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God Gave Them Up: The Judgment of Idolatry
By Dave Jenkins | Servants of Grace Podcast Series: Romans: The Gospel That Changes Everything Scripture: Romans 1:24–25Romans 1:24–25 contains one of Scripture’s most sobering statements: “God gave them up.” When humanity exchanges the truth about God for a lie and worships creation instead of the Creator, God gives sinners over to the rebellion they have chosen. Sin promises freedom, but it produces bondage.In this episode of the Servants of Grace podcast, Dave Jenkins continues our verse-by-verse study of Romans, explaining the connection between sinful desires, the dishonoring of the body, and false worship. This passage calls us to examine our hearts, repent of idolatry, and find our hope in Jesus Christ.Listen or Watch
What “God Gave Them Up” Means
Paul connects this judgment to humanity’s rejection of God. God remains sovereign as He judicially hands sinners over to the consequences of their rebellion. Getting what we want does not always mean we are experiencing God’s blessing. Sinful desires can become instruments of deeper slavery.In This Episode
- God’s judgment in giving sinners over to their chosen rebellion.
- The sinful desires beneath outward behavior.
- The goodness of the body and the call to honor God with it.
- The exchange of God’s truth for lies.
- The danger of worshiping and serving created things.
- The freedom and forgiveness found in Jesus Christ.
- The call to humble repentance, true worship, and compassionate evangelism.
Hope for Sinners in Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ lived the righteous life we have failed to live, bore the judgment sinners deserve, and rose bodily from the dead. Through His saving work, those who repent and believe in Him receive forgiveness and freedom from sin’s mastery. By His Spirit, He renews their minds and reorders their desires toward God.As we consider this passage, we should respond with repentance, gratitude for God’s grace, and compassion for those who are perishing. Pray for your family, friends, and neighbors, and faithfully proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ.Continue Studying God’s Word
Explore more biblical teaching at Servants of Grace and subscribe to the Servants of Grace YouTube channel for more verse-by-verse teaching through Romans.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
