Stand Strong in the Word
Stand Strong in the Word is a weekly bible study that teaches through the Bible verse by verse in chronological order. For more information, visit www.standstrongministries.org.
Stand Strong in the Word
#314 “The Great Exchange: From Creator to Counterfeit” (Romans 1:23)
What makes a person give up a real diamond in order to take a fake plastic one? Sounds crazy, right? But that’s what an ungodly person does. They often abandon the glory of their Creator for cheap imitation versions. In this episode, we will uncover the tragic pattern of idolatry, explore why it still tempts us today, and learn how to stand firm against it.
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It would be crazy for someone to give up a real diamond for a fake one, right? But that's what an ungodly person does. They often abandon the glory of their creator for cheap imitation versions. In this episode, we will uncover the tragic pattern of idolatry, explore why it still tempts us today and learn how to stand firm against it. Turn to Romans, chapter 1, and let's stand strong in the word together.
Speaker 1:Hey there, my friends, welcome to Stand Strong in the Word podcast. Jason Heman is with you, as always, blessed to be with you guys as we continue our study here in the book of Romans. And last time where we left off was we were looking at the verse in chapter 1, verse 22, where it says Claiming to be wise, they became fools. So before we dive and look at verse 23, just want to encourage and remind all of you guys that, as you listen to this podcast, we would greatly appreciate if you leave us a review. Share this with your friends so that more people just like you will stand strong in God's word, because that's what we need and that's really our heart's desire is to study God's word together and get more Christians falling in love with his word, his infallible word that it will guide and convict and power and direct them in their daily decision-making. And so, wherever you get your podcasts, make sure that you guys do that, and also go to our website, standstrongministriesorg, and take advantage of all the resources that we have there to help you guys stand strong in your faith with wise thinking and bold living. So let me just kind of go back a little bit, because, as we feed into verse 23 that says and exchange the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things, and so the title here is the great exchange from creator to counterfeit. And, as I asked in the opening, it would be utterly absurd for someone to take a real diamond and exchange it for a fake one, one that is not real, that loses its value in the process. But that's what it is, my friends. When you think of idolatry, is you turn from God, your maker, in exchange for what? A false idol. And as we looked at the claiming to be wise again, that word claiming as Fosco there's this pretendedness of being right, having a level of self-confidence, but there's no basis for it. So when people say I just was watching a video recently of an individual that was touring Charlotte looking at all the growth that's happening. And, of course, for many of you guys who don't know, I live in Charlotte and so I just was curious, because that's what this guy does on his YouTube channel.
Speaker 1:But in the process, as they were talking, it got into religion and the guy that was filming, who runs the channel, he says, in conversation with the individual who invited him to come to the city I'm not religious, but I do look to a higher power, whatever that means, and I think that's what we're to some extent talking about here. And so in his mind he's like I don't bow to a particular Buddha or whatever the case may be, but I do look to a higher power. So again, there's that, there's that form of worship that's within him. He can't explain it, he can't even identify what he's talking to, but when he says higher, it's something beyond him and in a sense he was saying that gives him comfort, it gives him a sense of relief. My friends, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, we know that God is real, that God came down in the flesh, and so this level of certainty that they boast about, there's no basis for it. So, even when he was talking. There's no basis for him explaining why that is because in his naturalistic thinking, you know, in his mind, it doesn't make sense, because science disproves that there is anything outside of nature that could be affecting us or complimenting us, or there's any. There's no provisional divine direction, ie god, there's not a supernatural entity, and so people will use some of this language, but it doesn't really make sense. And so the atheist rejects god and then proceeds to live a life that is void, without the actual wisdom and instruction of the Lord. And so, when they became fools, literally, they became stupid In the futility of their thinking. Again they boast about their intelligence, and yet they have no real worth and purpose of life. And as a result of that, when they're claiming to be wise, they became fools. And now, in the process, what did they do? They exchange the glory of the immortal god.
