1. review Last weeks closing question
Man's spiritual growth is contingent on whether or not we say ‘yes’ to the faith proposition before us.
Last weeks closing question
Will you be faithful with the measure of truth God has committed to you?
review

2. Romans: Refusal in the Face of Revelation pt. 2
What becomes of those who say ‘no’ to God?

3. Stage 1 : Intelligence
20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations

4. Stage 1 : Intelligence The Gentiles Knew God
In the Great Flood of Genesis In the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah - Genesis 19
In the midst of the plagues of Egypt - Exodus 7-13
In the drowning of Pharaoh's armies - Exodus 14
The Amorites knew him in Joshua 5 when he dried up the Jordan and when he brought down the walls of Jericho
The Philistines saw God in 1 Sam. 5-6 when they stole the Ark of the Covenant and it resulted in the desolation of Dagon's temple and the plague of hemorrhoids on the Gentile Nations.

5. Stage 1 : Intelligence
The Gentile Nations have always defied God, just as Rome did and just as we do today
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations
they became unthankful - 2 Tim 3:1-7
they became empty in their thinking - Ps 2:1

6. Principle #1 Respond right to what God is showing you by…
Stage 1 : Intelligence
Principle #1 Respond right to what God is showing you by…
Being thankful
Psalm 136:26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy [endureth] for ever.
Committing your works
Proverbs 16:3 Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

7. Stage 2: Ignorance
22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

8. Stage 2: Ignorance They Became Fools
1 Cor. 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

9. Stage 2: Ignorance
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.

10. Stage 1 : Intelligence Even the fool has to worship something
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Psalm 14:1 [[To the chief Musician, [A Psalm] of David.]] The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good.

11. Stage 2: Ignorance
Principle #2 Be aware of your desires and remember their potential to become idols
Leviticus 19:4 Turn ye not unto idols, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I [am] the LORD your God.

12. Stage3: Indulgence
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

13. Stage 3: Indulgence Exchange for Lies
The “lie” is that man is his own God and that he should worship and serve himself and not the Creator.
This was Satan's lie from the beginning, that we would “be as gods” Gen. 3:5

14. Stage3: Indulgence
24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

15. Stage3: Indulgence
26 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:
27 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.

16. Stage 3: Indulgence Gave Them Up
There comes a point in the indulgence process when God gives people exactly what they want.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

17. Stage4: Impenitence
28 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;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 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.

18. Stage 4: Impenitence What is a Reprobate Mind?
Reprobate means depraved. This mind is reserved for those who exchanged God for a lie. They saw the truth and chose another more convenient answer.
Reprobate is used 6 times in English, 8 times in the Greek sometimes translated castaway or rejected.
A lost person who refuses to respond rightly to God's proposal will sometimes harden their own hearts and when they do, sometimes God will indulge them.

19. Stage 4: Impenitence Immorality in a Christian
1 Cor 5:1 It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. 2 And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he that hath done this deed might be taken away from among you. 3 For I verily, as absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged already, as though I were present, concerning him that hath so done this deed, 4 In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

20. Stage 4: Impenitence
Principle #3 There is hope for even the hardest heart and the most reprobate mind.
1 Cor 6:9-11; Acts 17:16-34

21. Are you or is a loved one in danger of exchanging the truth of God for a lie?
There is hope in the penetrating message of the gospel!
Invitation