Sin Approves of More Sin - Romans 1-2

Romans 1:32 (ESV)

Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

The they in the above verse is referring to all those mentioned before:

Romans 1:28-31 (ESV)

And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 

1. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, 

2. evil, 

3. covetousness, 

4. malice. 

5. They are full of envy, 

6. murder, 

7. strife, 

8. deceit, 

9. maliciousness. 

10. They are gossips, 

11.  slanderers, 

12. haters of God, 

13. insolent, 

14. haughty, 

15. boastful, 

16.  inventors of evil, 

17.  disobedient to parents, 

18. foolish, 

19.  faithless, 

20.  heartless, 

21. ruthless.

This list does not even include the adultery, homosexuality and idolatry listed in the verses just prior to these.   God has mixed in murder with gossip; foolishness with idolatry; and faithlessness with disobedience to parents.    Make no mistake, God does not have an outrage for one sin more than the other.   God hates all sins the same.  His wrath is poured out on all those who have sinned and do not repent of their sins.   The above text not only tells us how bad these sins are but those who do them approve of them in others.   The sin of one is approved by the sin of another.  Because they have rejected God, God has given them over to their sinful desires and they have no restraint.   The one who does sin also wants others to do the same sins.   When God gives man over to their sinful desires there is no restraining power to stop them.   Even though they know God’s righteous decree they will die in their sins.   Sin produces more sin.   Without God’s grace, man not only sins but approves of sin in the lives of other man, justice is lost and man is doomed.  Pray that God does not remove His grace.  That is the ultimate wrath of God - the removal of His grace and allowing man’s natural being takes over.  Solomon said it this way:

Proverbs 28:4 (ESV)

Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,

but those who keep the law strive against them.

When we forsake God’s Word we end up praising the acts and behaviors of the wicked.