Doing Wickedness and Having Pleasure in Those that Do Romans 1:32

Paul the apostle told the church members in Rome about people to who rejected God, so God “gave them up unto vile affections” which included, “all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things” and “disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.” In chapter one and verse thirty-two of Romans, Paul shared how these people, “not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them” where we read:

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.

The verse begins, “Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, ...” Paul began with the words, “who knowing” or “these people who thoroughly acquainted with, know accurately well and recognize” “the judgment” which refers to “that which has been deemed right so as to have force of law, has been established and ordained by law such as an ordinance” “of God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit”, “that they which commit” or “the people who exercise, practice, are busy with, carry on, accomplish and perform” “such things” which means “this kind or sort or activity” “are worthy” or “are befitting, congruous, merit and corresponding to a thing” “of death” which refers to “that separation whether natural or violent of the soul and the body by which the life one”. Paul declared how these people who “rejected” God and His truth “knew” His “death” sentence upon those who commit such “sins”.

The verse continues, “... not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” Paul added the words, “not only do” which means “in no way alone make, produce, construct, form and fashion” “the same” or “the selfsame types of evil works”, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was just stated “have pleasure” or “are pleased with, applaud, consent and agree” “in them” which refers to “with the people” “that do them” or “who make, produce, construct, form and fashion the evil works”. Not only do these who have “refused” God's truth practice the “evil works”, but they also enjoy and take pleasure in other people who “perform” them.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how people who “reject” God and His ways not only “perform” wicked ways, but also enjoy watching others perform them. Jesus Christ came to “redeem” people from “wickedness”, and regardless of how “evil” a person may be, Jesus is able to “save” and “change” them. Christians should not “practice” evil works, and Paul's warning is not to “have pleasure in them that do them”. If we have not discovered it yet, Paul's list shows everyone “guilty” before God, and all deserve His “sentence of death”. This is where and why Jesus came – that everyone who receives His payment for their “sins” upon the cross shall be “saved”, and prayerfully all who read these words shall “believe and trust” in His provision for them.

Next time we begin a new chapter as see Paul declare, “you are inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judge”, so read ahead and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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