Wrath of God

Introduction

In Connection Group on Sunday, you looked over the Flood, recorded in Genesis 6. God sent His wrath upon the people of Noah’s time. God being rich in mercy, saw Noah, who was still serving God, and gave him a way out. Commanding Noah to build an Ark, Noah built the Ark, and warned all those around him that God was going to Flood the earth, but no one listened to him. When the rain fell, God shut the doors of the Ark, and all those who had been warned, perished.

The flood not only happened, but it also was a foretelling of the Gospel. The world has sinned against God, and God offers salvation, and redemption through Christ, but only to those who listen to and obey God.

Scripture

Romans 2:1–16 NLT

1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things. 3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin? 5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done. 7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers. 8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. 11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it. 13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right. 16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

In the chapter before this, Paul was talking about unbelief and it’s consequences, and stated that creation is proof of a God, and that people still ignore God, and live in sin. Paul then lists a lot of those sins. So keep that context in mind when reading this passage.

Romans 2:1–2 NLT

1 You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things. 2 And we know that God, in his justice, will punish anyone who does such things.

Paul makes it clear that we’re not to judge others, and think we’re better than them. The things we judge them for, we often do too. And we know that God, in His justice will judge all who do these things.

Have you ever seen someone do something, that you know is a sin, and you look down on them for that, but you know you do the exact same thing. But no, they’re different than you, because you only do it a few times a week. But they do it everyday. So you’re so much better than them.

You try and justify your sin, by the quantity, rather than the reality. The reality is, you’re both sinning in God’s eyes. You continue to sin in that way, just as they do.

Romans 2:3–4 NLT

3 Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God’s judgment when you do the same things? 4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?

What makes you think, that you’re going to get away with the same thing that other person is doing when you’re also doing it? God isn’t your mother when you have a sibling rivalry.

For those of you who have siblings, have you ever done something that you know your mom or dad would disaprove of, and when you both get caught doing it, she only gets onto one of you? Even thought both of you did it, only one got the consequences.

God, unlike your parents, sees when you do wrong. And will judge you just like He will judge the other.

But look in verse 4, God kindness towards us is intended to make us turn from our sins. Why doesn’t God just wipe us off the face of the planet for our disobedience? Why did He not just give Noah an Ark, and flood the earth on the very day He told Noah He was going to flood the earth? Because God, being rich in mercy and love, gives oppurtunities for repentance and offers forgiveness. Noah spent years trying to spread the word that God was going to judge the people, but they did not listen. God sent prophets to Israel when they disobeyed God, and warned them they would be judged if they didn’t repent. God sent forth prophets to declare that the Messiah, who takes away sin, is coming to die on behalf of us.

His kindness towards us, shows us He loves us, wants us, and was willing to sacrifice His Son for us. Therefore, because of this love, we should want to turn away from our sin, and turn to Him.

Unbelief And It’s Consequences

Romans 2:5–6 NLT

5 But because you are stubborn and refuse to turn from your sin, you are storing up terrible punishment for yourself. For a day of anger is coming, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 6 He will judge everyone according to what they have done.

When we choose to live our life apart from God, God will give us what we have chosen. Eternity separate from Him. Where we will be judged, based on our sins, and our disobedience to God. Why can’t God just force us to love Him? Because then we would be robots, forced to love, and forced love is not real love. Love is a choice.

Belief And It’s Reward

Romans 2:7 NLT

7 He will give eternal life to those who keep on doing good, seeking after the glory and honor and immortality that God offers.

When we choose to live our lives with God, we accept the free gift of salvation, He promises eternal life with Him. Back in unity with Him. Back to how God intended it.

Romans 2:8–9 NLT

8 But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. 9 There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

If we continue in our sin, continue living for ourselves and the lusts of our flesh, and refuse to obey truth, God will pour out His wrath upon us.

Romans 2:10 NLT

10 But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile.

Those who obey God, and listen to His word, these are the rewards.

Romans 2:11–12 NLT

11 For God does not show favoritism. 12 When the Gentiles sin, they will be destroyed, even though they never had God’s written law. And the Jews, who do have God’s law, will be judged by that law when they fail to obey it.

God does not show favoritism, but wait, God gave the Jews the law, where they will be judged, but the Gentiles didn’t have the law, so did God give the Jews favoritism??

Romans 2:13–15 NLT

13 For merely listening to the law doesn’t make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight. 14 Even Gentiles, who do not have God’s written law, show that they know his law when they instinctively obey it, even without having heard it. 15 They demonstrate that God’s law is written in their hearts, for their own conscience and thoughts either accuse them or tell them they are doing right.

Although the Gentiles did not have God’s written law, inwardly some obeyed the laws because it was built into them. God gives us all that same thing. Inwardly we know if some things are right or wrong.

God gave us creation, the ultimate sign to a creator. Creation declares the glory of God. God cries out though His word, through His creation, and through the morality which He placed in you, that He loves you, wants to have a relationship with you, but if you ignore His cries, you will be judged.

Romans 2:16 NLT

16 And this is the message I proclaim—that the day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life.

Just like the account of the flood, we’ve been warned, but have we listened? God will judge our secret life, the sins we know we’ve commited, and those we didn’t. Every single sin, listed out.

Revelation 20:11–15 NLT

11 And I saw a great white throne and the one sitting on it. The earth and sky fled from his presence, but they found no place to hide. 12 I saw the dead, both great and small, standing before God’s throne. And the books were opened, including the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 The sea gave up its dead, and death and the grave gave up their dead. And all were judged according to their deeds. 14 Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death. 15 And anyone whose name was not found recorded in the Book of Life was thrown into the lake of fire.

If you have accepted Christ, now it’s your turn to spread the Gospel. Tell others about Christ, tell them they need salvation. This isn’t childrens church anymore.

When we look at the story of the flood, we shouldn’t think about the cute art that we decorate with of Noah on the boat, and it’s this sweet little childrens story.

This is God, pouring out His wrath on the disobedient people. This is 100s - 1000s of dead people, including men, women, children, grandparents floating on the surface of the flood waters dead because of their disobedience to God.

God now promises, that soon, He will judge the earth, and those who have not accepted Him will be sent to Hell, and punished in a lake of fire for all of eternity separated from God.

This is why we evangelize. This is your friends and family that are facing the wrath of God if they do not turn from their sins and place their trust in Christ.

But God, because He is rich in love and mercy, offers us a way out, through Christ. God has given us time to trust in Christ before He judges the earth, and all those who live, and have lived.

SALVATION