God's Wrath on Sinful Man
Notes
Transcript
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 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. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 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. 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: 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. 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; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Introduction
Introduction
As a way of introduction I want you to think about some questions that you may often here in our world today concerning God:
Would a loving God send someone to hell who was innocent:
Who has never heard the Gospel?
Who has never seen a Bible?
Who has never had a missionary come to his remote village?
Who was born and raised in a country that closed its borders to the Christians faith?
What do you think? Would a loving God do this? As you think about your answer, would God pour out His wrath on anyone…?
Who has an evil, sinful heart?
Who was an enemy of God?
Who consistently ignored the truth?
Who has never trusted Christ and His completed work on the cross?
The answer to all these questions is YES! The fall of man know no borders. Sin is not just a problem for men who live in a civilized world. Sin is a worldwide problem that has been a point of vulnerability for every man since Adam and Eve. This passage declares that mankind- every person - everywhere - is without excuse. It is time to quit making excuses for the circumstances of the lost; it is time for us to fully understand why and how God’s wrath is executed upon men. Romans 1 clearly lays this understanding out.
The wrath of God is usually an unpopular subject - it makes people feel uncomfortable. It is far easier to talk about the love of God. but what kind of love would express no wrath at all evil and injustices of the world?
Just like a parent who always indulges his child without ever correcting or discipling him, God’s love not balanced by God’s wrath is both aimless and absurd. Romans declares that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
The wrath of God is often ridiculed and mocked. Ridiculous statements and pictures are made such as God being somewhat like an old man with a gray beard who is flinging thunderbolts at so-called sinful people. But be assured; the wrath of God is not ridiculous: It will be the execution of justice, the straightening out of all the injustices ever committed by men. It will be the payday, the day when every man will receive exactly what he deserves, nothing more and nothing less.
God’s wrath means: Anger, not an agitated outburst of violence. It is not the anger that quickly blazes up and just as quickly fades away, not the anger that arises solely from emotion. rather, it is decisive anger. It is and anger that arises from thoughtful decision, an anger that arises from the mind much more that from emotion. When used of God, it is always an anger that is righteous, just, and good. It is a perfect anger from the perfect God.
So, why? Why is God angry with man? You may be thinking, “Why is God angry with me?” Let’s look at that.
Why God Shows His Wrath
Why God Shows His Wrath
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 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.
Verse 18 tells us to start that God’s wrath is revealed from heaven, but is poured out on two classes for people; the ungodly and unrighteous, and those who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
Those who are ungodly and unrighteous.
the ungodly fail to love and obey God. They are those who do not live as God lives. They are not like God, not holy and righteous and pure. They do not work at developing a godly nature, do not honor God by word or deed, do not worship and obey God as the only living and true God. The ungodly are those who do what they want when they want to do it. They may be those who give lip-service to God, but who ignore Him in their day-to-day lives.
the unrighteous fail to love others. They are those who do not live with men as they should. They act against others: cheating, stealing, lying, abusing, destroying, and taking advantage of others.
The point is clear: God is angry with those who does not love and obey God and who does love and treat others as they should.
2. Men who hold the truth of unrighteousness.
The world hold means to hold down, suppress, or to hinder. Those who know the truth, yet, despite having access to the truth they ignore, neglect, and even push the truth aside, doing all they can to avoid and get rid of it. Why? Because they want to live as they wish and not as God says.
And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
Why is God’s wrath poured out to men? simply put because men have rejected Him and the signs of God.
They Reject That Within Them
They Reject That Within Them
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
God is angry with those that have rejected the signs from within themselves: the conscience and thoughts.
God can be known. He has written is on our hearts, minds, and conscience. It is made evident, made clear and plain to us through what God has placed in us.
We an know God and find Him if we so choose. This is the whole point of this passage: men can know about God, but they do not worship Him as God. People have a sense of God, but they suppress the sense, tying to get rid of it. Man has an inner awareness and knowledge of God, however, some choose not to know God. They even choose to take the truth that is within and suppress it. Man rejects the knowledge of God that is within them. This is the first reason why God’s wrath is shown, and God say they are without excuse in verse 20.
They Reject that Without Them
They Reject that Without Them
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
They reject the signs of creation that reveals God. The whole universe, its presence and its nature, declares God. However, somethings this is overlooked. We can look at nature and see more then the simple fact that God is the great Creator. Some look at the creation of the earth, outer space, the plants, animals, at man and woman, and everything in between; instead of seeing structure, and order, purpose, and law by the signal great Creator. They chose to say it came by a soup, or an accidental explosion.
But when we get a good look at God’s beautiful creation with an honest spirit, we clearly see that the world and everything around it was made by one great Creator. And because we can see this man is again without excuse!
This can be a shocking point. We have every evidence imaginable within creation directing us toward God, yet man still rejects the knowledge of God. this is the second reason why God shows His wrath. Man has no excuse. Man has no defense, no answer, no reason that can justify his rejection of God.
Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.
The heavens declare his righteousness, And all the people see his glory.
Because man rejects God their hearts become darkened. Verse 21 tells us that they are foolish which mean, they are senseless, without understanding, or unintelligent. And darkened means that they are blind and unable to see.
They know not, neither will they understand; They walk on in darkness: All the foundations of the earth are out of course.
As a result men become prideful and turn completely away from God.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 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.
This is one of the greatest tragedies in all of human history, and it is repeated every time man turns away from God. Those who reject God are claiming that they are:
too wise to believe in God
too intelligent to depend on fables
too capable to look for help
too resourceful not to create his own future
too masterful not to truth in is own ideas
too reasonable not to create is own standards and laws.
