For this reason God gave them up to shameful afflictions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature...
Romans 1:26
Shameful afflictions (pathe atimios) of the mind. Pathos refers to a disease, not a desire. This isn't talking about STDs, but a spiritual, mental, and physical addiction brought on by engaging in activities that are bad for you. Like diabetes and other lifestyle-connected illnesses, it gets worse the more you engage in the behavior.
Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves...
Romans 1:24 ESV
If you reject that which every child can discern, why should God invite you into deeper truths? Some people are determined to believe a lie, and God allows them to be who they want to be.
For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Romans 1:21 ESV
Everyone, at some point, has a true epiphany of God. Everyone is presented with a window to the divine, but most people choose to turn away and suppress the truth in favor of a familiar, self-soothing lie.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:20 ESV
God's existence and nature are revealed through his Creation and can only be denied through deliberate rejection and indoctrination.
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
Romans 1:17 ESV
God's justice is different than man's and relies primarily upon our faith in him. If you trust God, he counts you as one of his and will save you. This is the righteousness of God.
"The righteous shall live by faith" is a quote from Habakkuk 2:4 in which "righteous" is more literally translated as "just" and could be thought of as "justified". Belief in the promises of God brings life and we walk out that belief by living according to his commandments. Even if we don't understand how God's laws or actions are righteous, our faith requires that we accept that they are.
We're working through the Torah portions this year from a Messianic perspective. Please join us, especially if you don't have a fellowship. It's a bi-directional study if you join through Zoom. Shabbat shalom!
https://firstcenturychristiani....ty.net/torah-portion