Sermons on Romans 1:28

Romans 1:28 Interpretation:

Turning Points: The Importance of Authentic Worship (FCF Church) offers a unique interpretation of Romans 1:28 by connecting the concept of a "depraved mind" or "reprobate mind" to the loss of "moral sanity" that inevitably follows the loss of authentic worship. The sermon uses the analogy of the mind’s “calibration” to God’s word and will, suggesting that when worship is not authentic—when it is not rooted in genuine attraction, approbation, affection, adoration, and aspiration toward God—the spiritual faculties (conscience and imagination) are weakened. This weakening leads to a breakdown in self-restraint and self-control, resulting in a mind that is unable to do what it ought. The preacher further distinguishes between the spirit, soul, and body, arguing that the spirit (enlightened by God) is meant to govern the soul (mind, emotions, will), and when this order is disrupted by a lack of authentic worship, moral insanity and enslavement to sin follow. This is a notably psychological and anthropological reading of the passage, emphasizing the internal, developmental consequences of rejecting God.

Responding to Moral Chaos with Hope and Love (Alistair Begg) interprets Romans 1:28 as describing a collective societal pathology that emerges when a culture eliminates God from its knowledge. The sermon uses the metaphor of “oughtness” disappearing, leading to a situation where only legislation or domination can enforce moral boundaries. Begg highlights the phrase “God gave them up to a debased mind” as a description of a society’s descent into pervasive moral chaos, not just individual sin. He draws attention to the Greek nuance of “debased” (adokimos), meaning “disqualified” or “unfit,” and connects it to the loss of natural affections and obligations, such as duty to parents, which were foundational in Roman and Western cultures. The sermon’s unique angle is its focus on the social and cultural unraveling that results from the loss of God-consciousness, rather than just personal depravity.

Hope Amidst Human Depravity: The Gospel's Power (Desiring God) provides a distinctive interpretation by emphasizing the psychological and spiritual mechanism of “suppression” or “repression” of the knowledge of God and his standards. The preacher, John Piper, argues that Romans 1:28-32 teaches that all people possess an innate, though often unconscious, knowledge of God’s ordinances and the consequences of violating them. The “depraved mind” is not merely a state of ignorance but the result of an active, ongoing suppression of truth, which leads to deeper accountability and judgment. Piper’s analogy of “sinking in Taffy” (rather than a swamp) to describe the slow, suffocating descent into depravity is a novel metaphor, highlighting the sticky, self-inflicted nature of moral decline.

Embracing Truth: Overcoming Deception and Delusion (Desiring God) offers a unique interpretation of Romans 1:28 by focusing on the heart’s resistance not merely to truth, but to a “love for the truth.” The sermon draws a distinction between intellectual rejection and a deeper, affective refusal—people do not just reject facts about God, but actively resist loving the truth itself. This is described as a “love issue in the human heart,” where the root problem is not ignorance but a willful, pleasurable delight in unrighteousness that blocks any affection for truth. The preacher uses the analogy of God “removing all the barriers” to satanic deception, suggesting that God’s act of giving people over to a depraved mind is a judicial act in response to their persistent heart-level rejection. The sermon also notes the close linguistic parallel between Romans 1:28 (“they did not approve of having God in their knowledge”) and the refusal to “welcome a love for the truth” in 2 Thessalonians, emphasizing the volitional and affective dimensions of unbelief.

Transforming the Mind: Embracing Renewal in Christ (Desiring God) interprets Romans 1:28 by highlighting the phrase “God gave them up to a debased mind” as not merely a matter of faulty reasoning, but as a corruption of the “spirit of the mind.” The sermon introduces the concept that the mind is governed by a “spirit”—a dispositional, affective faculty that determines whether one welcomes or resists God. The preacher explains that the problem is not just intellectual error but a deep-seated “approving faculty” that refuses to let God “mess with my mind.” This is described as the “spirit of the mind,” which is proud, arrogant, and self-sufficient, and thus God’s giving over is a response to this underlying disposition rather than just to wrong thinking.

Transformative Insight: Enlightenment of the Heart (Desiring God) provides a distinct interpretation by focusing on Romans 1:28 as a “want issue” rather than a knowledge issue. The sermon uses the metaphor of “eyes of the heart” to explain that the real problem is not a lack of information but a “stiff, firm preference not to have God in our knowledge.” The preacher draws out the idea that the “debased mind” is the result of a heart-level preference for other things over God—a preference that is rooted in what we desire, what we are made glad by, and what we approve of. The analogy of “exchanging the glory of God for images” is used to illustrate that the depraved mind is the outworking of a deeper, affective exchange, not just a cognitive one.

Romans 1:28 Theological Themes:

Turning Points: The Importance of Authentic Worship (FCF Church) introduces the theological theme that authentic worship is the “central organizing principle” of human life, and its loss leads to a breakdown of the internal moral order. The sermon uniquely frames the depraved mind as a result of spiritual faculties (conscience and imagination) being disconnected from God, leading to a loss of self-control and the inability to resist destructive behaviors. This theme is further developed by the idea that nations are corrupted not by policy but by the cumulative moral decline of individuals, each losing authentic worship and thus moral sanity.