God is love, yes, but He is also a God of Wrath. Contrary to popular opinion God’s wrath has not become outdated for our day and age. It is important that we know why God’s wrath is shown and men. But the text goes on to show us how God’s wrath is shown.
How God Shows His Wrath
How God Shows His Wrath
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 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. 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: 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. 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; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
He Gave Them Up
He Gave Them Up
Man’s sin forced God to give them up and abandon him. But Man chooses to sin over God and when he does God lets us go.
There are two strong reasons why God gives us up, and each issues a loud warning to man.
Man becomes enslaved to sin. Sin actually stirs up more and more sin. The more a man sins the easier it is to sin again. At first you may wonder about the wisdom of committing the sin; but later on, after committing the sin over and over, you seldom give the sin a second thought. Sin looks good, tastes good, and feels good to the flesh. Ut is attractive and it satisfies the human flesh. It satisfies so much so that people are attracted to it. By sinning, we become steadily enslaved to sin. You become addicted. Sin becomes your master.
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
2. Sin always lies. This need to be remembered. Sin entices, claiming to bring pleasure, and happiness; but in reality it destroy’s a person. The tragedy is that so often we forget that we are not islands to ourselves. Our sin involves others as well. Our sin can destroy our lives and the lives of others. Sin may look, taste, and feel good to us; but it always involves and influences other. It hurts and dooms our children, spouses, friends, and the society.
When we sin we are not the only ones affected by it. Just think for a moment:
- When a person cheats on his taxes, others will lose the benefits of what the tax money was designated for.
- When a person commits adultery, the other spouse and their children suffer deep emotional wounds.
Our sin destroys our lives and the lives others and if we do not believe that we have given into the lies of sin.
When we choose to sin God gives us up to that sin. He gives us up to what we want or our will, and He gives us up to uncleanness:
When we sin we become infected by it, like an infection it leaves us a mess and grows unless treated
And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
God also gives us up to vile and unnatural affection. The term vile affections means passions, dishonor, shameful. It means passions that cannot be controlled or governed, that run loose and wild not matter how much a person tries to control them.
Have you ever wondered why you hear of people how people can get so stuck in drugs, or lust. When are ask them how they got to low, they always say, “somehow I lost control.”
Have you ever tired to cut down a tree? it is almost impossible to get the land to where you cannot see the evidence of the tree. If you were to catch the tree early in its start, it is pretty easy to remove. You need to just pull it up. But let that tree grow for 10 to 20 years and it becomes much harder to remove. That it much like sin.
How does God show is wrath toward sinful man? He gives us to sin and the consequences of that sin.
God Bring Judgment
God Bring Judgment
Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Mel Trotter, the famous rescue mission worker, was the son of a bartender who “drank as much as he served.” Trotter followed in his father’s footsteps, losing job after job because of his addiction to drinking and gambling. Each time he lost a job, he promised to reform and start doing better, but each time he failed. After the death of his baby son, Trotter made his way to Chicago where he intended to drown himself in Lake Michigan. He had sold his shoes to get money for another drink, and was walking barefoot through the snow toward his death when he went inside the Pacific Garden Mission and was saved. For the next forty years, Trotter did everything he could to help those like himself who had fallen prey to the deceptively alluring temptations of sin.
Satan’s advertising is never realistic. He paints beautiful pictures of immediate pleasure, ignoring the real consequences that its participants must endure. If the beer companies ran ads filled with crashed cars, paralyzed drinkers, and the tiny caskets of babies killed by drunk drivers, it would not help them sell their product. So they focus on the beginning rather than the ending. But no matter how beautiful the temptation appears, it is only a cloak for the reality that sin always ends in pain and heartbreak and judgment.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Make no mistake God intends to deal with unrepentant sin. He will judge it Harshly and efficiently. Some would conclude that God is being too harsh on sinners. This story illustrates why God is not too harsh.
A man with an axe was attacked by a vicious dog, and in defending himself had to kill the animal. The owner was furious and asked the man how he dared hill his dog. The man replied that if he had not killed it, the dog would have torn him to pieces. “Well,” said the owner, “why did you hit with the blade? Why didn’t you hit it with the handle?” “I would have,” replied the man, “if it had tired to bite me with its tail.”
God knows that when a sinner bares his teeth, the only thing he will respond to is God’s Judgment: Death!
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
God’s judgement on sin is to separate it from Him by death and hell.
Conclusion
Conclusion
We bring this on ourselves. Choosing to sin. We all know we do this; Think of that moment right before the sin; maybe the lie you are about to tell, in the moments before it come out you are convicted but you push through knowing you have just sinned. But the price for sin is a high price.
This message may seem bleak and hopeless. But Through God’s great love He sent His Son to pay that price!
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
If you have never accepted the free gift of salvation. Eternity in a Christ-less hell is not worth the pleasures of a moment. Won’t you take the gift of salvation and be freed from sin.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
You can have victory over your sin through Jesus Christ! But you must come to Him and repent. Your moment to do so is now. We are getting ready to have what we call an invitation, inviting you to come down to an old fashion altar and kneel before God. It is here that you can take them moment that will change your life forever. You just need to confess your sins and ask Jesus to live within you. Won’t you come?
Christian, this message is a reminder to us as well, of how easy sin can get a hold of our lives and drag us away from God. But you can here for a reason. You too can have victory over your sin. But you can’t do it without Christ. Won’t you come too? Now is the time.