Unnatural Desires, Deprived Minds: What Happens When We Reject God

Romans 1:26–32 — The Mindset That Leads Us Away from God

Verses 26–27: Turning from Truth to Lust

These verses begin with “Because of this…”—referring to people rejecting God’s truth, clinging to pride, and inventing their own ways. Because of that, God gave them over to shameful lusts.

When we stand by the truth, God protects us. But when we walk away from Him, we allow our minds to lead, and lust takes over. If we’re with God, we overcome the world. If not, lust, confusion, and unnatural desires gain control.

The Bible distinguishes between natural and unnatural. When we stay close to our Creator, we live according to His design. But when we leave Him, we develop unnatural desires. Today, people often see these as “normal,” but that mindset stems from being disconnected from truth.

Ask yourself:

• Is your mindset anchored in God or drifting?
• Are your desires shaped by truth or by emotion?

Verse 28: The Deprived Mind

Paul speaks of a "deprived mind"—a mind that has rejected the knowledge of God.

Think of a boat. If it’s anchored to shore, it stays put. But if the anchor is removed, it drifts into the sea and may sink. The same happens to our minds. Without God’s truth, we drift into confusion and destruction.

As Christians, we must guard against letting a deprived mindset overtake us.

Verses 29–31: The Results of a Deprived Mind

Paul lists the fruit of a mind separated from God: envy, deceit, greed, and more. At the core of all this is selfishness.

When we aren’t anchored in God, our emotions take over. The more we turn from Him, the more self-centered we become. Two key signs Paul mentions are:

• No love
• No mercy

Today, we see this everywhere—division, conflict, and hate. We must ask ourselves:

• Is our mind ruled by God’s love or by worldly emotions?

Even if you’re not a Christian, consider this: what mindset is driving your life? If you're curious, we’d love to talk more in a future episode.

Verse 32: The Consequences

Paul gives a sobering warning—not only about those who do wrong, but also those who approve of such behavior. This shows how deeply mindset matters.

Final Reflection:

Being saved doesn’t mean you're always safe. Paul reminds us to renew our minds daily. Salvation is a process of transformation—becoming more like Jesus.

When we accept Christ, His blood washes away our sins. But we must not continue in sin. Paul asks, “Shall we go on sinning so grace may increase? By no means!” (Romans 6:1)

Our Christian life should aim to know God more, overcome the world, and reflect His character.

Let’s pursue that transformation together.

That concludes Romans Chapter 1. Join us in the next episode as we begin Chapter 2.