They Became Fools

A Sermon on Romans 1:18-32

Originally preached May 25, 1956

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Scripture

Romans 1:18-32 ESV KJV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and …

18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20For 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: 21Because 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. 22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27And 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. 28And 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; 29Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32Who 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.

Sermon Description

In this sermon titled “They Became Fools,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones warns that the world as it is today is the greatest proof of the wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. The world with all of its moral problems is proving what Paul is saying in Romans 1:18–32. Paul is warning that God’s wrath has been revealed and those who reject it and suppress the truth will be turned away from God. Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines the slippery slope that humanity can fall into if they attempt to live on their own morality. It is extremely easy for humanity to suppress the truth and try to create its own truth. In thinking themselves wise, they became fools and suppressed the truth in unrighteousness. However, humanity was never meant to fully understand God and Dr. Lloyd-Jones warns that one should always approach God and the Savior with reverence and respect. Paul further warns that God will likewise dismiss those who refuse to acknowledge God and dismiss Him. Those that do this are in danger of hell, a place without God and without restraint. Dr. Lloyd-Jones hopes that by hearing this great message of warning the listener will be encouraged to live a life with a burden for the souls of humanity. The righteous blood of Christ can make even the vilest clean again, give hope in that gospel, and the desire to share it with others.

Sermon Breakdown

Mankind suppresses the truth about God revealed in creation and providence due to pride, wickedness and spiritual darkness.
Mankind does not glorify God as God or give thanks to Him. They reject God and do not retain knowledge of Him.
Mankind makes false gods and idols, exchanging the truth about God for lies. They worship the creature rather than the Creator.
Mankind's attitude towards God is antagonistic. The natural mind is enmity against God.
Mankind examines and tests God, then rejects Him as not worth knowing. They do not approve of God.
Mankind ignores God's judgment on sin and takes pleasure in sin.
Mankind has made gods in the form of corruptible man, birds, animals and reptiles. They bow down to these idols.
Mythology, idolatry and superstition are lies about God. They reduce God into comprehensible terms that can be handled by man.
Mankind glorifies itself rather than God. Any idea of man's that is put before Scripture is putting the creature before the Creator.
We must approach God's Word with reverence, humility, open minds and prayer for illumination. We must remember who God is.
Mankind has become foolish, foul, vile, violent and vicious by suppressing the truth about God.
God has given mankind over to their sinful desires and foolish thinking as judgment. He has abandoned them.
The modern world proves the doctrine of the wrath of God. God's restraining grace has been withdrawn.
Hell is the condition of being abandoned by God to live outside of His holiness and restraint forever.
We must pray for revival and the power of the Holy Spirit to open people's eyes to the truth. Only God's power can save.
We must feel the burden of lost souls and share the gospel, relying on the Holy Spirit.

Sermon Q&A

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones on Romans 1:18-32: Questions and Answers

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the two main reasons for God's wrath being revealed against mankind?

According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, God's wrath is revealed for two primary reasons: "because of the character of sin, ungodliness and unrighteousness, but also because men have deliberately held down the truth." God had revealed sufficient truth about Himself through creation, providence, and history to render mankind inexcusable, yet despite this revelation, humans have deliberately suppressed this truth because of their unrighteousness.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones explain mankind's suppression of truth in their attitude toward God?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that mankind suppresses the truth about God in several ways: First, "they glorified him not as God," meaning they don't praise God or give Him His rightful place in their lives. Second, they are not thankful to God for His blessings and provisions. Third, "they did not like to retain God in their knowledge," meaning they deliberately examined God and decided to reject Him. Fourth, they deliberately ignore their knowledge of God's judgment on sin, not only committing sinful acts but taking pleasure in those who do them.

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say about mankind making their own gods instead of worshipping the true God?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that mankind, having rejected the true God, proceeds to create their own gods to worship. He states that "having decided that they don't want this full knowledge of God that God has given, they now decide to make their own gods and to worship them." This includes literal idolatry (images in forms of men, birds, beasts, or creeping things) and also modern equivalents such as philosophical conceptions of God, mythology, and superstition. All of these, according to Lloyd-Jones, are attempts to "reduce the eternal, everlasting, glorious God of heaven into terms that are comprehensible by men and that can be handled by men."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the consequences of mankind rejecting God?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes several consequences of mankind's rejection of God: 1. They become fools ("Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools") 2. They become foul and unclean ("God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts") 3. They engage in vile and perverse behaviors ("For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections") 4. They develop reprobate minds unable to think clearly 5. They receive "in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet" - meaning their degraded condition is itself a fitting punishment

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe God's response to mankind's rejection of Him?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones highlights the phrase "God gave them up" which appears three times in the passage (verses 24, 26, and 28). He calls this "God's judicial abandonment of men in sin." As Lloyd-Jones explains: "When mankind refuses to glorify God as God, when mankind doesn't thank him and praise him and worship him as it ought, and in its cleverness dismisses him, throws him out, what God does is to do exactly the same to mankind." This abandonment involves withdrawing God's restraining grace, resulting in mankind falling deeper into sin and moral decay.

How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones connect this passage to the concept of hell?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones describes hell as essentially this state of abandonment by God, but "exaggerated and going on to all eternity." He states: "Hell is a condition in which life is lived outside God and all the restraint of God's holiness... Hell is people living to all eternity the kind of life they're living now, only that it's much more so. That's hell. Can you imagine anything worse? It's men and women without any control at all, finally abandoned by God."

What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones see as the only solution to mankind's problem?

Dr. Lloyd-Jones points to Romans 1:16-17 as the solution: "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." He emphasizes that only the gospel can save people from this condition and from hell. He stresses that human reasoning or moral lectures cannot solve the problem, but only "the convicting power of the Holy Ghost" can open people's eyes. He concludes by calling for prayer for revival and for God to "manifest again the power" that was seen in great spiritual awakenings of the past.

The Book of Romans

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.

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