Speaker 1:Now it's always important for us to go back and look at what paul had been talking about in verse 18, when God's wrath is revealed to notice the ungodly and the unrighteousness of men. So that point forward. Okay, all the way down to verse 32 is he's going to be talking about who, specifically? The ungodly and the unrighteousness of men, and we're told who, what. They exchanged the truth for a lie because they suppressed the truth. And as they suppress the truth, even though God has clearly revealed everything to them, they don't honor him, they don't give thanks to him and their hearts have become darkened. And so they claim to be wise, but they become fools. And what do they do in the process then, or as a result, they're now exchanging the glory of the immortal God for images.
Speaker 1:Now, I remember that similar language of what Paul had been talking about you know, when we were talking about the invisible attributes of his eternal power and divine nature in verse 20. Talking about, you know when he was, when we were talking about the invisible attributes of his eternal power and divine nature in verse 20. You can always go back to that episode where we covered that particular passage. And so now, what Paul is going to elaborate now is on this futility of thinking. What he's going to be elaborating in verse 23 is this foolishness that's mentioned of these ungodly Gentiles. And what Paul's going to do in verse 23 and verse 25 and verse 27.
Speaker 1:So, starting here, in this verse, verse 23 is he's going to use the word exchange right Three separate times, and the meaning behind this term is to alter or to change or to replace one thing for another. So there is this exchange. That's why I call this episode the great exchange. Now it should be more appropriately called the foolish exchange. But that's why I say from creator to counterfeit.
Speaker 1:If you have a real diamond and you replace it with a fake one, that would be absurd. That's futility right there, because God's truth and his morality really cannot be exchanged for something that is not of equal value or greater. But when you do that, it's because you're pursuing your own sinful beliefs and desires. So even though somebody is not literally erecting an idol does not mean that it's not idolatry. Now here's what's important, because the word that Paul uses here in exchange the glory of the immortal God is. The word means Alexan in Greek, and it's trading something of the utmost value for something that is worthless. That's why I give the analogy of a diamond, and so Paul is stressing that this is not a neutral or a beneficial exchange. It actually suggests a very tragic and foolish deal. Literally, you could put it like this they exchange the truth about God for a lie, and I know for all of my beloved brothers and sisters out there, you know of individuals in your life that they've exchanged the truth about God for a lie.
Speaker 1:Now, in their mind, as I recently talked to somebody who's walked away from their faith, they can say that their life is grand, that they are having the best life ever. Now I'm not denying that everything they're saying is not true. Like you can have moments of happiness and be fooled by that, through success, through getting a raise, whatever the case may be, not having problems with your family, so there's less conflict, so you feel a little bit more liberated, like what could go wrong now things are so fantastic, came off a great vacation, things were beautiful, it's great, we got out, you know, we got out there, got some good sun, whatever. So there's definitely moments where your appetite is being satisfied. Hence why sin is so addictive? Because if it wasn't, we wouldn't be allured by it. And so when they're exchanging the truth about God for lie at its core, my friends, that's what we have to understand. When it comes to someone's soul, let's not be fooled by their riches, by their success or on their profile. They look happy and doing great and they seem like they have it all together.
Speaker 1:If somebody has rejected God. If somebody has clearly seen the evidence for God and choose not to honor and give him thanks, they have exchanged his glory, as Paul said, for something other than God, and that is going to be an image and this case. What Paul's talking about specifically to the culture is what's resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. To the culture is what's resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. So let's not underestimate. What Paul's saying here is that people are going to go religious because remember, the liturgical terms that he was using in the form of worship is applicable here and we'll go into greater detail in the next few verses. So when we're, when we, when we get to the conversation about exchanging natural relations for something that's unnatural, that's what happens. When you take your affections away from God, you're going to put your affections somewhere else, and that form that Paul's describing there is in terms of liturgical worship.
