God gives them up to degrading, unnatural affections, and they receive the recompense of their error.
In Romans 1, after people reject the true God and worship the creature, God gives them up to vile affections. Both women and men exchange natural relations for that which is against nature. Les Feldick teaches that they reap what they sow, and the result is a further downward spiral.
Romans 1:26-27 — These verses directly state that God gave them up to vile affections, describing the behavior and its consequence.
Romans 1:24 says, "Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves." This comes after mankind changed the glory of God into images and worshiped the creature more than the Creator. Verse 26 continues: "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." Verse 27: "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 unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet."
Les Feldick teaches that Romans 1 reveals the downward track of the human race, empires, nations, and individuals. It begins when people replace the true God with idols, and then their moral fabric begins to rot. God gives them up to uncleanness, and then to a still lower level—vile affections. He stresses that this is a judicial act of God and that believers should not look down their noses at people caught in these sins, because but for the grace of God, they would be no different. The same grace is available to everyone.
Les explains that Romans 1 gives a step-by-step progression. Verse 23 shows idolatry—changing the glory of God into images. As soon as mankind replaces the true God with a man-made god, their moral fabric begins to rot. This leads to the uncleanness of verse 24, which Les calls "normal sexual immorality between the sexes." But mankind is never satisfied to stay on that level, so God gives them up to something even worse: the vile affections of the homosexual lifestyle.
Les points to Romans 1:27, which says they receive in themselves that recompence of their error. He puts it simply: "they're going to reap what they sow, one way or another." The unnatural behavior carries its own built-in consequence, and those who commit such things know they are worthy of death, yet they still do them and even have pleasure in those who do them.
Les strongly warns against feeling superior. In this passage, he says, "don't look down your nose at these people, because but for the grace of God, you and I would be no different." He adds that those in such situations can, by God's grace, be where he is—and that's the beauty of the gospel. So the consequence of sin is real, but the offer of grace still stands.
The Downward Track of Humanity
Les explains that Romans 1 traces the downward path of the human race, empires, nations, and individuals, beginning with idolatry.
God Gives Them Up to Vile Affections
After changing the truth of God into a lie and worshiping the creature, God gives them up to a yet lower level—vile affections.
Women and Men Exchange Natural Use
Les explains that Romans 1:26-27 describes women and men entering homosexual relationships, calling it an abomination.
Knowing the Judgment of God
Those who commit such things know they are worthy of death, yet they do them and even have pleasure in others who do them.
Idolatry Leads to Uncleanness
Les identifies verse 24 as normal sexual immorality between the sexes, which follows idolatry and rots the moral fabric.
But for the Grace of God
Les warns believers not to look down on those in these sins, because but for God's grace they would be no different, and grace is available to them.
Reaping What They Sow
Les connects the 'working that which is unseemly' and the recompence of their error to reaping what they sow, citing Sodom.
Idolatry Has No Moral Code
Les shows that idolatry has no moral code and leads to the immorality of verse 24, but mankind never stays on that level.
Romans 1:24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
This verse follows the rejection of God and precedes the description of vile affections.
Romans 1:25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
This shows the rebellion that leads God to give them up.
Romans 1:26: 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:
This is the direct statement of God giving people up to vile affections.
Romans 1:27: 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 unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
This describes the behavior and the built-in consequence of receiving the recompence of error.
Romans 1:32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
This shows that those involved know their actions deserve death, yet they continue and approve of others doing them.
Romans 1:26 describes vile affections as the result of God giving people up. Women change the natural use into that which is against nature, and men leave the natural use of the woman and burn in lust one toward another. Les Feldick identifies this as the homosexual lifestyle.
No. He says believers should not look down their noses at them, because but for the grace of God, we would be no different. He adds that by the grace of God, they can also be where he is—that is, saved—and that's the beauty of it.
The Bible says they receive the recompence of their error, but Les does not teach that this puts them beyond God's grace. Instead, he reminds listeners that the same grace that saved him is available to them.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Says About Sodom, Lot, and Judgment (Romans 1)