Charles Ellicott Commentary Romans 1:24

"Wherefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts unto uncleanness, that their bodies should be dishonored among themselves:" — Romans 1:24 (ASV)

In the passage taken as a whole, three steps or stages are indicated:

1. Romans 1:18–23, idolatry.
2. Romans 1:24–27, unnatural sins allowed by God as the punishment for this idolatry.
3. Romans 1:28–32, a still more complete and radical depravity also regarded as inflicted as a penalty.

The first step is taken by the free choice of man, but as the breach gradually widens, the wrath of God is more and more revealed. He interferes less and less to save a sinful world from its fate. It should be noted that the Apostle speaks in general terms, and the precise proportions of human depravity and of divine judicial impulse are not to be clearly determined.

On verses 24-32

Therefore, they fell into a still lower depth; for, in anger at their perversion of the truth, God refrained from checking their downward course. He left them to follow their own evil inclination. Their idolatry developed into shameless immorality and unnatural crimes. Finally, the extreme limit was reached. As they voluntarily forsook God, so He forsook them. They ran through the whole catalogue of sins, and the cup of their iniquity was full.