The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

Romans 1:26-28, 32, “For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the

natural function for that which is unnatural,

27 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.

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….

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.”

Have you ever known someone who always “told it like it was”? There was no mincing of words, no attempt to soften them? I’m sure you have. Truth is truth, although it is often difficult to hear. I’m sure that Paul found the very writing of these sins to be distasteful. I find them distasteful to repeat. Yet, they are the clear and unmistakably words of God in Holy Scripture. To skip them is to close one’s eyes and ears to a significant teaching of the Word.

Back in verse 19, we learned that God has placed in the heart of every person what is needed to be known about Him. It is clear and distinct. Later in the chapter (vv. 29-31), Paul notes 21 separate sins from which the LORD desires to deliver us. The sins he highlights are those that separate us morally from our Creator. In one way or another, these sins touch our lives, requiring repeated confession and repentance.

Women possess a sexual function just as men do. But the women of whom Paul spoke, misused their function with other women. They engaged in lesbian activities. Men, too, forsook women and engaged in homosexuality — activites with other men. The word “another” (???????, allelon) means “another of the same kind.”

There is a penalty (??????????, antimisthia), a negative reward for such activity. That’s one “reward” no one should want. It’s the old adage, “You can’t do wrong and get by.” Some things that are occurring in our nation today, give the appearance of law being turned on its head. We want to blame the innocent and ignore the guilty. God doesn’t play that game! In fact, God doesn’t play any game! Rather, He gives these gross sinners a “depraved” mind – a mind incapable of sound judgment. They know exactly (??????????, epiginosko) what God has said; they just choose to ignore Him. And they do so at their own peril.

The Bible teaches that the world will become increasingly evil as we near the end. Satan, the mastermind of all evil, is working “overtime” to imprison as many as possible, as the end comes closer and closer. Did you ever even imagine our Christian-founded nation falling to such levels as we’re witnessing today? It will become worse. And the worse it becomes, the closer we must become to our LORD and Savior. Stay in the Scriptures daily! Stay in prayer constantly! Watch your life! Stay focused on Christ! It will be worth it all, when Jesus Comes for His own!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”