I love YOU and I want to take care of YOU! I want to give YOU everything YOUR heart desires! I will move heaven and earth to make YOU happy! You are MY hearts desire! Wow! How wonderful to think that someone cares that much about me! Sounds like a love letter doesn’t it? What if I told you that is what our flesh speaks to us everyday? Startling isn’t it? Deep, deep down inside, this is what our fallen nature desires. We are self-centered and life is all about ME and no one else. In our natural state we do not honor and fear God! We are in desperate need of the grace of God.
We Are in Desperate Need of the Grace of God!
Today we are going to look at man’s nature through the mirror of God’s word. It does not give a very bright description of humanity. Romans 1:22-32 gives a description of the nature of all people and answers the question, Why the wrath of God rests on mankind?”
It will take the love and grace of God to save us from ourselves and the anger He has toward our sin! But, there is Good News, “He has abundant grace to give!”
Romans 1:22-32 answers the following questions?
- Who does man honor and fear?
- What is the nature of humanity ?
- Why we need the grace of God?
The Nature of Humanity
According to what this passage says, man honors his own passions and desires. There are 23, count them 23 adjectives that describe the natural nature of all mankind. 1)Women burning in their desire toward one another 2) Men with men committing indecent acts ( Homosexuality) 3)Filled with unrighteousness 4)wickedness 5)greed 6)evil 7) Full of envy 8) murder 9) strife 10)deceit 11) malice 12) gossips 13) slandered 14) haters of God 15) insolent 16) arrogant 17)boastful 18) inventors of evil 19)disobedient to parents 20)Without understanding 21) untrustworthy 22) unloving 23) unmerciful
What a list! I will say unless you read each one separately you will not see the big impact these verses have! We can see that man honors himself and not God. I would like to add that not everyone fits into every class. But, before our flesh gives us a way out read what these verses say:
“For whoever keeps the whole Law yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.” James 2:10
“God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one. ” Psalm 53:2-3
Why We Are in Need of God’s Grace
We have read what Romans 1:26-32, says about all mankind. In order to understand the importance and urgency of this passage you must read Romans 1:18-25, to see why all of mankind is in great need of the grace of God. Look at the following list I pulled out of this passage.
- Even though we knew God we did not honor Him as God.
- We did not give Him thanks.
- We exchanged the glory of God for an image.
- We became futile in our speculations. ( We thought about worthless things. There was no wisdom in our reasoning.)
- Our foolish heart was darkened.
- We professed to be wise, but were foolish.
- We exchanged the the truth of God for a lie. ( Read Genesis 1-3)
- We worshipped idols.
- We were haters of God.
- We gave hearty approval to those who practice unrighteousness
Although we know the ordinances of God, and that those who practice such things are worthy of death, we give hardy approval to ourselves and to others. Is mankind worthy of death?
We are Without excuse
That which is known about God has been manifested to us through creation and God has made Himself evident within us. God gave us over to the lusts of our flesh. We are all without excuse! The indictments are stacked against us.We are without excuse and are in need of the grace of God!
If you are reading this and are a believer in Jesus Christ, I pray that you are reminded of God’s Amazing Grace toward you! Preach the truth to yourself daily, and share the good news with those who you know are in great need.
MORE HELPFUL RESOURCES
Why is it That Important to Memorize Scripture
Why I recommend the New Inductive Study Bible
I want to Know You… Studying the Attributes of God
Six Important Questions to Ask When You Study the Bible
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Yes, yes, yes. I am reminded of Jesus’ words from the Sermon on the Mount about the log in my eye that keeps me from seeing clearly to help my brother. Sometimes the log keeps me from seeing my own situation clearly too!
Yes, sometimes the log is so big in our own eyes we cannot see! Praise God He opens our eyes to see! Thanks for sharing Michele!
Thank you so very much for sharing! What a blessing to have the lesson downloads as well. Visiting you from Sharing His Beauty Link-Up!
Hi Amanda! I am so glad you stopped by:) a blessing to be able to share on His Beauty Link-up! I hope you are able to use the lessons. Please, feel free to share them. Have a Blessed day:)
So many golden nuggets in His Word. I love it. Soaking in HIs Truth with you, Lisa, and visiting today via #intentionalTuesday.
Don’t you just love His word! Yes,Kristi, His word is so full of golden nuggets. I do not think we will ever be able to soak them all in! That means we can meet with Him again tomorrow for more! Thanks for stopping by and getting into His Word!
