Nobody likes talking about the wrath of God anymore. It’s the antithesis to God’s grace, the ugly stepsister to Cinderella, the side that turns people off from faith because they think,”How can a God of love cast judgment on people?” No one likes to bring up God’s wrath anymore, because talking about it turns people away. God’s wrath is offensive, makes people believe we’re pointing fingers, being judgmental, placing sins of platforms of evilness. To talk about it is to open up a can of worms and ask for trouble.
The reality, however, is that in order to understand God’s grace, we have to first understand God’s wrath. In order to understand salvation, we have to know what we are being saved from.
In Romans 1 and 2, Paul writes extensively on how people are, by default, sinful. He explains it this way in Romans 1:
Romans 1:24-25 NKJV
Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, 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, who is blessed forever. Amen.
In this, Paul states that people’s hearts are naturally inclined to turn away from God and chase after their own passions, to fill up a void in their hearts created by sin that can only be filled by God. As a result,
Romans 1:28-31 NKJV
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; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
our sinful state PRODUCES all kinds of sin by-products. In this, we see that many people, namely, all men and women are deserving of God’s wrath:
Romans 1:18-20 NKJV
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 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,
The harsh reality that resonates in the minds and hearts of man is that we KNOW what sin will produce, and the punishment for sin will be: God’s wrath. Though we may not speak about it often, in our hearts and minds, there resides this inherent notion that we deserve God’s eternal judgment. Even so,
Romans 1:32 NKJV
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.
In other words, though we may know that sin produces death, that walking in darkness carries a spiritual death sentence, not only do we ignore it for ourselves, but we also applaud those who do what we do. The old cliche: “Birds of a feather flock together” rings true to a degree, because often we only celebrate wrongdoing when others are doing it to, thereby making us not feel as bad for doing what we do, even when we know we deserve death for it.
Some of you reading this are thinking either one of two things: 1) why are you judging me for what I do? Isn’t judging a sin, too? or 2) glad you aren’t talking about me? I don’t do those things anymore, so I’m good.
Paul says in Romans 2, “not so fast…I’m talking to you, too…”
Romans 2:1 NKJV
Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.
You’re probably thinking, “Wait, I just told you that I don’t do those things.” Well, technically, you may be right. You might not do those things that appear reprehensible. But, you are STILL in a sinful condition worthy of God’s wrath. Because though you may not participate in what some people would call “big sin,” you’re still sinful BY DEFAULT.
Romans 2:4-6 NKJV
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:
What we fail to recognize a lot of times is that while we are going around chasing after homosexuality, God is charging us GUILTY of judging people. When we’re hunting down fornicators, God is charging us GUILTY of hypocrisy. When we’re executing judgment and ostracism on unmarried, pregnant women in ministry, God is charging us GUILTY of pride and prestige. Even when we think we’re doing a great thing for the glory of God, God is looking down at us and declaring us GUILTY, because instead of extending the same GRACE extended on us to all people, and allowing God to lead them to repentance and sanctification, we want to play God and judge people right now, not realizing that because we choose to dispense God’s wrath on guilty parties now, we’re only asking God to dispense His wrath on us in the life to come, which is far worse.
Romans 2:17-21, 24 NKJV
Indeed you are called a Jew, and rest on the law, and make your boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are excellent, being instructed out of the law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, having the form of knowledge and truth in the law. You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.
Paul issues a stern warning to all men: none of us are exempt from the wrath of God. We are all sin-full by default. Some of us may not commit capital, society-driven, shame-producing sin crimes, but all of us are guilty of the same two categories of sin: idolatry and rebellion. Idolatry because we worshipped something other than God at some point, and rebellion because we knocked ourselves out of relationship with God, one between King and servant. Just because you may have served in the church for 50+ years does not make you exempt from God’s wrath. Just because you preach in a pulpit every Sunday morning does not make you exempt. Just because you sing and lead worship does not make you exempt. None of us, from the drug addict and porn star to the archbishop and his armor-bearer, are exempt from the wrath of God.
That is the reason we should appreciate God’s grace. Because none of us deserve it.
I Am #WordNerd 
The truth shall make you free.
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