God gives people over to a reprobate mind as a judicial response to their persistent refusal to retain Him in their knowledge.
Because they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do things that are not convenient (Romans 1:28). Les Feldick calls this a judicial act: God puts a person on the spot, and every time the person rejects God, the heart becomes harder under God's sovereign will. Those with a reprobate mind then act and respond as fools, and their community reflects the sin that follows.
Romans 1:28 — This is the key verse that directly states why God gives people over to a reprobate mind: because they did not like to retain Him in their knowledge.
In Romans 1, the Bible describes a downward progression. When they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened (Romans 1:21). Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things (Romans 1:22-23). Because of this, God gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts (Romans 1:24). He gave them up to vile affections (Romans 1:26). Finally, because 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 (Romans 1:28).
Les Feldick makes clear that this is a judicial act of God. He says that when people do not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate mind. He explains that a reprobate mind means to do things that are not convenient or, again, natural or normal. Les emphasizes that this is not God arbitrarily frying a heart: Man does it to himself, but it is under the sovereign volition of God (Clip 4). Les uses Pharaoh to illustrate the process. Each time Pharaoh was placed on the spot and refused to let Israel go, it became easier to say no the next time, and his heart became harder (Clips 2-4). The same is true when people are confronted with the gospel and say no: every rejection makes it harder to break down the barriers of resistance (Clip 2). Les also urges believers not to look down on those who are given over, because but for the grace of God, you and I would be no different (Clip 5). He notes that God is judicially causing mankind to even go deeper into His sin when they become saturated with idolatry (Clip 6), and that rejecting God's Word leads even brilliant people to act like fools (Clip 7). God hates the sin but loves the sinner and is ready in a moment to still offer salvation to them (Clip 1).
Les says a reprobate mind means to do those things which are not convenient or, again, natural or normal. When people reject God, He gives them over to uncleanness, then to a reprobate mind, and verse 29 to the end gives a vivid description of their community. This condition begins with idolatry and a refusal to retain God in their knowledge.
Les uses Pharaoh as the classic example. Every time Moses confronted Pharaoh with the demand to let Israel go, Pharaoh made his own choice and said no. With each refusal, it became easier for him to say no again, and his heart became harder. God puts a person on the spot, but man hardens his own heart under the sovereign volition of God.
Les clarifies that God does not fry a heart. When Scripture says God gave them up, what actually happens is that man hardens himself by repeated refusal under God's sovereign will. God judicially causes mankind to go deeper into sin after their behavior, unbelief, and rebellion.
Les says that God hates the sin but loves the sinner and is ready in a moment to offer salvation. He also reminds believers not to look down on people in these situations, because but for the grace of God, we would be no different. By the grace of God, they can be where we are.
What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality — Romans 1
into ashes, condemning them with an overthrow." Now again, that wasn't the wrath of God per se. It was a disciplinary action, because He didn't really make them suffer like they will in the tribulation. It was just an instantaneous wiping out Sodom and Gomorrah, and it was plowed under. They haven't really proven that they found Sodom and Gomorrah yet.
Defining the Reprobate Mind
Les explains that when people do not want to retain God in their knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate mind, which he defines as doing what is not convenient or normal.
Hardening Over Time
Les says every time a person is confronted with believing the gospel and rejects it, the barriers of resistance become harder, just as with Pharaoh.
Pharaoh's Repeated Refusal
Les points out that Pharaoh chose his own direction and said no each time, so the next time it was easier to say no.
Man Hardens His Own Heart
Les teaches that God puts a person on the spot, but man hardens his own heart under God's sovereign volition; God does not fry it.
Grace and Compassion
Les reminds us that but for the grace of God, we would be no different from those given over, and by grace they can be where we are.
Judicial Deepening of Sin
Les says God judicially causes mankind to go deeper into sin after they fall into idolatry and persist in unbelief and rebellion.
Rejecting God Makes Fools
Les shows that even brilliant men act like fools because they have rejected what God has said and changed His glory into idolatry.
Romans 1:21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
This verse begins the downward path by showing that knowing God without glorifying Him led to a darkened foolish heart.
Romans 1:22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Those who rejected God's truth became fools in their own reasoning, a step toward idolatry.
Romans 1:23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
The exchange of God's glory for man-made images is the idolatrous condition that leads to being given over.
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's judicial giving over because 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:
God gave them up further to vile affections as their rejection of Him deepened.
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 central verse for the question: refusal to retain God leads to being given over to a reprobate mind.
Because they do not like to retain God in their knowledge and persist in rejecting Him. God's judicial response is to give them over to a reprobate mind, so they do things which are not convenient or normal (Romans 1:28).
Les Feldick explains that God puts a person on the spot, but man hardens his own heart under God's sovereign will. God does not fry the heart; each rejection of truth makes the next rejection easier.
Yes. Les Feldick says God hates the sin but loves the sinner and is ready in a moment to offer salvation. He also reminds us that but for the grace of God, any of us could be in that condition.
Watch the Teaching: What the Bible Really Says About Homosexuality — Romans 1