Romans 1:22-28 (KJV)

22. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23. And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
24. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25. Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
26. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:
27. And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.
28. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient.

In 1947 the cover of The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists magazine featured a clock with its hands seven minutes from midnight. This clock, known since as the Doomsday Clock, was supposed to illustrate how close the world was to final destruction. The world has not been destroyed these past 55 years, but since that famous clock was introduced billions of people have died. In fact, the world's death rate remains constant at 100%. It would be a tragedy of eternal proportions for the clock to strike midnight and for you to die a reprobate. May God awaken you.

1. The definition of a reprobate
   The word comes from Latin and means "to disapprove." Probate in English means "to prove." The Bible uses the term reprobate at least 10 times (8 in the New Testament) and it translates the Greek word adokimos (Romans 1:28) which means "to not stand the test." This word was used in the market place for the results of the testing of precious metals. It carries the idea that God "disapproves and then condemns as unworthy." This seems to be what Jesus is describing in Matthew 7:23 when the Lord says, "Depart from me, ye that work iniquity." By nature we all are reprobates, but God, by grace, has chosen to make approvable the disapproved. This is in essence the process of salvation. This is also why Paul instructed Christians to "examine . . . prove . . . and know . . . lest ye be reprobates" (II Corinthians 13:5). What are signs of reprobation?
2. The description of a reprobate
   The person "disapproved by God" is easily identified by the writings of the Apostle Paul.
   1. A short description -- a reprobate is one who "senselessly loves darkness."
      V.21 gives us this description by saying "their foolish (senseless) heart was darkened." The word darkness comes from a word that means "to cover, like a tent." It is the nature of a reprobate to love darkness! The gospel is universally rejected (John 3:16-21).
   2. A long description -- found for us in Romans 1:18-32. In our text we see five things:
      1. Foolish wisdom that leads to false worship . . . (vs.22-23).
      2. Sinful idolatry that leads to sexual immorality (vs.23-24; 25-26).
         The Jews always associated idolatry with immorality. In their Wisdom of Solomon "the idea of making idols was the beginning of fornication, and the invention of them was the corruption of life" (14.12). Paul carries this same theme.
      3. Unnatural passions that lead to universal punishment (vs. 26-27).
         Paul uses lesbianism and homosexuality as illustrations of reprobation. These things illustrate how reprobates turn natural, God-given desires into unnatural acts of man.
   3. A summary description -- a reprobate is one who never turns from sin (I Corinthians 6:9-11).
3. The destruction of a reprobate
   For those who are deliberate in their theological thinking an objection arises. How can God punish the person who sins against Him when the sinner does what he does because it is his nature to do it? We are "born in iniquity" and yet Jesus says "depart from me ye that work iniquity." How is that fair? "We are sure that the judgment of God is according to the truth" (Romans 2:2). We must never forget that God is righteous in condemning sinners who love their darkness! He sets the standard of what is right. You are without excuse and escape. The only hope that a reprobate heart has is that God will melt the heart. "Unless there is a change in the atmosphere, what thaws in the sun will once again freeze in the shade." May He do it.