Compare Genesis 19:4 with Romans 1:24-27. What similarities do you find? Setting the Scene in Genesis 19:4 “Before they had gone to bed, all the men of the city of Sodom, both young and old, surrounded the house.” Paul’s Description in Romans 1:24-27 “Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, for the dishonoring of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is forever worthy of praise! Amen. For this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. Likewise, the men abandoned natural relations with women and burned with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.” Key Parallels • Pervasive participation—Genesis presents “all the men … both young and old,” while Romans speaks of humanity broadly given over to impurity. • Unnatural sexual behavior—Genesis 19 anticipates homosexual assault; Romans 1 explicitly names homosexual relations as “unnatural.” • Rejection of God’s order—Sodom ignores God’s righteous standard; Romans details exchanging God’s truth for a lie and worshiping creation. • Divine response—Genesis 19 continues with swift judgment on Sodom (vv. 24-25). Romans shows God’s passive wrath: He “gave them over,” allowing sin’s consequences to unfold. • Moral and social decay—Both texts trace a downward spiral: communal corruption in Sodom; escalating dishonor and lust in Romans. • Penalty received—Sodom’s fire and brimstone mirror Romans’ “due penalty for their error,” underscoring inevitable judgment. Supporting Passages • Jude 7 parallels both accounts: Sodom’s “sexual immorality and perversion” and the warning of “eternal fire.” • 2 Peter 2:6-10 recalls God’s condemnation of Sodom and Gomorrah as an example to the ungodly. • Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 forbid male same-sex relations, harmonizing with Romans 1’s assessment. • 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 lists homosexual practice among sins from which believers are cleansed through Christ. Practical Takeaways • Scripture consistently portrays same-sex activity as contrary to God’s design. • Societies that normalize sin follow a pattern of abandoning divine truth, leading to deeper moral confusion and judgment. • God’s judgment can be immediate (Sodom) or progressive (Romans), but it is certain. • The gospel offers cleansing and transformation (1 Corinthians 6:11) to all who repent and believe, regardless of past sin. |
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