WHAT ABOUT THE WRATH OF GOD?
Romans 1:17-18

Introduction:     Balance is so important in life. In order to be balanced in our understanding of God’s Word it is necessary to understand that God’s love is balanced by His wrath.

I.          FACTUAL TEACHING OF THE BIBLE

There are more references in the Bible about God’s anger, fury, and wrath than there are about His love and tenderness. People get confused about what the wrath of God is – (it is far more that God sending sinners to hell). God’s wrath is:

            A.        God’s Definite Attitude Toward Sin

“Wrath” = a settled anger (indignation).

·        The wrath of God demands that He hate evil and love the good. God cannot love the good and turn His head and wink at sin. (Illus: If God loves good, righteousness, and things that are pure and perfect then God is going to have an attitude of anger toward sin!)

·        Important! God does not hate the sinner, God hates the sin! (Illus: you may trifle and play with sin, you may involve yourself with sin – but you must understand you are playing with something that God hates and that nailed His only begotten Son to the Cross).

·        We live in a permissive society where folks do things that the Word of God says is sin and act as if they’ll never have to give account to God! (Illus: God is a holy righteous creator that holds our breath in His hands, who hates sin and must (and will) do something about it!)

·        Understand the wrath of God is God’s attitude towards sin! (Illus: this delicate balance is seen in the ministry of Jesus – woman taken in adultery). Jesus loves the sinner while hating the sin! (Illus: we ought to hate sin also – Hell is Real…Judgment is Sure…Sin is the cause…Jesus is the Cure!)

            B.         God’s Determination To Punish Sin

“Wrath” = pictures a piece of fruit that swells up until it bursts.

·        This is not talking about God being cruel; it is talking about God being Just!

·        I believe that because people sin and don’t see an immediate response for God they don’t really think that God’s wrath will fall on them. (Illus: the wrath of God is sometime silent – all without Christ are under the wrath of God right now!)

·        Not much preaching on the wrath of God today.

The wrath of God shows God’s settled determination to punish sin and is the plain teaching of the Bible. If you don’t believe in the wrath of God then you don’t believe the Bible!

II.         FRIGHTFUL TEACHING OF THE BIBLE

The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against people – this is a freighting thing.

We are living in a lukewarm time where people don’t care about the things of God. (Illus: what will the church be like just before the rapture? The Laodicean age (expound) – uncommitted, uncaring, cold and compromising.  The Bible says the wrath of God will be revealed (uncovered). How?

            A.        God’s Actual Punishment Of Sin

·        Expulsion from the Garden of Eden – God’s punishment on sin.

·        Physical death – a manifestation of the wrath of God.

·        Fills us with fear – awareness of impending death is a manifestation of the wrath of God.

·        The flood – Noah (swelling fruit – slow but sure) – that’s the wrath of God.

·        Sodom & Gomorrah – the lack of Lott’s testimony; much like today…why should they believe us when we say God is a God of wrath when we have no fear of the wrath of Almighty God?

·        Calvary is where we see God’s wrath poured out on sin like no where else – expound! Jesus becomes the lighting rod for the wrath of God! That’s God’s wrath – His punishment on sin!

            B.         Sin’s Inherent Tendency To Produce Misery

·        Look at the alcoholic

·        Look the drug addict

·        Look at those with STD’s

·        Look and the broken homes and broken lives – this is the wrath of God.

III.       NEEDFUL TEACHING OF THE BIBLE

Why should we be reminded about the wrath of God? “Hold the truth in unrighteousness” is talking about verse 17 (the gospel in v.16). God doesn’t want you to go to hell to be doomed and damned. God says, My Son has taken your wrath and you can life forever in heaven! If you go to hell you go there because you determine to go there. (Illus: things you’ll have to do to go to hell). If you go to hell you have no one to blame but yourself. (Illus: “FOREVER”).

            A.        Develop In Us A Hatred For Sin

·        So I will not play with it.

·        So that I’ll run from it.

B.                 Develop In Us A Reverence For God

·        How can I worship a God I take lightly?

·        How can I worship a God that I view as a glorified Granddaddy

Conclusion:       The knowledge of the wrath of God should cause the lost to trust Jesus as Savior. The reminder of the wrath of God should cause me as a  believer to praise God for my deliverance!