Speaker 1:So the ungodly intentionally decide not to worship God. Why? So that they can deliberately have him replaced with idols that are false symbols of worship. So, again, when we talk about religiosity, don't be fooled by that either. Where there's a sense of reverence and it's all inspiring, and there's candles and there's incense and there's incense and there's these homilies or whatever, and we can get so sidetracked by that, but they're just symbols of false worship, they're a counterfeit.
Speaker 1:But so there's this exchange that we have to understand, that has gone on in people's lives, and ask yourself, when you're looking around with people saying, what have they exchanged? What have they given up? So, first and foremost, have they exchanged the glory of the immortal God, the one true and living God, for a false image of something, a counterfeit, and notice, it just resembles man-made stuff. Now, this harkens back to the Garden of Eden, of course, when Adam and Eve exchanged their identity, they exchanged their relationship with God. For what A false God-like knowledge. And what did it lead them? To Depravity, where they ran away from their maker because they listened to another created being who was very cunning and was able to take advantage of their free will, and they exchanged it for a false godlike meaning.
Speaker 1:Remember when he says you'll be more like god again. The whole play on with with the terminology that's going on with the enemy is as though god didn't give them everything they needed. And isn't that the desire, though? To desire for more. You're never satisfied, so, even though you can say you had good intentions about it. But at the heart, right, go to the level of heart. There there's this contemplation of what you're willing to give up and that's why the book of proverbs, the wisdom there is, the level of heart, there there's this contemplation of what you're willing to give up and that's why the book of proverbs, the wisdom there is. The beginning of of knowledge is fear in the lord. And later he says you're not to sell it, you're not to exchange god's truth for anything.
Speaker 1:Now let's take it a step further, because this word glory that he uses, they exchange the glory of the immortal God. Simply put, it's talking about radiance, the splendor, the majesty, god's presence. It's the Greek term doxa, where we get doxology. So it's this praise of who God is to glorify him, this praise of who God is to glorify him in verse 20. Remember, when you refer to his invisible attributes, namely his eternal power and his divine nature, and they've been clearly perceived, that's what they're exchanging. So God's brilliance, again, his truth, his majesty, that he's worthy to be praised. But remember, they don't honor or give him thanks. And he's the immortal god.
Speaker 1:This is what paul's saying here. Is he? God is eternal, god is immutable. God is indestructible. God is the absolute, perfect and beautiful being. He's pure perfection. Isn't that amazing? He is beauty. Malachi 3.6,. For I, the Lord, do not change. Hebrews 6.17,. So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose and I love what James 1.17 says he says Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from who, the father of lights, and he describes what that means is that there's no variation or shadow due to change within God. He's immutable. There's nothing that conflicts within his being. So you take a perfect being and the analogy that we're using is a beautiful diamond and you exchange it for a counterfeit. So these images that are resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things, and if you go back to Psalm 106, verse 20, and I know that Paul's pulling from the Hebrew scriptures becausesalm 106, verse 20, and I know that paul's pulling from the hebrew scriptures because in psalm 106 it says they exchange the glory of god for an image of an ox that eats grass.
Speaker 1:And we're told in exodus 32, verse 4, that the people of israel, they turn from god and remember what they did. Here god does these amazing acts, these amazing miracles. Through his servant, the prophet moses, he does these miracles, imparting the red sea in a cloud by day, in a fire, by night. Moses goes away to receive the 10 commandments. While he's gone, they erect a golden calf and they shout in Exodus 32, verse 4. These are your gods, o Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. Now, remember, they went to the priest it was Aaron, no-transcript, as they were slaves in Egypt to erect this golden calf and giving honor. So notice, they're taking real life circumstances. They're taking what had occurred in their life, that they were. They literally delivered out of slavery and are now free and are going to enter the promised land. And they contribute all of that success into the promised land. And they contribute all of that success, that deliverance from slavery, and handed it over to an erected golden calf, an image that resembles mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things, even the prophet Jeremiah.
