God’s Wrath Revealed
Romans 1:18-23
July 5, 2015
Dr. Ritch Boerckel
“The modern habit throughout the Christian church is to play this subject down. Those
who still believe in the wrath of God (not all do) say little about it; perhaps they do not
think much about it. To an age which has unashamedly sold itself to the gods of greed,
pride, sex and self-will, the Church mumbles on about God’s kindness, but says virtually
nothing about His judgment . . . The fact is that the subject of divine wrath has become
taboo in modern society, and Christians by and large have accepted the taboo and
conditioned themselves never to raise the matter.”
—J. I. Packer
The Fact of God’s Wrath
Definition: God’s wrath is God’s just and loving response to overcome and to put an end
to evil.
Psalms 7:11 (ESV)
“God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.”
Nahum 1:2 (ESV)
“The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD is avenging and wrathful; the
LORD takes vengeance on his adversaries and keeps wrath for his enemies.”
Ezekiel 5:13 (ESV)
“Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them and satisfy
myself. And they shall know that I am the LORD—that I have spoken in my
jealousy—when I spend my fury upon them.”
Colossians 3:5–6 (ESV)
“Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity,
passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the
wrath of God is coming.”
Revelation 19:15 (ESV)
“From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations,
and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury
of the wrath of God the Almighty.”
John 3:16, 36 (ESV)
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in
him should not perish but have eternal life . . . Whoever believes in the Son has
eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of
God remains on him.”
Truth: God’s wrath is God’s love acting in opposition to soul-destroying sin.
Application #1: Discover who God is through scripture, not through your imaginations.
Application #2: Flee from God’s wrath!
1 Thessalonians 5:9, 10a (ESV)
“For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord
Jesus Christ, who died for us . . . ”
Application #3: Fear God!
Ecclesiastes 12:13 (ESV)
“The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”
Hebrews 12:28–29 (ESV)
“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and
thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our
God is a consuming fire.”
The Perfection of God’s Wrath
If God’s wrath is a perfection, why do we find ourselves disliking the truth of God’s
wrath?
Two answers:
1. We misunderstand God’s wrath.
2. We love our own sin.
Principle: A denial of God’s wrath usually is accompanied by the acceptance and
celebration of some specific sin!
Application: Hate sin! And hate our own sin first!!
The Object of God’s Wrath
Applications:
1. If you have not received God’s salvation, repent of your sin and believe in Jesus
as your Savior and Lord.
2. Christian, confess your sins to the Lord. Seek His forgiveness daily.
3. Proclaim the Gospel in all its fullness.
Acts 24:24–25 (ESV)
“After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent
for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned
about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was
alarmed and said, ‘Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will
summon you.’”
The Reasons Man Deserves God’s Wrath
Reason #1: Man suppresses the truth by loving sin.
Reason #2: Man refuses to acknowledge and honor God.
Reason #3: Man creates his own religion.
“No doubt it is true that the subject of divine wrath has in the past been handled
speculatively, irreverently, even malevolently. No doubt there have been some who have
preached on wrath and damnation with tearless eyes and no pain in their hearts. No
doubt the sight of small sects cheerfully consigning the whole word, apart from
themselves, to hell has disgusted many. Yet if we would know God, it is vital that we face
the truth concerning his wrath, however unfashionable it may be, and however strong
our initial prejudices against it. Otherwise we shall not understand the gospel of
salvation from wrath, nor the propitiatory achievement of the cross, nor the wonder of
the redeeming love of God, . . .”
— J. I. Packer, Knowing God, 142