The Glory of God Changed to Incorruptible Romans 1:23

Paul the apostle told the church members in Rome, “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”, and he added, “Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, ...” In chapter one and verse twenty-three of Romans, Paul told with the church members how people, “changed the glory of the incorruptible God” where we read:

And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man,

and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.

The verse begins, “And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, ...” Paul began with the words, “and changed” or “and exchanged on thing for another or transformed” “the glory” which refers to “the splendor, brightness and honor” “of the incorruptible” which means “not liable to corruption or decay, imperishable and immortal” “God” which refers to “the Godhead bodily and trinity which is comprised of God the Father, Christ the Son and the Holy Spirit” “into an image” or “into a figure, statue, profile, representation, resemblance or likeness of any one seen,” “made like” which means “in resemblance, likeness, shape and similitude such as amounts almost to equality or identity” “to corruptible man” which means “to a decaying and perishable human being whether male or female” . Paul shared how people fashioned “perishing” “idols” or “images” instead of “honoring and glorifying” the “imperishable and immortal” God.

The verse goes on to say, “... and to birds, and four-footed beasts, and creeping things.” Paul added the word, “and to birds” which refers to “and to flying or winged animals or fowls”, “and four-footed beasts” or “and quadruped animals”, “and creeping things” which refers to “reptiles such as snakes”.

People formed “images” or “idols” of “birds”, “animals” and “reptiles” such as snakes instead of giving honor to God.

When we consider these words of Paul, we see how people turned from the eternal “true and living God” toward “temporal” images of “birds, animals and reptiles”. We only need look into history to see all the “idols” that were fashioned by people out of earthly materials which shall perish. Rather than worship God who is “eternal, everlasting, immortal and imperishable”, they made “idols” to which they bow down. Jesus Christ is alive, everlasting, eternal and imperishable, and He came to the earth to save people from their sins. Those who believe and trust in Him are worshiping “the way, the truth and the life”, and all other “images” and “idols” are worthless and temporal. Paul felt it important to note the frivolity of those who made temporary images instead of worshiping the true and eternal God, and those who are wise shall examine their lives to be certain they have nothing “temporal” to which they bow down.

Next time Paul tells the church members how, “God gave them up to uncleanness”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then,

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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