Speaker 1:He openly calls out the sin of idolatry. Listen to what he says in chapter 10. Every man is stupid and without knowledge. Every goldsmith is put to shame by his idols, for his images are false and there's no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of delusion. At the time of their punishment they shall perish. But it doesn't stop there. Isaiah, chapter 44, verses nine through 20.
Speaker 1:Listen, my friends, this is the most graphic account of idolatry that you'll find in the scriptures. This is what Isaiah says All who fashion idols are nothing. Now let's pause. Remember what we're talking about. This is also going back to verse 22 of Romans, chapter 1.
Speaker 1:Claiming to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images, for idolatry, right For idols. So we saw in Psalm 106, they exchanged that glory for image of an animal that eats grass. They can't talk, that doesn't have a soul. That didn't make you, they didn't bring you into this world that you have to take care of. Actually, jeremiah says they're stupid and without knowledge and their idols are worthless and it's a work of delusion. Isaiah says their idols that worthless and it's a work of delusion.
Speaker 1:Isaiah says their idols that they fashion are nothing and the things they delight in do no profit. So there's not a profit that comes out of it. Their witness neither see nor know that. They may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an idol that is profitable for nothing. Behold, all his companions shall be put to shame. And the craftsmen are only human. Let them all assemble, let them stand forth. They shall be terrified. They shall be put to shame together.
Speaker 1:The ironsmith takes a cutting tool and works it over the coals. He fashions it with hammers and works with it with strong arm. He becomes hungry and his strength fails. He drinks no water in his faint. The carpenter stretches a line. He marks it out with a pencil. He shapes it with planes and marks it with a compass. He shapes it into the figure of a man with the beauty of a man to dwell in a house.
Speaker 1:He cuts down cedars or he chooses a cypress tree or an oak and lets it grow strong among the trees of the forest. He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. Then it becomes fuel for a man. He takes a part of it and he warms himself. He kindles a fire and bakes bread. Also, he makes a god and worships it. He makes an idol and falls down before it. Half of it he burns into the fire. Over the half he eats meat. He roasts it and is satisfied. Also, he warms himself and says aha, I am warm. I have seen the fire. And the rest of it.
Speaker 1:He makes into a God his idol and falls down to it and worships it. He prays to and says deliver me, for you are my God. They know not, nor do they discern, for he has shut their eyes so that they cannot see in their hearts, so that they cannot see in their hearts, so that they cannot understand. No one considers, nor is their knowledge or discernment to say half of it I burned in the fire. I also bake bread on it in its coals. I roasted meat and have eaten, and shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall Shall I fall down before a block of wood? He feeds on ashes. A deluded heart has led him astray and he cannot deliver himself or say is there not a lie in my right hand?
Speaker 1:My friends, take a moment and think about this. Think about the idolatry in all of our lives. Clearly, paul is talking about again the ungodly and the unrighteousness of men who have suppressed the truth, who have exchanged his glory, who've refused to give him honor, refused to worship and give thanks to him. They've exchanged God for an idol. But I want us to pause and I want us to look in our own lives and think about. What little idols have we placed into our lives that we look to or you find comfort or security in. That's not the Lord, my friends. Anything that we put our affections towards, our attention towards and our adoration towards, that's not God is an idol.
Speaker 1:Now, I'm not saying when you're thankful that you have a running car or you love your job, I'm not saying that that automatically is assumed to be an idol in your life. It could be, it automatically is assumed to be an idol in your life. It could be. But when we're grateful as followers of Jesus Christ, we recognize the one whom we serve. We recognize that the immortal God, the eternal, immutable, indestructible God that we worship, who gives us every good and perfect gift James 1.17,. Who's the father of lights, there's no variation or shadow in his life.
