Lesson #1 - Part 2

The following verses are known as what I call the great exchange.

21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools

Let's take a look at the pattern of explanation that is given.

first they start with something... knowing God
then they did something... did not honor Him
as a result they became something... foolish

v. 23 - 32 explains that three godly things were given... Glory, Truth and Knowledge

Let's look at the pattern again.

23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.  24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 

first they start with something... glory 

they exchange it for something else... an image 

then God gives them over to... impurity in the lusts of their hearts

         
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. 

first they start with something... truth

they exchange it for something else... a lie 

then God gives them over to... degrading passions
               


28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer,

God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips, 30 slanders, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful; 32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them. 

first they start with something... acknowledging God 

they exchange it for something else... refusing to acknowledge God  

then God gives them over to... a depraved mind 

Wow! How many religions can you see in the verses above?

Do you now understand where homosexuality comes from?  It comes from not just believing the lie but worshiping the creature not the creator. It is clearly not a question of, "Are you born that way?" But have you believed the lie? You cannot say you believe the truth and continue to live the lie. You will be given over.

Think about it, every one of the many religions that exist today and even in the past 2000 years can be narrowed down into one or more or a combination of the categories above.

Notice that each exchange is the godly for the ungodly. What we see in the world is the result of God giving them over. It is as if you were given a priceless gift and you exchanged it for a cheaper broken down version or took parts of one and mixed it with another and insisted that it will retain its value.

It cannot.

If you find that you are holding in your hands the ungodly things, then no worries. God has made Christ Jesus the spiritual exchange department. He is the only way to change it back. He is a gift from God himself, to undo what we cannot undo for ourselves.

 Unless you believe that the exchange is on a spiritual playing field and not a mere mortal one you will try in vain to fix what has been done but will not. So drop your idols, believe on the Truth (Jesus) and acknowledge the living God.

When we come to the acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and savior, not only are we then restored to full glory in Christ but we are urged to not live as though we have not heard the truths of God.

Christians can no longer come short of His glory but are warned not to fall from His grace.

Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness. 
2 Tim 2:19


We will learn how to do this in the following lessons. At this point we will continue building on the foundation of our knowledge. Be blessed.


Think: 
Your acceptance of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, the only begotten Son of the living God exchanges your unrighteousness for His righteousness.


Exchanges your bag of lies for the truth.


Exchanges your refusal to acknowledge Him for accepting His indescribable gift of love, mercy and grace. 


This concludes Lesson #1. To recap we saw the answers to the following questions:

What is God's relationship with mankind?
How diverse and complex are our opinions of one book?
Why is the wrath of God coming? Against whom?
Can we see the invisible attributes of God?
Where did homosexuality come from?
How can we exchange our exchange?
Why is Jesus the only way?



 In Lesson #2 we will take a look at His plan. How will those that accept Jesus be saved?