A Bleak Bible Passage

One of the bleakest passages found in the Bible is found in Romans 1:24, where the phrase “gave them up” is found. The phrase is again repeated in Romans 1:26,28, emphasizing the fact that when God gives an individual (or individuals) "up" or "over," there is no hope for that individual. They are in the same exact category as the Gentiles once were in Ephesians 2:11-12.

Through the power of personal "choice" (Joshua 24:15), they have “determined” (1 Corinthians 2:2) and sealed their own eternal destiny.

In his commentary on Romans, Brother Burton Coffman provides the following comment regarding this phrase in Romans 1:24:

“These dreadful words, thrice repeated with increasing intensity, are a kind of litany of the doomed, showing how dreadful is the fate of them that are given up of God, that is, handed over to the consequences of their rebellion.”

Beloved, when God gives us up, there is no bleaker moment or state.

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets