God's Wrath and Repentance

Introduction

Last week we talked about Paul’s boldness concerning the Gospel and we asked, are you ashamed of the Gospel of Christ? Are you ashamed to be called a Christian? Are you ashamed of the stuff we do? Speak in tongues? Lay hands on the sick? We discovered that many times the problem is that we do not truly understand what the Gospel really is. Many don’t know that the Gospel is the very means by which God reveals his righteousness to the world. It is not a righteousness that condemns, but in revealing that Jesus is the righteousness of God, we know that God has made a provision for us to be reunited to Him. It is this Gospel of salvation and of healing and of power that God uses to transform the world around us. Perhaps our understanding is dimmed due to lack of knowledge, and this lack of knowledge is the result of not becoming Disciples of Christ. We need to heed the warning of scripture and become hard core students of the Word.

Today we continue our study in Romans with a rather shocking message. That is that God burns with anger toward mankind because of the evil we perpetuate. Now how could that possibly be consistent with the message we heard last week? It seems incongruous, but in reality it is almost poetic how well the two fit together.

Let us pick up where we left off in the book of Romans.

Romans 1:18–27 TLV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. In unrighteousness they suppress the truth, because what can be known about God is plain to them—for God has shown it to them. His invisible attributes—His eternal power and His divine nature—have been clearly seen ever since the creation of the world, being understood through the things that have been made. So people are without excuse— for even though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or give Him thanks. Instead, their thinking became futile, and their senseless hearts were made dark. Claiming to be wise, they became fools. They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for an image in the form of mortal man and birds and four-footed beasts and creeping things. Therefore God gave them over in the evil desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies with one another. They traded the truth of God for a lie and worshiped and served the creation rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to shameful passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for what is against nature. Likewise the men abandoned natural relations with women and were burning with passion toward one another—men committing shameful acts with other men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

God is a righteous God, and He is completely within not only his prerogative as God, but consistent with His holiness. In fact, if God did not burn with anger against evil, He would prove to lack righteousness. As we learned last week, it is the revelation of the righteousness of God that is the power of the Gospel for without revealing His righteousness, our need for a savior becomes less urgent – at least in our own eyes. To illustrate this point, I’d like you to think who some of the hardest people to evangelize are. I say it’s the Mormons. Why? Well because they also happen to be some of the nicest people there are. They are really nice folks that are incredibly deceived and are going straight to hell. But you see, that is the whole thing about the Gospel – the power of the Gospel is its ability to reveal the sinfulness of man by comparing it to the righteousness of God. In so doing, we acknowledge our need for a savior – thus Jesus is revealed. In revealing Jesus, God reveals His love for us.

Romans 5:8 TLV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Messiah died for us.

So this brings us back to this, without knowing you are a sinner and that God’s anger burns against the evil in this world, you will never be motivated to be transformed and to become a follower of Christ. If your righteousness was good enough, then why would you need a savior?

But here is precisely where Paul comes in, because he gives this giant grocery list of stuff that is wrong with humanity.

Humanity’s first excuse is always “We didn’t know.” God foresaw this excuse and shoots it down.

Romans 1:18–20 TLV

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. In unrighteousness they suppress the truth, because what can be known about God is plain to them—for God has shown it to them. His invisible attributes—His eternal power and His divine nature—have been clearly seen ever since the creation of the world, being understood through the things that have been made. So people are without excuse—

Later on Paul puts it this way:

Romans 2:14–15 TLV

For when Gentiles, who do not have the Torah, do by nature the things of the Torah, they are a law to themselves even though they do not have the Torah. They show that the work of the Torah is written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts switching between accusing or defending them

So what Paul is saying is something we as believers have discovered and that is the certainty of an eternal God is written on the hearts of man. They may deny that they know God, but they deceive nobody. The law of God is written on their heart, and though their conscience may be seared through, they nevertheless retain the knowledge of good and evil.

He continues saying that these people have become futile in their thinking.

THEREFORE (verse 24) because people do bad things, they think they are wise, and in order to continue to be comfortable or well-adjusted in their sinful ways, they must deconstruct the God who created them. They declare their own wisdom to be supreme, then announce that God is dead. God doesn’t sit there and debate them – He does something much scarier. He gives them over to their most basic sinful instincts.

This is the passage of scripture where we as believers tend to jump on the bash homosexuals band wagon. The problem is that by doing so, we jump smack dab into another trap. Let’s read on:

Romans 1:26–32 TLV

For this reason God gave them up to shameful passions. Even their women exchanged natural relations for what is against nature. Likewise the men abandoned natural relations with women and were burning with passion toward one another—men committing shameful acts with other men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. And just as they did not see fit to recognize God, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what is not fitting. They became filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice. They are gossips, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents. They are foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree—that those who practice such things deserve death—they not only do them but also approve of others who practice the same.