Speaker 1:And when you look at Psalm 106 and you look at Isaiah 44, and I mentioned Jeremiah, chapter 10, verses 14 through 15, look at the stupidity, look at the lack of knowledge, look at the shame, look at the worthlessness or, as Jeremiah says, the work of delusion. And I love what Isaiah says because he's taking in part what you're seeing mixed between Jeremiah and Isaiah, and he's saying that they are feeding off of ashes and it says a deluded heart has led him astray and he cannot deliver himself. So you're trying to do all this stuff, you're living off all stuff that you're creating, and yet you didn't create yourself. You didn't create the way things operate in this world. God did, and no matter what we try to do, we can purposefully exchange him, meaning we can take him out of the equation, or so we think. But you can never replace God. And even when we say that, well, I've replaced him with something else, I have something that is actually more fulfilling and I'm living a better life, that's a lie. That's why the Bible says you exchange his truth for a lie. That's why we bible says you exchange his truth for a lie. That's what we call false worship, because only god is deserving of worship. Right the grace and truth study. Bible says this quote the madness is evident in the terrible bargain exchanging the weighty reality of glory for images made to look like something else, exchanging incorruptibility and immortality for something corruptible and mortal, and exchanging God for human beings and animals. When we see the insane deal we have made, the madness of idolatry becomes clear, and so does the injustice of God's judgment, which comes next in the passage end quote.
Speaker 1:Now, as I conclude, I want to point out, as we are listening to this word from the Lord today, we have to also anticipate, as believers, what's going to happen in the end times, or specifically known as the tribulation period. While we're going to see, the world is going to be deceived and they're going to continue down the path of idolatry, and what's going to happen is we're literally going to see, thank God, I believe, and if you want to learn more about this, you can go back to our book studies. When we studied first Thessalonians, particularly chapter four on the rapture, the title there was are you rapture ready? That we covered a few years ago. On the rapture, the title there was are you rapture ready? That we covered a few years ago. On the podcast. You can also look at first Corinthians, chapter 15, where I dissect after verse 50, the teaching of the rapture.
Speaker 1:So I don't believe theologically that we will be here during the tribulation period right now. We'll be taken up. There will be Christians who will come to Christ or people who would come to Christ, who become followers of Jesus Christ, christians in the tribulation period. But they're literally going to erect an idol of the first beast, the Antichrist, and they're going to worship it, just like we see in world religions today.
Speaker 1:In fact, revelation 13, verse 14, says and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast, it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. So it's almost like a false resurrection because, remember, satan is in the business of corrupting. That's why we call it a counterfeit. He takes God's creation, he takes his order and he twists it. His words and he'll twist it. That's what he does. He's a counterfeit, he's a fake. He pretends to be more glamorous and powerful than he really is, and so they're going to be making an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword. And so, just like Jesus Christ, the second person in the Trinity, came into the world, died on the cross for our sins, arose again, and we worship him in part for that, but we worship him nonetheless as God. And so he's going to make the Antichrist look like a resurrected figure so people can worship him.
Speaker 1:For that, world religions do not showcase the true reality of God's beauty and glory. We have to remember that when you're driving around and you're seeing all these actual images. They reveal idolatry and depravity. They do not reveal the true reality of God's beauty and glory. And I pray to the Lord, my friends, I pray to him that we would honor and worship him for our maker and our God, and I pray you do the same. So I appreciate you guys, as always as we study God's word together, such an honor and it's just so amazing to be able to just look at God's word.
Speaker 1:Next episode we're going to be looking at verse 24 that says therefore, god gave them up in the lust of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves. And of course, after that verse, we get into verse 25 and then 26 and 27, where, famously and there's so much debate through the years about sexuality, because it's a direct passage that's dealing with actual things in the flesh. So I encourage you guys to take advantage of all of these episodes that we have and I just pray that today, as you look at your life, that you're not exchanging God's truth for anything else, that you're not exchanging it for a lie. I love you guys. Until next time, keep standing strong in the word of God. Thank you.