For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and deity; so that they are without excuse: Because, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonor their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is shameful, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was fitting. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not proper; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they who commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:16-32 KJ2000)
This passage states that mankind deliberately suppresses God’s truth. More than that, they actually turn God’s truth into a lie. We see rampant examples of this everyday in the once Christian nations of the West. Actions specifically condemned by Paul (and, indeed, all of Scripture) are now approved and even celebrated by modern Christians in these nations. Just read the sermons on abortion and homosexuality by the “Reverend” Katherine Hancock Ragsdale, Dean of Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, MA to get a real sense of turning God’s truth into a lie. Ragsdale in these sermons commits the blasphemy and unforgivable* sins of calling evil good. If you have been reading F.B.’s commentary on Revelation you will understand that Ragsdale is a “carnal Christian,” one who has committed “sins unto death.” See 1 John 5:16-17.
This active suppression of the truth and the turning of the truth into a lie reveals the times in which we live. This is the “mystery of lawlessness” Paul alludes to in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Mankind en mass has now exalted himself and his opinions above God’s revelation of truth, thus proclaiming that he (man) is God. The apostasy, or rebellion, spoken of in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 literally means “a standing away from” or “divorcement.” It speaks of divorcing oneself from the truth, which is what apostasy literally means. The man of lawlessness in now revealed. He is not just one man; he is every man that does not practice righteousness by confessing and repenting of his sins. The man of lawlessness cannot confess because he cannot admit that God defines truth and he does not.
Thus, we now live in the time when the parousia of Christ may occur and the Sons of God may be glorified.
* Deliberate rebellious acts against the Truth remain unforgivable until a person repents.
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