07-03-2022 - The Wrath of God

OPENING

Thank God for a couple wins recently for religious freedom here in the United States of America.

On Monday, June 27th, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Joe Kennedy, a football coach from Washington, who was placed on leave after refusing to stop praying at the 50 yard line after games.

On Friday, June 24th, the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade after nearly 50 years, effectively stating that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to abortion, and giving the individual states the authority to enforce their own abortion laws.

But even with what seems like a couple wins for religious freedom and Christian values, the overall trajectory of our nation is still headed in the wrong direction. We are headed in the wrong direction because our nation has forgotten God. As a nation, we are moving further and further away from the Christian values that our founding fathers had in mind when they adopted the Declaration of Independence at the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

This shift in our direction as a nation is significant, because the Bible warns us of the result of those who willingly turn away from and forget God.

Psalm 9:17 NKJV

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, And all the nations that forget God.

When a person willingly rejects God and is living in open rebellion against Him, they bring the judgment and wrath of God upon themselves. Although “The Wrath of God” is not a popular sermon title or message in today’s culture, it is nevertheless a valid and vital part of the Gospel. Paul must have felt this is true because, in his letter to the Romans, he spends nearly three chapters discussing “The Wrath of God.”

A lot of people would rather avoid this topic. But the truth is that the Gospel is not the Gospel without an understanding of “The Wrath of God.” The Bible says more about wrath that it does love. Jesus spoke more about hell than He did about heaven. We can speculate on the reasons behind those two facts, but no amount of reasoning can change the truth. The Bible is filled with warning about God’s wrath and eternal judgment. And I would not be a faithful pastor if I did not deal with this topic. God does not avoid discussing His wrath in His Word, and neither should we.

SCRIPTURE

Romans 1:18–32 NKJV

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. 24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. 26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. 28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

MESSAGE

The Reality of God’s Wrath

Paul’s Gospel message in Romans begins with a statement about God’s Wrath.

This is diametrically opposed to most of our evangelistic technique.

But an understanding of the Wrath of God is necessary in order to fully appreciate and understand the Gospel.

“Unless there is something to be saved from, there is no point in talking about salvation” (Morris).

How can people understand anything about God’s love if they don’t understand God’s hate?

How can they understand anything about God’s grace if they don’t understand anything about God’s law?

How can they understand forgiveness if they don’t understand the penalty for sin?

But the term “Wrath of God” disturbs some people.

That is probably because they have a wrong definition of God’s Wrath.

God’s wrath is His settled hostility toward sin in all its various manifestations.

We must understand that God’s divine nature is perfectly balanced.

God is completely and perfectly holy.

God’s very nature is diametrically opposed to sin.

Therefore, if He did not hate sin, then He would not be God.

Hebrews 1:9 NKJV

9 You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

The Reality of God’s Wrath is Evident Throughout Scripture.

The Great Flood

Sodom and Gomorrah

New Testament Examples

John 3:36 NKJV

36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Romans 9:22 NKJV

22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,

Ephesians 5:6 NKJV

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

2 Thessalonians 1:8–9 NKJV

8 in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,

The Revelation of God’s Wrath

Against Ungodliness and Unrighteousness

Ungodliness is sin against God Himself.

Unrighteousness is sin against others.

When our relationship with God is not right, our relationships with others will not be right.

Who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

Men fall into a state of ungodliness and unrighteousness because they (1) reject the truth about God, (2) turn away from God, and (3) give themselves over to immorality.

But man stands condemned before God because they are without excuse.

God has revealed Himself to mankind in two main ways:

Special Revelation

General Revelation

What Paul describes here in Romans 1 is General Revelation.

God’s creation is evidence of a Divine Creator.

His fingerprints are on everything we see.

But although mankind knows God or can clearly see the evidence of His divine glory, they choose to suppress the truth of God.

As a result, mankind begins a downward spiral that leads to God’s Wrath.

Stage 1: Indifference to God

Did not glorify God (21).

They were not thankful toward God (21).

Truth demands a response.

When mankind suppresses the truth of God, they will glorify the creation instead of the Creator.

Stage 2: Moral Blindness

They became futile in their thoughts (21).

Their foolish hearts were darkened (21).

Claiming to be wise, they became fools (22).

When mankind suppresses the truth of God, they will replace God’s righteousness with their own twisted version of morality.

Stage 3: Idolatry

Changed the glory of the immortal God (23).

And created their own idols.

When mankind suppresses the truth of God, they will create and serve their own idol gods.

The Result of God’s Wrath

The result of man’s rejection of the truth of God is that they place themselves under the wrath of God. Here in Romans 1, Paul repeats this phrase “God gave them up” or “God gave them over” three times.

To Uncleanness (24-25)

In the lusts of their hearts.

To dishonor their bodies among themselves.

Who exchanged the truth of God for the lie.

And worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

To Vile Passions (26-27)

Women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.

Men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another.

Men with men committing what is shameful.

And receiving in themselves the penalty for their error which was due.

To a Debased (Reprobate) Mind (29-31).

Unrighteousness

Sexual Immorality

Wickedness

Covetousness

Maliciousness

Full of Envy

Murder

Strife

Deceit

Evil-mindedness

Whisperers

Backbiters

Haters of God

Violent

Proud

Boasters

Inventors of Evil Things

Disobedient to Parents

Undiscerning

Untrustworthy

Unloving

Unforgiving

Unmerciful.

The Greatest Indictment of All (32).

Even though they know the righteous judgment of God.

And that those who practice such things are deserving of death.

Not only do the same.

But approve of those who practice them.

CLOSING

The rejection of the truth of God begins a downward spiral of spiritual decline that ultimately results in falling under the wrath of God. That’s the bad news. Here’s the good news. Jesus is our propitiation.

1 John 2:2 NKJV

2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

Jesus is the once-for all sacrifice for sins.

Because Jesus Christ died and rose again, God’s justice is now satisfied.

Because Jesus Christ died and rose again, God’s wrath has been turned away.

Because Jesus Christ died and rose again, Gods mercy is now freely available to anyone who wants it.

ALTAR CALL