A Reprobate Mind

“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; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 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 1:28-32, KJV.

I briefly touched on this yesterday, a reprobate mind. This is referring to a person who has rejected God and in turn He has allowed their sins to take control. They are given over to a mind to do those things which are not good and decent. For this cause are they filled with desires to do things fulfilling to the flesh. He's giving them exactly what they want; in this is their freewill to choose those things. Hence, the moral conscious has been deleted.

God has good reason to impose this upon those who reject His existence. Consider the world in which we live, every thing testifies of God’s existence. Instinctively, a person knows that there is a greater being than them. The sky was not made by man. The trees and plants aren’t manmade. Even the very air that we breathe cannot be produced by man. The animals, are they not made by God? But many say it’s the Big Bang theory. Yes, there was a moment when these things came into existence and it started with God! He spoke ... and Bang!

“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: 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, 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,” Romans 1:20-23, KJV.

Can you imagine… if you could only imagine a fraction of how God feels when He sees such things? To be reduced in such manner. They “changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever…,” Romans 1:25, KJV. The scripture goes on to state that because of this, God gave them over to vile desires. “…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, KJV.

Why are there such things going on in this world? Why are we forced to defend the sanctity of marriage between a man and a woman? Why are we called to pray for the world? Why are we depended upon to intercede on behalf of others? It’s because people have allowed the enemy to run their lives. When you say no to God, guess who you’re saying yes to.

Additional Scripture: James 2:19

A Fool’s Heart

“The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity: there is none that doeth good,” Psalm 53:1, KJV.

A fool is defined as one who is deficient in judgment, sense, or understanding. They lack the sense to discern spiritual things. “But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated,” 1 Corinthians 2:14, AMP.

A fool rejects the things of God, making worldly effects and images their god. Falling prey to idols made in this world. But Jesus told us, His kingdom is not of this world. So why do so many sell out to it, yet proclaiming to be Christians? “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate,” Titus 1:16, KJV. Not stumbling in ignorance, but fully aware of the truth, yet rejecting it, gravitating towards the mass. “Enter through the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and spacious and broad is the way that leads away to destruction, and many are those who are entering through it,” Matthew 7:13, AMP.

The Bible says a fool is corrupt and has done abominable iniquity. What is abominable iniquity? It is undeniably detestable or disgusting evil, doing no good. When God is rejected, one is turned over to a reprobate mind. This is a mind that is condemned to do indecent things, fulfilling the lusts of the flesh wallowing in self-indulgence. I will expound more on this tomorrow.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction,” Proverbs 1:7, KJV. Wisdom is to know the Lord, and to reverence Him is the beginning of knowledge. Respecting God for who He is opens the door for understanding. Remember when Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who crucified Him because they didn’t know what they were doing? Many reject God, so they’ll never know what it is to be saved. They’ll never understand. God’s word applies at all times. But He does not force Himself on us giving us free will to chose. So when choices are made, there’s no one to blame other than one’s self for the outcome. God is a patient God and He waits…wanting us to come to Him not out of force, but because we have made the decision to willingly serve Him.