Responding to Moral Chaos with Hope and Love (Alistair Begg) presents the theme that the loss of “oughtness” in society is a direct result of suppressing the knowledge of God, leading to a collective moral collapse that cannot be remedied by legislation or education. Begg adds a fresh facet by emphasizing that the approval and normalization of sin in society is not ignorance but a willful, communal endorsement of what is known to be wrong, thus deepening collective guilt and judgment.

Hope Amidst Human Depravity: The Gospel's Power (Desiring God) develops the theme that the knowledge of God’s standards and the worthiness of death for sin is universally present, even if suppressed beneath consciousness. Piper’s unique contribution is the assertion that this suppressed knowledge creates profound psychological and societal sickness, and that evangelism can proceed with confidence because God has already written his law on every heart. The sermon also highlights the paradoxical hope embedded in the passage: that the very knowledge of guilt and judgment, when brought to consciousness, can lead to repentance and salvation.

Embracing Truth: Overcoming Deception and Delusion (Desiring God) introduces the theme that God’s act of giving people over to a depraved mind is both a punishment and a consequence of their own heart’s pleasure in unrighteousness. The sermon uniquely emphasizes that the ultimate barrier to truth is not intellectual but affective—a “deep heart love” for sin that makes the truth unlovable. This theme is further developed by connecting the pleasure in unrighteousness to the inability to believe the truth, suggesting that belief is fundamentally shaped by what the heart delights in, not just what the mind assents to.

Transforming the Mind: Embracing Renewal in Christ (Desiring God) adds a new facet by describing the “spirit of the mind” as the locus of resistance to God, and by asserting that renewal is not just about changing thoughts but about a dispositional transformation. The sermon’s theological innovation is to frame the depraved mind as a manifestation of the flesh’s desire for autonomy—“I want to be God”—and to argue that true renewal requires a supernatural work of the Holy Spirit to change the very spirit that governs the mind.

Transformative Insight: Enlightenment of the Heart (Desiring God) presents the theme that the root of depravity is a preference problem, not an ignorance problem. The sermon’s unique contribution is to show that the “hardness of heart” is a prior, causal factor in spiritual blindness and ignorance, and that the depraved mind is the result of a willful, affective exchange—preferring created things over the Creator. This reframes the theological issue from one of mere knowledge to one of desire and affection.

Romans 1:28 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Responding to Moral Chaos with Hope and Love (Alistair Begg) provides historical context by noting that the duty to parents was foundational in Roman culture, as well as in traditional British and American societies. The sermon points out that the breakdown of this duty, as described in Romans 1:28-31, would have been seen as a shocking sign of societal decay to Paul’s original audience. Begg also references the broader context of Paul’s vice lists in the Greco-Roman world, noting that such lists were common and would have been recognized as catalogues of social pathology.

Romans 1:28 Cross-References in the Bible:

Turning Points: The Importance of Authentic Worship (FCF Church) cross-references John 4, where Jesus speaks of worshiping “in spirit and in truth,” to elaborate on what authentic worship entails. The sermon also references Ecclesiastes (“people’s minds are full of madness while they live”) to support the idea of moral insanity resulting from the loss of God. Additionally, it cites Psalm 107, which describes people as “prisoners of suffering in chains” due to turning against God’s word, reinforcing the theme of enslavement and loss of freedom. The preacher also references Jesus’ words in John 8 (“everyone who sins is a slave to sin… the truth will set you free”) and Paul’s teaching in Romans 6 about being set free from slavery to sin and becoming “slaves to righteousness,” using these passages to illustrate the process of spiritual liberation and the reversal of the depraved mind.

Responding to Moral Chaos with Hope and Love (Alistair Begg) references 2 Timothy 3, where Paul lists vices that characterize the “last days,” drawing a parallel to the vice list in Romans 1:28-31. Begg also cites Titus 3, where Paul reminds believers that they too were once “foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions,” but were saved by the “goodness and loving kindness of God.” This cross-reference is used to encourage humility and hope in responding to societal depravity. Additionally, Begg references Romans 2:15, where Paul speaks of the law being written on the hearts of Gentiles, and Genesis 2-3 (“in the day you eat of this you will surely die”) to underscore the universality of moral knowledge and judgment.

Hope Amidst Human Depravity: The Gospel's Power (Desiring God) draws extensively on Romans 1:18-21 to support the claim that all people know God and his standards, and on Romans 2:15 to argue that the law is written on every heart. The sermon also references Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:27-30 about lust and the seriousness of sin, using it to illustrate the depth of human depravity and the need for radical repentance. Piper also alludes to Genesis 2-3 regarding the knowledge of death as the penalty for sin.

