What other scriptures warn against ignoring God's truth and wisdom? Romans 1:28—Our Launch Point “Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.” Paul’s warning is clear: despising God’s revealed truth eventually results in a mind unable to choose what is right. Scripture consistently repeats this caution. Wisdom’s Call Rejected – Proverbs 1:24-31 “Because you refused to listen when I called … they will eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices.” • Ignoring God’s wisdom leaves people to the bitter harvest of their own choices. • The same “gave them over” idea in Romans 1 appears here: God lets stubborn hearts experience the consequences they insist on. Despising Instruction – Proverbs 13:13 “He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command is rewarded.” Religious Ritual without Submission – Proverbs 28:9 “If anyone turns a deaf ear to the law, even his prayer is detestable.” Turning from truth corrupts even outward acts of worship. My People Destroyed for Lack of Knowledge – Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you…” Woe to Those Who Rename Evil – Isaiah 5:20-24 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil … Therefore, as tongues of fire consume straw … so their root will be as rot.” • Redefining morality invites judgment. • The “depraved mind” of Romans 1 shows up here as moral reversal. Stiff-Necked Hearts – Zechariah 7:11-13 “But they refused to pay attention … therefore great wrath came from the LORD … ‘Just as they would not listen when I called, so I would not listen when they called,’ says the LORD of Hosts.” Calamity for Ignoring God’s Word – Jeremiah 6:19 “Listen, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have not listened to My words and have rejected My instruction.” The Lie Embraced – 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 “They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie…” The New Testament repeats the pattern of Romans 1: persistent refusal becomes judicial delusion. Drifting and Hardening – Hebrews • Hebrews 2:1-3 – “…how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?” • Hebrews 3:12-13 – “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God.” • Hebrews 12:25 – “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking.” Itching Ears – 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine … they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.” Self-Deception – James 1:22 “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Scoffers in the Last Days – 2 Peter 3:3-7 “Mockers will come with their mocking … they deliberately overlook this fact … the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire.” A Thread Running Through Scripture • God graciously offers truth and wisdom. • Rejection is never neutral; it reshapes the mind and invites judgment. • From Proverbs to Revelation, the Spirit warns that ignoring or redefining God’s word leads to delusion, destruction, and lost fellowship. • Romans 1:28 is part of this grand, sobering chorus: when people trade God’s wisdom for their own, God eventually lets them live with the full weight of that exchange. |
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