to Christ and to Preach His Gospel
Paul continues:
“…By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for His name: among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ.”
(Romans 1:5–6)
We are:
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Called to belong to Jesus
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Called to obey the faith
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Called to make Him known among the nations
You don’t need to fast and pray to find out if you “maybe” should share the gospel. If you belong to Jesus, you are already called to:
“Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
(Mark 16:15)
The Gospel: God’s Power for Salvation
Paul is very clear about what he lives for:
“So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.”
(Romans 1:15)
Then he makes one of the most important statements in all Scripture:
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
(Romans 1:16–17)
Some key truths here:
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The gospel is God’s power for salvation.
Not your prayers alone. Not your good works. Not your efforts to “be a better person.” The message of what Jesus did—His death, burial, and resurrection—is where the power is. -
It’s for everyone who believes.
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Jews
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Gentiles (here called Greeks)
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Every tribe, tongue, and culture
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The righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel.
People try to establish their own righteousness by good works, religion, and morality. But Romans teaches that there is a different kind of righteousness:“…the righteousness of God… from faith to faith.”
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The just shall live by faith.
You are made “just” (justified) by faith in Christ, and you are called to keep living by faith—not switch back to trusting in your works.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”
(Ephesians 2:8–9)
Good works matter—but not as the basis of your righteousness before God. They’re the fruit, not the root.
When Truth Is Rejected: The Rise of Atheism and Evolution
Now Paul turns to one of the hardest and most uncomfortable sections:
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made… so that they are without excuse.”
(Romans 1:18–20)
Paul makes several very strong claims:
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What can be known about God has been made plain to people.
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God has shown it to them.
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His invisible qualities—eternal power and divine nature—are clearly seen in creation.
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Therefore, no one has an excuse.
Atheism is not a neutral “lack of belief.” It is choosing to reject the revelation of God in creation and in conscience.
Look at the world around you:
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The complexity of the human brain
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The order of the universe
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The fine-tuning of creation
Even simple human logic tells you that nothing designed can design itself. A remote control, a phone, a house—none of these appear by accident. Yet many claim that something far more complex—human beings and the universe—just happened by chance.
The Bible is blunt:
“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.”
(Psalm 14:1)
Why do people reject God? Often, it’s not because they “honestly don’t know,” but because the implications of God’s existence are uncomfortable:
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If God exists, then you were made intentionally.
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If you were made intentionally, then you have a purpose.
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If you have a purpose, then you are accountable to your Creator.
If you convince yourself that there is no God, then you can live however you want without feeling that you’ll ever have to answer to anyone.
But death is 1 out of 1. You will stand before God one day.
The Downward Spiral: From Denial to Darkness
Paul describes the tragic progression:
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools…”
(Romans 1:21–22)
Steps in the downward spiral:
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They knew God – through creation, conscience, truth revealed.
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They refused to glorify Him as God – no worship, no submission.
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They were unthankful – taking credit for everything themselves.
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Their thinking became vain – empty, fruitless, spiritually useless.
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Their hearts were darkened – they lost sensitivity to God’s light.
Instead of worshipping the Creator, they begin to worship:
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Themselves
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Other humans
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Idols
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Created things (nature, animals, etc.)
“…and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four footed beasts, and creeping things.”
(Romans 1:23)
We see this today in self-worship, nature worship, and a worldview that removes God and elevates man.
God “Gave Them Over”: Sexual Immorality and Same-Sex Relations
When people persistently reject God and His truth, a frightening thing happens:
“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves…”
(Romans 1:24)
They refused God, and God allowed them to fully follow their own desires.
Paul continues:
“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 recompence of their error which was meet.”
(Romans 1:26–27)
According to Scripture:
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Sexual relations between women and women
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Sexual relations between men and men
…are called “against nature,” “unseemly,” and “vile affections.”
This is completely opposite to what our culture celebrates and affirms. But Romans 1 shows the root of this: it flows from rejecting God and His created order.
This does not mean God hates people who struggle with same-sex desires or those living in LGBTQ lifestyles. But it does mean:
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That lifestyle is not God’s design.
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It is part of the fallenness and brokenness of humanity.
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It carries real consequences—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
“Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.”
(Romans 1:32)
Not only do some practice these things, but others celebrate and encourage them. That is exactly what we see today.
No One Is Too Far Gone – There Is Still Hope
As heavy as Romans 1 is, the message of the entire book of Romans is not “You’re doomed.” The message is:
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All have sinned and fallen short. (Romans 3:23)
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The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. (Romans 6:23)
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Christ died for us while we were still sinners. (Romans 5:8)
No matter how far someone has gone—whether in sexual sin, atheism, pride, or any other rebellion—Jesus can still save, cleanse, and restore.
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
(Romans 10:13)
If you are convicted reading this, that is hope, not condemnation. It means your heart is still tender, and God is calling you back.
Freedom From Sin: New Birth and Renewed Mind
If you are born again, you are no longer just a “sinner trying to be better.” You are a new creation.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
(2 Corinthians 5:17)
But to walk free from old patterns, you must renew your mind:
“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
(Romans 12:2)
You change your life by changing what you think, believe, and feed on.
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If you constantly feed on pornography, immorality, and godless content, your desires will follow.
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If you feed on the Word of God, worship, and truth, your desires will begin to shift.
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…”
(Proverbs 23:7)
Jesus said:
“If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
(John 8:31–32)
The same Jesus who saves you by grace through faith also empowers you—by His Spirit—to say “no” to sin and “yes” to righteousness.
Final Encouragement
Romans 1 is confrontational. It speaks against:
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A distorted view of Jesus
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A false confidence in human goodness
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Atheism and denial of God’s existence
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Idolatry and self-worship
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Sexual immorality, including same-sex relations
But remember: Paul doesn’t write these things to condemn only; he writes them to expose the problem so we can see our need for the gospel.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth…”
(Romans 1:16)
If you’ve rejected God, you can repent.
If you’ve lived in sin, you can turn around.
If you’ve embraced lies about your identity, Jesus can show you who you really are.
You are called not just to survive, but to live by faith, walk in God’s righteousness, and shine as a child of the Most High God.