Embracing Truth: Overcoming Deception and Delusion (Desiring God) cross-references 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12, Ephesians 4:18, Lamentations 4:11 and 5:21, Jeremiah 31:18, and Psalm 80:3. 2 Thessalonians is used to draw a parallel between the refusal to “welcome a love for the truth” and the rejection of God in Romans 1:28, highlighting the judicial handing over by God as a response to persistent unbelief. Ephesians 4:18 is cited to show that the root of unbelief is “hardness of heart,” not ignorance. Lamentations, Jeremiah, and Psalms are referenced to illustrate that even under divine judgment, it is not hopeless to pray for God to change the heart, as these passages contain prayers for God to “cause us to return.” This supports the idea that God’s giving over is not necessarily final and that divine intervention can reverse spiritual blindness.

Transforming the Mind: Embracing Renewal in Christ (Desiring God) references Colossians 2:18 to describe the “mind of the flesh” as proud and self-sufficient, paralleling the debased mind of Romans 1:28. Titus 3:5 is cited to show that renewal is a work of the Holy Spirit, not human effort. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 is used to illustrate how renewal happens through focusing on unseen, eternal truths, and Ephesians 1:17-18 is referenced to emphasize the need for prayer for “the eyes of your hearts” to be enlightened. These cross-references collectively support the argument that the depraved mind is not just a cognitive issue but a spiritual and affective one, and that renewal requires both divine action and human participation in truth.

Transformative Insight: Enlightenment of the Heart (Desiring God) cross-references Ephesians 4:17-18 to show that darkness and ignorance are rooted in “hardness of heart.” Romans 2:4-5 is used to demonstrate that hardness leads to storing up wrath, and Romans 1:21-23 is cited to show that the root issue is a preference for images over God. Matthew 13:13-15 (Jesus’ teaching on parables) is referenced to illustrate the distinction between seeing with the “eyes of the head” and the “eyes of the heart,” reinforcing the idea that spiritual blindness is a matter of heart preference, not just intellectual deficiency. 2 Corinthians 4:6 is used to show that only God can bring light to the heart, paralleling the need for divine intervention to overcome the depraved mind.

Romans 1:28 Christian References outside the Bible:

Responding to Moral Chaos with Hope and Love (Alistair Begg) explicitly references Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of Romans 1:28 (“God quit bothering them and let them run loose and then all hell broke loose”) to capture the sense of divine abandonment. Begg also cites John Murray’s commentary, quoting Murray’s statement that sinners are “content in damning themselves but in congratulating others in doing these same things that they know result in damnation,” to emphasize the communal aspect of sin and judgment. Additionally, Begg references C.S. Lewis’s analogy of children making mud pies in a slum instead of enjoying a holiday at the sea, illustrating the poverty of human desires apart from God. He also mentions Rosaria Butterfield’s testimony as an example of how kindness and hospitality can break down barriers to the gospel.

Hope Amidst Human Depravity: The Gospel's Power (Desiring God) references Charles Hodge, a 19th-century Princeton theologian, quoting his statement: “the most reprobate sinner carries about within him a knowledge of his just exposure to the wrath of God.” Piper uses Hodge’s phrase “self-authenticating reality” to describe how suppressed knowledge of God can surface in a person’s consciousness, leading to conviction and repentance.

Romans 1:28 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Turning Points: The Importance of Authentic Worship (FCF Church) uses several secular analogies to illustrate the process of moral decline and loss of freedom described in Romans 1:28. The preacher references Alexander Tyler’s historical “cycle of nations,” which traces the rise and fall of empires through stages of bondage, faith, abundance, selfishness, complacency, apathy, dependence, and back to bondage, drawing a parallel to the spiritual and moral decline of Israel and, by extension, modern America. The sermon also uses the analogy of a person drifting out to sea on a raft, unaware of the danger until it is too late, to depict the slow, unnoticed loss of personal freedom that results from rejecting God. Additionally, the preacher compares the loss of freedom to the experience of addiction, where enslavement develops gradually and then suddenly becomes catastrophic, likening it to the slow ascent and sudden drop of a roller coaster. The sermon further lists modern forms of enslavement—technology, social media, gambling, shopping, anger, jealousy, pride, codependency, etc.—as contemporary manifestations of the bondage described in Romans 1:28.

Responding to Moral Chaos with Hope and Love (Alistair Begg) uses the example of a Little League game where a parent’s bad behavior escalates because there is no shared sense of “oughtness,” illustrating the societal consequences of losing a moral compass. Begg also references the cultural shift in art and music, mentioning the destructive performances of The Who (smashing guitars and hotel rooms) and the rise of discordant modern art as symptoms of a culture that has lost its sense of beauty and order due to the rejection of God. He further references the news media’s juxtaposition of “Silent Night” with reports of violence, highlighting the contrast between humanity’s capacity for good and evil.

Hope Amidst Human Depravity: The Gospel's Power (Desiring God) introduces the metaphor of “sinking in Taffy” to describe the suffocating, sticky nature of moral decline when God gives people over to a depraved mind. Piper also references the widespread consumption and production of pornography in America as a contemporary example of the communal approval and encouragement of sin described in Romans 1:28-32, likening it to “drinking arsenic” and “spiritual suicide.”