We have in Romans 1:18 – 2:4, fifteen reasons why God is just to condemn and eternally damn sinners to destruction in hell. First, God has revealed His wrath against all ungodliness and unrighteousness; yet, people continue in their ungodly ways (v 18). Second, people suppress the knowledge of God that they already have; neither do they avail themselves of Bible preaching that would reprove them for their evil deeds (v 18). In the third place, since the beginning of creation, God has clearly revealed His nature to men, so that they understand His eternal power and Godhead. They are thus left without excuse (vv 19-20). Fourth, that although people know the nature of God, they do not glorify Him as God; neither are they thankful (v 21). In the next place men are prone to make God as one of themselves. While they profess themselves to be wise, they have in reality become fools (vv 22-23). The sixth reason is men misrepresent God by depicting Him as a species of lower creation. This is the result of a mind that has abandoned understanding, and has become vain (vv 21-23). In the seventh place, because of such idolatry, God delivers up people to commit whoredom. All who dishonor their bodies in such ways, God will judge (v 24, Heb.13:4). The eighth reason, rather than worship the Creator men worship the creature, and have become Hedonists, addicting themselves to pleasure (v 25). Ninth, when men become lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, God gives them up to ‘vile affections,’ i.e., to homosexuality, or what the Bible calls ‘sodomy.’ Women who live under this judgment practice lesbianism, while men “burned in their lust one toward another…” (vv 26-27). Tenth, when men will not retain God in their knowledge, God gives them over to a ‘reprobate mind,’ a mind that cannot understand, therefore, cannot make proper judgments. They become filled with unrighteousness; fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, and malignity; whispers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful (vv 28-31). Eleven, men know that all who commit such things are worthy of death; yet they continue to do them (v 32). Twelve, such men are not content to practice wickedness themselves, but take pleasure in others who practice such (v 32). Thirteen, when people judge others who sin as they do, they condemn themselves (2:1-3). Fourteen, such people despise the goodness God has shown them. They despise the mercy God has given them moment by moment. They walk on His earth, they breathe His air, His gift of life flows through their veins, yet they curse Him and take His name in vain (v 4). Finally men reveal their hostility toward God, after He has been good to them and has suffered long with them; they spitefully shun Him and want little or nothing to do with Him (v 4). Our only hope of escape from the just damnation is the free grace and mercy of God.
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