Why does God allow people to have a "depraved mind" according to Romans 1:28? Text of Romans 1:28 “And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, He gave them up to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.” Canonical Context Verses 18–32 unfold a three-step pattern: 1. Humans suppress the truth in unrighteousness despite manifest general revelation (vv. 18-20). 2. This suppression results in futile thinking and darkened hearts (v. 21). 3. God “gives them up” (παρέδωκεν, vv. 24, 26, 28) to escalating corruption—first sexual impurity, then unnatural passions, finally a depraved mind producing “every kind of wickedness” (v. 29). The passage shows a judicial sequence, not arbitrary predetermination. The Principle of Judicial Abandonment Scripture elsewhere describes God withdrawing restraining grace in response to persistent rebellion (Psalm 81:11-12; Hosea 4:17; Ephesians 4:18-19; 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). The action is judicial: because people continually reject light, God hands them over to the logical outworking of their choice. Divine wrath here is largely passive—He permits sinners to experience the full consequences of their own desires. Human Responsibility and Suppression of Truth Romans 1:19-20 states that knowledge of God’s power and nature is “clearly seen, being understood from His workmanship.” Conscience (v. 32; cf. 2:14-15) and creation jointly testify, leaving humanity “without excuse.” The depraved mind is therefore not imposed on morally neutral beings; it is the fruit of willful suppression. Behavioral research on cognitive dissonance echoes this: repeated violations of known moral norms dull sensitivity and re-wire moral reasoning, an empirical confirmation of Paul’s claim. Divine Sovereignty and Permissive Will God remains sovereign (Isaiah 45:7; Daniel 4:35). Yet He is “not willing that any should perish” (2 Peter 3:9). The “giving up” in Romans 1 is a permissive act inside God’s moral will: He allows freedom sufficient for genuine love while ensuring ultimate justice. This compatibility of sovereignty and freedom is illustrated in Genesis 50:20—human evil freely executed, divine purpose simultaneously advanced. Purpose in Redemptive History 1. Demonstration of Justice: Publicly displaying the destructive end of autonomy vindicates God’s warnings (Deuteronomy 32:4). 2. Contrast to Grace: The darkness of depravity sets the backdrop for the brilliance of the gospel (Romans 5:20; Ephesians 2:1-5). 3. Catalyst for Repentance: Experiencing sin’s bankruptcy can move some to “come to their senses” (Luke 15:17; 2 Timothy 2:25-26). 4. Fulfillment of Prophecy: Societal decline predicted for the last days (2 Timothy 3:1-5) authenticates Scripture’s reliability. Consequences in Individual and Society Individually, a depraved mind produces personal bondage—addictions, relational breakdown, loss of empathy. Societally, cultures that institutionalize sin (e.g., Rome’s decline noted by Tacitus and Suetonius) experience fragmentation and eventual collapse. Archaeological layers at Pompeii reveal overt sexual imagery matching Paul’s vice list, corroborating his contemporary social diagnosis. Pastoral Application: Hope through the Gospel Romans does not end at chapter 1. Paul proceeds to unveil the remedy: “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe” (3:22). Regeneration replaces the adokimos mind with “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16). Believers are called to intercede (1 Timothy 2:1-4), proclaim truth (2 Corinthians 5:20), and display transformed lives that contrast the surrounding depravity (Philippians 2:15). In sum, God allows a depraved mind as a measured, righteous response to persistent rejection, simultaneously highlighting His justice and magnifying the grace offered in the crucified and risen Christ. |
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