Big Picture: Homosexual conduct of all kinds is consistently viewed as sin in the Bible, and recent interpretations of the Bible that have been raised as objections to that view do not give a satisfactory explanation of the words or the contexts of the relevant passages. Sexual intimacy is to be confined to marriage, and marriage is to be only between one man and one woman, following the pattern established by God in creation. The church should always act with love and compassion toward homosexuals, yet never affirm homosexual conduct as morally right. The gospel of Jesus Christ offers the “good news” of forgiveness of sins and real hope for a transformed life to homosexuals, just as it does for all sinners.

Humanity’s rejection of the revelation of God in nature (1:18-23)

• Every person is being judged by God’s wrath
• Every person knows about God
• Every person turns away from God
• Every person is “without excuse”: God is fair to judge people with his wrath.

The divine reaction to humanity’s universal rejection of God’s revelation in nature: God “gives them over” (1:24-32)

• Vv. 21–24: People “exchange” the glory of God for idols—God “gives them over” in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another.
• Vv. 25–27: People “exchange” the truth of God for a lie and worship and serve created things rather than the Creator —God “gives them over” to unnatural sexual lusts, unnatural burning desire, thus receiving in themselves the just penalty of their error.
• Vv. 28–31: People do not think it “worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God” - God “gives them over” to a depraved mind and societal sins of inhumanity against one another.

Verse 32 “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”