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Preaching the Living WORD through the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4:2 - |
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THE WRATH OF GOD (Rom 1:18) Pastor I.
THE WRATH OF GOD IS HIS
RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION A. Having finished his greetings, purpose, and theme, Paul begins
his discourse on the “gospel of God (Rom 1:1). B. The gospel begins with the wrath of God; not because God is the
mean God of the Old Testament, but because God is absolute righteousness and
holiness and cannot tolerate sin. 1.
God has never been nor ever can
be sinful (1Jo 1:5). 2.
God cannot be tempted with sin
(Jam 1:17). 3.
God cannot fellowship with sin
(Ps 5:4). 4.
God cannot even look upon sin
(Hab 1:13). C. When God’s righteous standard (based on His own attribute of
righteousness) is violated by any unrighteousness or sin, it evokes His
eternal righteous indignation, i.e. wrath (Rom 2:5, 8; Rom 5:9; Rom 9:22; Rom
12:19). D. The wrath of God has been defined as, 1.
The divine wrath is to be regarded as the
natural expression of the divine nature, which is absolute holiness [and
righteousness], manifesting itself against the willful, high-handed,
deliberate, inexcusable sin and iniquity of mankind. (ISBE) 2.
The permanent attitude of the holy and just God when confronted
by sin and evil is designated his ‘wrath’. It is inadequate to regard this
term merely as a description of ‘the inevitable process of cause and effect
in a moral universe’ or as another way of speaking of the results of sin. It
is rather a personal quality, without which God would cease to be fully
righteous and his love would degenerate into sentimentality. (New Bible Dictionary) 3.
... It is clear that when we think of the
word ["wrath"] as applicable to [God] it must be divested of
everything like human passion, and especially of the passion of revenge. ...It is one of the most obvious rules of
interpretation that we are not to apply to God passions and feelings which,
among us, have their origin in evil.
... It is the opposition of the divine character against sin; and the
determination of the divine mind to express that opposition in a proper way,
by excluding the offender from the favors which he bestows on the righteous. (Albert Barnes in loc.) E. The wrath of God is expressed by various metaphors in the
Scriptures. 1.
Smoke from of nostrils (Ps
18:7-8; Isa 30:27) 2.
Burning like fire (Nah 1:5; Ps
106:40; Heb 12:29) 3.
Treading the winepress (Isa
63:3; Rev 19:15) 4.
Pouring out wrath (Ps 79:6; Nah
1:6) 5.
Drinking the wrath of God (Rev
14:10Rev 16:19; ) II. THE WRATH OF GOD IS BEING REVEALED FROM HEAVEN A. The divine wrath of God is being divinely revealed from heaven.
This revealing is emphatic, coming first in the Greek construction. B. “Revealed” (apokaluptō)
has the basic meaning of uncover or unveil (cp. Rev 1:1). Revelation is the
divine disclosing of divine truth about God and His will, which otherwise
would be unknown to man. 1.
God has revealed His divine
nature through creation (cp. Rom 1:20). 2.
God has revealed His Law in the
conscience of man (cp. Rom 2:15). 3.
God is revealing His imputed
righteousness in the gospel (Rom 1:17). 4.
God is revealing His righteous
in indignation in the world (Rom 1:18). C. God is presently revealing (apokaluptetai
- pres pass D. In Rom 1:19-28, Paul describes not only the divine consequences
of sin, but divine wrath in handing over (paradidomi
- Rom 1:24, 26, 28) man to his own sin and destruction (Rom 1:24, 27). III. THE WRATH OF GOD IS AGAINST ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS A. God’s wrath is “upon” (epi)
those who outwardly exhibit that which is inwardly inherent, namely,
“ungodliness,” “unrighteousness,” and “suppression of the truth.” B. “Ungodliness” (asebeia)
means a lack of reverence, an impiety that arrays man against God, not simply
in terms of neglect but also of rebellion. God’s anger is directed against all
those who fail to give God His proper reverence (cp. Rom 1:21). C. “Unrighteousness” (adikia)
is a disregard for what is right according to God’s righteous standards and
truths. God’s anger is directed against all those who fail to give God’s
righteousness its proper obedience. D. “Suppressing (katechō
- lit. hold down) the truth,” means that man may know the truth but he
willfully chooses to ignore and reject it. 1.
R.C.H. Lenski observes, "Whenever the truth starts to exert
itself and makes them feel uneasy in their moral nature, they hold it down,
suppress it. Some drown its voice by rushing into their immoralities; others
strangle the disturbing voice by argument and by denial." (in loc.) 2.
Since Christ is the truth (Jn
14:6), all who reject God’s truth ultimately reject Jesus Christ. 3.
God’s anger is directed against
all those who fail to give God’s truth its proper regard. E. In Rom 1:29-32, Paul describes depraved man in his
unrighteousness. His discourse will show that pagans, Jews, and all of
humanity are inherently sinful and depraved. IV. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS A. The believer has been saved from the wrath of God (Rom 5:9).
Christ took the full force of God’s wrath for our unrighteousness on the cross.
Christ is the believer’s propitiation, the satisfying atonement for God’s
righteous indignation against sin (Rom 3:25; 1Jo 4:10). B. Though an unpopular contemporary thought, unbelievers need to
know of God’s present (Rom 1:18; Jn 3:36) and impending wrath (Rev 20:11-14)
so that they flee to the cross. This truth is the first part of Paul’s gospel
presentation. C. The full wrath of God will come one day to execute supreme
justice, right every wrong, vindicate every injustice, and wipe away sin
forever (Rev 21:8, 27). |
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