When Does A Reprobate Realize They're Reprobate?

In Romans 1:18-32 Paul talks about the effects of sin on our knowledge of God and those effects are anything but pretty. As a matter of fact, anyone with a clear mind now should be diligent in understanding what Paul says here about sin's effects. It should terrify any obedient Christian. In effect, what it is saying is this: If you are reprobate you probably won't even know it. If you are reprobate you have already been turned over to your sin and warped/distorted thinking. You are already being punished for your sin. God has already cut you loose and you have crossed the event horizon of punishment. The point of no return. The only way you would ever be able to come back across this invisible boundary is if God Himself pulls you back in His mercy and grace.

The general understanding of the effect of sin on our knowledge of God is, in a word: “detrimental”. In the end it builds up God’s wrath on the unrighteousness which is not a real good place to be. I have chosen, more or less, a hybrid dialectic/antithetic comparison verse-by-verse where the verses were applicable as it helps address individual statements in particular verse. This also helps comparing the sin (cause) and the direct effect on humans (us).

(v. 18) …by their unrighteousness suppress the truth [Gk: aletheia]. (v.19) A truth that is “plain” and “God has shown it to them” so they are “without excuse”.
Andy’s Translation: God (Jesus) is truth (John 14:6 … I am the way, and the truth [Gk: aletheia], and the life). This is to be taken literally so they/we thereby suppress the knowledge of God by suppressing truth.

(v. 21) …although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him.

Andy’s Word’s: Intellectually they/we acknowledge that God exists as many do today but because of sin they did not acknowledge Him in the proper capacity as God, again we see a suppression of the proper reaction to a holy and omnipotent loving God which should’ve been worship and praise. Instead we have feigned/willful ignorance. Because of the above actions man/humans becomes futile in their thinking and their hearts are darkened [Gk: skotizo: obscured; reduced in clarity] (v. 21). Assuming this is the traditional Greek view of the heart this also is the center for where Greeks believed thought originate as both the heart and mind were believed to have been in the chest/breast area.

If they have already rejected God in their thinking as a result of sin, “Claiming to be wise, they became fools”. You cannot have real wisdom without a fear of God. Sinning people have little or no fear of God if they are rejecting God “since the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline” Proverbs 1:7.

Once humans reach this point they have pretty much have gone AWOL (absent without the Lord) and have begun to rely on their own works and their own volition to get things thought out and to get things done. They become idolaters (v. 23). Humans are released to pursue the own vile dishonorable passions in a continuing downward spiral of sin and sexual immorality thereby receiving the penalty for their own sin and stupidity (v. 24, 26). They serve the creation rather than the Creator. God pretty much release them to pursue their own sin with their “reprobate” minds (v. 28) to pursue them to their meaningless end which is destruction in this world and damnation in the next (v. 32). They turned wholly evil “full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness” (v. 29). They turned into gossips, slanderers, haters of God…haughty, boastful…foolish, faithless, heartless, etc. ruthless.

Unable to think clearly or righteously they begin a downward spiral of sin further corroding any ability to think clearly. A circular trap of their own devising...of their own sin. A Black Hole of sin if you will.

So the answer to the question is this: A Reprobate never realizes he's reprobate unless God intervenes in mercy and grace. Otherwise the downward spiral continues unabated. They continue until they day they die. Consequently, death will not be a release or reprieve for these types of people because I believe God will just allow these reprobates to continue their sinful pursuits in Hell as they are never satiated with these sins or they would've never continued to pursue them during their lives. Think about it folks, what is Hell. A permament seperation from God. When people were/are dwelling and wallowing in their sin here, where were their hearts and minds in relation to God? Seperated from Him. Add them together and you have a place and conditon the never allows you to know full unadulterated happiness and you are seperated from God. You spend eternity pursuing something you think you want but can never have knowing full well that it probably may not be what is best for you anyway. Whats worse is the thing that you should've chose will be forever out of your reach. It sounds nearly Sisyphean to me...it sounds like Hell.