Yes, God allows people to fall deeper into sin as a judicial response to their own idolatry, rejection, and unbelief.
When people reject God and worship created things instead of the Creator, God gives them up to uncleanness, then to vile affections, and finally to a reprobate mind. Les Feldick teaches that this is God's sovereign act of judgment: He lets people continue down the sinful path they have chosen, removing His restraints.
Romans 1:24-28 — These verses directly describe God giving people up to uncleanness, vile affections, and a reprobate mind as the consequence of their idolatry and rejection of Him.
Exodus 8:32 — Pharaoh's hardening of his own heart illustrates the principle that people harden themselves through their choices, and God judicially responds.
The Apostle Paul describes a downward progression of sin in Romans 1. When people knew God but did not glorify Him as God, they became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. They changed the truth of God into a lie and worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator (Romans 1:21-25). Because they did this, God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts (Romans 1:24). When they continued, God gave them up to vile affections (Romans 1:26). Then, as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind (Romans 1:28). The Bible also shows this principle in Pharaoh. Although Scripture says God hardened Pharaoh's heart, it also records that Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Exodus 8:32; 9:34). God simply put Pharaoh on the spot, and Pharaoh chose wrong repeatedly, becoming increasingly hardened.
Les Feldick explains that God's giving people up to deeper sin is a judicial act. When mankind rejected God and turned to idols, God sovereignly moved in judgment and gave them over to uncleanness (Clip 4). After that, because they continued in rejection, God gave them up to even worse things—vile affections (Clip 1). Finally, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, removing all restraints (Clip 4). Les teaches that this is not God arbitrarily 'frying' people's hearts. Rather, people harden themselves through their own choices, and God responds to their will. He compares it to Pharaoh: each time Pharaoh made the wrong choice, his heart became harder, and God merely put him on the spot (Clip 5). Les also emphasizes that God is sovereign and can do whatever He wants. He can give people over to sin in judgment, or He can withdraw into His sovereignty and pour out mercy, as He often did with Israel (Clips 3, 6). God's sovereignty is the backdrop for all of this.
Les Feldick teaches that God's sovereignty is central. When Israel sinned with the golden calf, God could have destroyed them, but instead He chose to have compassion and mercy because He is sovereign (Clip 3). Similarly, when people persist in sin, God judicially gives them over to deeper sin. This is not casual; it is the action of a sovereign God who responds to people's choices (Clips 1, 4).
Yes. Les Feldick explains that people harden themselves through their choices. Just as Pharaoh hardened his own heart by repeatedly deciding against God, mankind hardens itself. God does not 'fry' people's hearts; He responds to their will. When people choose sin, God may allow them to go further down that path (Clip 5).
No. Les Feldick teaches that God often withdraws into His sovereignty and pours out mercy. He did this with Israel throughout their history: even when they fell into idolatry, He chastened them but never gave up on them completely (Clips 6, 7). The giving over to deeper sin is a judicial response to persistent rejection and idolatry, not the default for every sinner.
Why Israel Was Blinded — Romans 11 Explained Verse by Verse
work. It sounds like double talk, but it isn't. Again Paul is emphasizing what he has been almost screaming since we started Romans. Our salvation is faith plus nothing, or it's no salvation at all. Just as soon as we attach something, be it ever so small, and we attach it to that gospel of grace, it becomes a works religion.
God Gives People Up to Vile Affections
Les teaches that after people rejected God and worshiped the creature, God gave them up to a yet lower level of lifestyle—vile affections—as a judicial consequence.
Why Every Believer Still Struggles With Sin — Romans 7:15-25
And so, lest some get rather judgmental toward God, and I know people do, well how in the world could God call me a sinner because of what Adam did 6,000 years ago? Well I can't answer that, but I just know that God's mind is higher than our minds, His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and this is the way He sovereignly set it all in motion, that He put Adam and Eve in the garden, gave them o…
God's Sovereignty in Judgment and Mercy
Les shows that God could have destroyed Israel for the golden calf, but instead He chose mercy because He is sovereign and can do what He wants.
God Gives People Over to a Reprobate Mind
Les explains that when people do not want to retain God in their knowledge, God judicially gives them over to a reprobate mind, removing restraints so they lose inhibition.
People Harden Themselves Through Choices
Les uses Pharaoh as an example: people harden themselves through repeated wrong choices, and God merely puts them on the spot in His sovereign will.
God Withdraws Into Sovereignty to Show Mercy
Les explains that when Israel failed and went into idolatry, God withdrew into His sovereignty and poured out mercy instead of immediate destruction.
God's Chastening of Israel
Les teaches that God disciplined Israel for their sins but never gave up on them, using the book of Judges as an example of repeated cycles of sin and restoration.
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 is the first stage of God giving people over to sin as a consequence of their idolatry.
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 shows the second stage of God allowing people to descend into even lower sin.
Romans 1:28: 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 convenient;
This is the final stage where God removes restraints and gives people over to a depraved mind.
Exodus 8:32: And Pharaoh hardened his heart at this time also, neither would he let the people go;
This shows Pharaoh hardening his own heart, illustrating that people are responsible for their choices.
No. God gives people over as a judicial response to their own rejection and idolatry. People first choose to worship idols and reject God, and then God responds by letting them go further into the sin they have chosen.
In the context of Israel, Les Feldick teaches that God never gave up on them completely, even when He chastened them. He may give people over to deeper sin in judgment, but He also shows mercy and compassion according to His sovereignty.
A reprobate mind is a mind that God gives over after people persistently reject Him. Les Feldick explains that God removes restraints, so people lose their inhibition and do things they would not normally do.
Watch the Teaching: Why Israel Was Blinded — Romans 11 Explained Verse by Verse