So the next time you speak hatefully or maliciously against a homosexual, you are guilty of the very depravity which you are judging! This is hard to teach- which is why not many churches teach it, but saints, we need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this depravity! Look, I'm not saying that we should approve of homosexuality or other sexual sin- in fact look at verse 32- those who approve are as deserving of death as those who practice them- but I want us to look at the big picture. Why? Look at that second part of the list! There is not a one of us in here that are innocent of any of those points! In fact, look at what Paul says next.

Romans 2:1–6 TLV

Therefore you are without excuse, O man—every one of you who is judging. For by whatever you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things. We know that God’s judgment on those who practice such things is based on truth. But you, O man—judging those practicing such things yet doing the same—do you suppose that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you belittle the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience—not realizing that God’s kindness leads you to repentance? But by your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment is revealed. He will pay back each person according to his deeds.

Isn’t he saying what I just said? Isn’t he telling the Romans that we condemn ourselves every time we speak against these people because it says we practice the same things? The bottom line is found in verse four. Where does the goodness of God lead us saints? That’s right, it leads us to repentance!

Let’s look at that for a moment because it is so important for us as Christians to really comprehend.

The Greek word for repentance is μετάνοια and it is pronounced metanoia. The definition is to change one’s way of life as the result of a complete change of thought and attitude with regard to sin and righteousness. It is where we get our term metamorphosis. It is TOTAL transformation!

Paul talks about this transformation in his letter to the Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 7:9–11 TLV

Now I rejoice, not that you were grieved, but that you were grieved to the point of repentance. For you were grieved according to God’s will, so that you might in no way suffer loss from us. For the grief that God wills brings a repentance that leads to salvation, leaving no regret. But the world’s grief brings death. For see what this very thing—this grieving that God wills—has brought you! What diligence, what defense, what indignation, what fear, what longing, what zeal, what rendering of justice! In everything you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.

How many of you have used this line with your kids: are you sorry you did it or sorry you got caught? This is what Paul is demonstrating as true repentance. See, godly sorrow produces the patience that leads us to the right place. The world’s version of repentance is not genuine and so it only produces fear and indignation.

So, true repentance is the outcome of godly sorrow. Now the sorrow isn’t the repentance, it is the merely the vehicle by which repentance comes because remember our definition of metanoia = metamorphosis- a TOTALLY transformed life. What is important to understand though is that there is a difference between Godly sorrow and worldly sorrow.

Godly sorrow is directed toward God. It is the type of sorrow that David demonstrates in Psalm 51.

Psalm 51:1–13 TLV

For the music director: a psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came to him, after he went to Bathsheba. Be gracious to me, O God, according to Your mercy. According to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions and my sin is ever before me. Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are just when You speak, and blameless when You judge. Behold, I was born in iniquity and in sin when my mother conceived me. Surely You desire truth in the inner being. Make me know wisdom inwardly. Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness, so the bones You crushed may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence— take not Your Ruach ha-Kodesh from me.

Listen to that deep sorrow! Man he is really crying the blues! But where is the repentance? Do you hear it change in verse 13? What is the result of that deep sorrow? Well a heart for evangelism. To teach transgressors His ways, and to convert sinners! True repentance brings about a desire to share the good news of God’s compassion! It does not bring about judgementalism or legalism, it brings about compassion!

In “godly sorrow”, one is more concerned with GOD than self! “Worldly sorrow” produces regret; “godly sorrow” suffers loss in nothing. "Worldly sorrow" produces death; "godly sorrow" produces repentance to salvation

Conclusion

If we are to be a church of soul-winners, then we must understand the wrath of God and true repentance. His wrath is not without consequence. God is a wrathful God, but one that has provided a way out. For this reason, not only should we be living a life of repentance – a metanoia – totally transformed life, we should be encouraging others to do the same.

Remember it is the goodness of God’s love that is the motivation for repentance. Yet it is the contrast of God’s righteousness with our sinfulness that reveals our need for a savior. And while we are not to tolerate the sin in which the world indulges, true repentance in the life of the Christian leads to compassion. When expressed through this heart of compassion, the Gospel of Christ is designed to so produce "godly sorrow", and in turn, repentance in others.

Benediction

Numbers 6:24–26 (NKJV)

Numbers 6:24–26 TLV

‘Adonai bless you and keep you! Adonai make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you! Adonai turn His face toward you and grant you shalom!’

24 “The Lord bless you and keep you;

25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.” ’