WHEN TRUTH IS REJECTED — PART 6

Romans 1:29–32

Main Truth

When God’s truth is rejected, it affects our **thinking, behavior, relationships, and moral judgment**.

Romans 1:28–32 shows us the fruit that grows from a mind that refuses to acknowledge God.

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I. THE UNHOLY FRUIT OF THE DEBASED MIND

Romans 1:29–31

A **debased mind** is a mind that has become morally corrupted and distorted in its judgment, no longer evaluating life according to God’s standard.

The sins in verses 29–31 are not the **cause** of the debased mind; they are the **fruit** of the debased mind.

Paul’s list includes:

1. Unrighteousness

2. Sexual immorality

3. Wickedness

4. Covetousness

5. Maliciousness

6. Envy

7. Murder

8. Strife

9. Deceit

10. Evil-mindedness

11. Whisperers — gossip

12. Backbiters — slander

13. Haters of God

14. Violent

15. Proud

16. Boasters

17. Inventors of evil things

18. Disobedient to parents

19. Undiscerning

20. Untrustworthy

21. Unloving

22. Unforgiving

23. Unmerciful

A Warning About Gossip

**Gossip produces division.**

Proverbs 16:28

**Gossip requires a listener.**

Proverbs 20:19

**Gossip cannot easily be retrieved once released.**

A simple Christian response:

**If the matter truly concerns me, I should speak to the person involved rather than speaking about the person to everybody else.**

II. THE ULTIMATE RESULT OF REJECTING TRUTH

Romans 1:32

Paul gives us three realities:

1. THEY __________.

They know God’s righteous judgment.

2. THEY __________.

Knowing what God has said does not stop them from practicing what God condemns.

**Knowledge without submission does not produce obedience.**

3. THEY __________.

Sin moves from personal participation to public approval.

Paul says sin is not merely practiced; it is approved.

One expression of that approval is when people begin defending as right what God has declared wrong.

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THE PROGRESSION OF REJECTED TRUTH

Romans 1:18

They __________ the truth in unrighteousness.

Romans 1:21

They knew God but did not __________ Him as God.

Romans 1:23

They __________ the glory of God.

Romans 1:25

They exchanged the __________ of God for the lie.

Romans 1:28

They did not like to retain __________ in their knowledge.

Romans 1:32

They practice what God condemns and __________ those who do the same.

The Progression

Truth suppressed and rejected affects our:

**Worship** — God’s glory is exchanged.

**Desires** — God’s design is rejected.

**Thinking** — the mind becomes distorted.

**Behavior** — sinful actions begin to flourish.

**Moral judgment** — people begin approving what God condemns.

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BEFORE I LOOK AT EVERYBODY ELSE...

Romans 2:1 reminds us that God’s Word is not merely a **window** through which we examine the world.

It is also a **mirror** in which we examine ourselves.

The question is not only:

**“Who out there has rejected the truth?”**

The question is also:

**“What am I doing with the truth God has shown me?”**

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HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO MY LIFE?

1. Do not reject truth because it confronts something you want to __________.

When God’s Word exposes something wrong in my life, I should not redefine the truth.

I should submit myself to it.

2. Pay attention to what is happening in your __________.

Pride, envy, gossip, strife, deceit, unforgiveness, and lack of mercy should never be treated as harmless.

3. Be careful what you begin to __________.

There is a difference between struggling with sin and beginning to defend what God calls sin.

4. Let God’s Word examine __________ before using it to examine everybody else.

Ask:

**“Lord, is there anything in me that I have been excusing, defending, or refusing to surrender?”**

5. Remember what people trapped in sin need most: the __________.

Jesus Christ saves sinners.

He died for our sins.

He rose again.

Forgiveness and new life are available through Him.

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PERSONAL RESPONSE

When God shows me the truth, what will I do with it?

Will I __________ it?

Will I __________ what it exposes?

Will I __________ what it condemns?

Or will I receive it, __________, and obey?

This Week, Ask Yourself:

* Is there an attitude or behavior God has been confronting in my life?

* Am I excusing something Scripture tells me to surrender?

* Have pride, envy, gossip, strife, unforgiveness, or lack of mercy gained ground in my heart?

* Am I allowing God’s Word to examine me before I examine others?

* Who in my life needs me to share the gospel rather than simply condemn their behavior?

Final Truth

**The answer to rejected truth is not another excuse.**

**The answer is repentance, faith, and surrender to Jesus Christ.**