Hovering over the “God gave them up” passage in Romans 1 this morning. And thinking that if we “cherry pick” it we may be missing out on some pretty humbling but extremely encouraging fruit.

Cherry picking. You know, selecting just the best from a group of things. Or, in this case, selectively presenting information in order to support a particular position.

The “God gave them up” passage. You know, that section in Romans 1 where Paul details the sorts of behavior that emerge within a people who refuse to acknowledge God (Romans 1:18-32). The passage that talks about God making known “His invisible attributes, namely, His eternal power and divine nature” through creation (1:20). The passage which says that despite that, people “did not honor Him as God or give thanks to Him” but became “futile in their thinking” (1:21). And so, because they “exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man” (1:23) and “exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator” (1:25) . . .

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves . . . For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. . . . And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.

(Romans 1:24, 26a, 28 ESV)

And way too often I’ve found myself using this as a proof text for God’s displeasure at those who are dishonoring their bodies or who enthusiastically exploit their dishonorable passions but fail to see the mirror presented by the behaviors associated with those of a debased mind.

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.

(Romans 1:28-31 ESV)

As I chew on that list of “to do”s which ought not to be done, some hit pretty close to home. Not that I give approval to them or seek to make a practice of them, but, if I’m honest with myself, I can so easily participate in them. How come? ‘Cause I have a debased mind? No, I’m a new creation in Christ with a mind which is being renewed and leading to a transformation where my behaviors increasingly fall in line with the will of God and “what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Rom. 12:2). But though I have a new mind, remnants of the old man still exist and, along with them, behaviors akin to a debased mind.

And so, while this passage can be used to point the finger at others, it can also be instructive when I see the fingers pointing back at me. When I see my new man tripped up participating in old ways. When I recognize the ways of a world which has rejected its Creator rearing their ugly head in the kingdom in which I live. Malice, envy, strife, and maliciousness. Gossiping, slandering, and boasting. Faithlessness, heartlessness, and ruthlessness. O, wretched man that I am! (Rom. 7:24).

But while my behaviors at times might be as those whom God has given over to themselves, for those who are His there’s no giving up. Bought with a price, redeemed through the cross, adopted as children of God, our failures only prove the gospel’s case — that “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more” (Rom. 5:20b). That the blood of Christ cleanses us from ALL our sin — not just those sins up until “we first believed” but those sins, as well, that beset us even while we yet believe.

Though I may still do (way too often) what ought not to be done, on God’s part there’s no giving up those who are in Christ Jesus. Instead, His kindness leads us to repentance (Rom. 2:4), and His grace points us again to the cross, and His steadfast love is conveyed again to our heart and soul.

To loosely quote Timothy Keller, I really am more sinful and flawed in myself than I want to believe, yet at the very same time I am more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than I could ever imagine or dare to hope.

Yeah, I lose out when I cherry pick this passage. Because then I miss the awe and wonder and joy of knowing that for those who are His — even when we sometimes act like those who aren’t — there’s no giving up.

And that’s good news! Amen?

What wondrous grace!

To God be the glory!