The Wrath of God
Romans 1:18-19 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.
I was recently approached by a man that was going through a set evangelistic pattern. He opened by asking the traditional question, “If God is a God of love how can He send anyone to hell?” The purpose behind the question is to open up a discussion of the free gift of salvation by the grace of God through faith. I listened along and allowed for him to get some practice in witnessing before sharing with him my personal faith was placed in the finished work of Jesus Christ.
I bring this up in the example that it sets for the overwhelming notion of the fact that God is a loving God without any attempt to establish what is meant by that sentiment. We automatically fill in the meaning of some benevolent grandfather that just wants everyone to be happy and free to do as they please. The concept of the wrath of God is completely ignored and for the most part often relegated to a rarity of only the worse sinners. Yet the Bible states in Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. Anger is not something that we like to attribute to an Almighty God but it is where we as a culture have arrived at.
In the text of Romans 1 that I started with is the beginning of what is often known as the spiral of degradation. It is the waxing worse and worse of a culture that is apart from God. It continues on to issue the following warning of a nation apart from God:
Romans 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
25 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.
26 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:
27 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.
28 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;
29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,
30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:
32 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.
In this discourse we see that homosexuality (vs. 26-27), along with the lists vileness in verses 29-31 as a result of God’s wrath upon a nation. My concern is not that if our country does not repent and turn from wickedness that God will judge, my belief is that God has judged our nation and henceforth we see the judgement that is already upon us. In fact, a quick survey of our choices in entertainment that many so-called Christians choose is a testimony to the final verse of the chapter, as many “have pleasure in them that do them.” God has removed His hand of protection from our country and the remnant that do live after Him has spared us the full fury of His wrath that will be poured out soon.
The upcoming change in political leadership is not the answer to the wrath of God being poured out, it is only found in the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. An awakening of those that call upon His name than actually living as they say they believe and taking the good news of Jesus redemption to the lost and dying world around us. Reformation and renewals are meaningless if there has not been redemption of the fallen man.
Submitted by Eric O. Buhrow
Member of the Board, BFLW
Immanuel Baptist Church, Rice Lake WI