“Without understanding, untrustworthy, unfeeling, unmerciful” – Romans 1:31 (NASB)
Although it was about 40 years ago, I still remember his comment. I was taking a Greek class taught by my New Testament professor, Dr. Arden Autry. We were working through Romans 1, much of which describes the sinful state of the Gentiles apart from God.
When we got to verse 31, Dr. Autry said that sin removes anything that makes people human.
Sin dehumanizes.
It appears to satisfy, offering fulfillment and pleasure. But this verse claims the opposite happens.
Sin makes us foolish, even stupid. Life apart from the living God won’t make much sense. It can’t. The questions pile up, but they go unanswered.
Under such conditions, it’s “every man for himself!” Sin is self-centeredness; it keeps people focused on their own interests and desires. Dependability disappears; all that remains is a scramble to take care of oneself. It’s dangerous to trust others because they’re treacherous.
Such a world is a poor environment for affection. It can’t endure, so it dries up. With the sense of connection fading, people must fend for themselves. They’re isolated and alone.
There’s no room for the weak and no reason to be gracious to them. In a word, cruelty reigns.
Rejecting the Lord, chasing after false gods, and surrendering to unrestrained passions don’t benefit anyone or improve society. What we have is a recipe for ruination.
The further we sink into sin, the less human we become.
Salvation
But God cares about us. He feels the hurts and the harms endured and inflicted. We can rely on Him because He knows what we need.
Through Jesus Christ, we have forgiveness and new life.
“Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 8Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.” – Romans 4:7-8, quoting Psalm 32:1-2
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23
Receiving salvation serves us at our point of deepest need, but does it change us? Does God transform us?
Yes, He does.
Jesus restores our damaged humanity. He rehumanizes us.
Consider how Paul perceived the spiritual condition of the Roman Christians.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 14I myself am convinced, my brothers and sisters, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” – Romans 15:13-14
God’s Spirit makes us more like Jesus, and He does so in the context of the church community.
As we share our lives with our brothers and sisters in Christ, we grow in God’s wisdom. We become trustworthy and trusting. We care for one another. And compassion beats within our hearts.
And within the life and ministry of God’s people, we develop Christlikeness. Jesus is giving us back humanity, but not the old one.
A new version.
Humanity like His.
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