Sermon Tone Analysis

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.

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

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.

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

The Great Flood

Sodom and Gomorrah

New Testament Examples

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