Oh but if we didn’t have the grace of God
Oh, is exactly right, Andi! Praise Him for His Amazing Grace!!! Without it we would be doomed.
I’m sooo thankful for the Grace of God… day in and day out – sometimes moment by moment!
Me too, Marie! Yes, sometimes moment by moment!
We are also studying Romans in our CBS group. So thankful for God’s grace! Visiting from #raralinkup!
Yes, Kortney,so thankful for His grace! Thanks for stopping by:)
I love the book of Romans. All of us have sinned and broken God’s commandments. I know that I fail Him so often, but I’m so thankful for Grace and a patient God who never lets go.
Yes, Ashley we have all sinned and broken His commandments! Praise Him for His amazing grace! I love the book of Romans as well. It is so packed with the truth of the gospel. We all fail so often but it proves over and over His loving grace!
I love this passage, and you are an excellent Bible Study writer! Thank you for sharing with us at #RaRaLinkup today! I’m blessed by this!
Angela, thank you for your kind words! God’s word is so amazing! I have been blessed by being able to link up a #RaRalinkup!
Love how you stepped readers through this… it’s so hard to admit to others that we, as people, are so broken and needy in such a great way, somehow reading it seems to allow so many people to admit their need.
Thanks for sharing it again for all those who need to really hear the Truth.
Marissa
You are so right Marissa,it is hard to admit to others that we are all in need. Thank you for your kind words! I pray God opens the eyes of those who do not see, and those of us who do see are reminded of His Amazing Grace! Thanks for stopping by:)
It’s so amazingly wonderful that we have God’s grace in our lives. All we have to do is accept it!
His grace is amazing and wonderful.I Praise Him for it! Thanks for stopping by Susannah.
I would be so lost without God’s grace. Thank you for such a wonderfully Scripture-based post.
Yes, Melanie so would I. Praise Him for His Amazing Grace! Your welcome, thank you for sharing your thoughts!
I love the passion behind the letter to the Romans. Paul’s passion for God & his grace is contagious! But, yes, he does not sugarcoat our condition either. Thankfully, God’s grace is more powerful than our trespasses. Thanks, neighbor. Grace-filled Blessings to you!
I am thankful also that God’s grace is more powerful that my sin!I am also thankful Paul does not sugarcoat anything! We all need the truth. Have a wonderful day:) God Bless!
What a wonderful study. There is so much for us to dig into and digest all throughout Romans. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and notes with us.
Stopping by from Worshipful Living this week!
Thank you for stopping by and for your kind words! You are correct, there is so much in the book of Romans to digest. Wonderful book!
We are all idol worshippers and haters of God. This is so true! We are in need of a wonderful Savior. God’s desire is for us to have joy not necessarily happiness which is fleeting. God desires to make Himself known and bring glory to His name. The Bible is His story of redemption looking forward to Jesus coming in the Old Testament. Then the life Jesus lived, His death, buried, resurrection and return in the New Testament. I love the book of Romans! What a great study and post.
Love the book of Romans as well! Yes, we are in great need of a wonderful Savior! Praise Him for His abundant grace. Thank you for your kind words. Glad you stopped by today. God Bless!
I am so thankful for the grace that God gives me. Thank you for linking up with Thankful Thursdays. My son and I are reading through Romans every morning. I’m going to have to save your links so I can do a more thorough study. Thanks for sharing!
Me too, Lori! Thank you for hosting this linkup! It is a blessing to be apart. I hope you are able to go through the studies. There are free lessons at the end of each post for you to print. Thank you for coming by:)
Hi, Lisa! 🙂 I’m so thankful for His grace and His continued work in my life. Thanks for this excellent reminder you shared with us last week at Grace and Truth.
Jen @ Being Confident of This
I am so thankful too, Jen! We are always receiving His grace. You are welcome:) It is always a blessing to me when I link up with Grace and Truth.
Lisa, so true: “through the hearing of His word He brings you to an understanding of your need for Him and His grace.” Reading God’s Word exposes and convicts and reminds me how much I need His grace. Thank you, Lisa, for sharing your heart at #IntentionalTuesday on Intentionally Pursuing. : )
Yes, He has chosen to open our eyes and ears through the preaching and teaching of the whole word! Always a blessing to me to link up with you at Intentional Tuesday! Thanks for stopping by today and sharing:)
Oh, yes, your words speak to my heart. Thank you for sharing, Lisa. Hugs, Susan
Your welcome Susan! I am grateful they spoke to you! Hugs Back:) Lisa
Thank you so much for the feature!! Humbly blessed:)