Understanding the Wrath of God
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19 ESV)
We must understand and accept the way in which God wants to be known, which he clearly lays out in the Bible. Among this revelation, God is holy (he is separated from sin), he is just (in his perfect justice he rewards and punishes) and he is righteous (he is perfect in morality in contrast to all who are immoral).
God offers mercy because he justly pours out his wrath on mankind in his sin. God offers grace because mankind could offer nothing acceptable to him. God offers salvation because mankind is separated and lost from him. To take away any of the characteristics of God is to diminish all the characteristics that you cherish.
“God’s settled anger towards sin expressed in the repayment of suitable vengeance on the guilty sinner.” (John Piper)
God’s wrath is not against the saints.
And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. (Daniel 12:2 ESV)
God’s wrath is deserved by those who receive it.
Because God is just and right, he cannot allow sin to go unpunished. God is true, right and just, therefore, he detests all sin. “All evil must be utterly abhorrent to his pure and holy [being]; and it is not only because he can do it, but because he must do it, that he will, one of these days, let loose the fury of his wrath against sin. (Spurgeon)
We should not think that because God is long-suffering and patient that he discounts sinful actions. His hand may be staying his execution, but his wrath is coming. 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty….” (Exodus 34:6-7 ESV)
The Holy Spirit revealed through the Book of Romans that:
God’s wrath is certain. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. (Romans 1:18 ESV)
God’s wrath is deserved. 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. (Romans 1:19-20 ESV)
God’s wrath is being stored up against sinners. But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. (Romans 2:5 ESV)
God’s wrath is eternal.
43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’ (Mark 9:43, 47-48 ESV)
And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.” (Matthew 25:46 ESV)
God’s wrath is escapable, even as he remains true to his holiness and justice.
7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8 Bear fruit in keeping with repentance. 9 And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. 10 Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees. Every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and gather his wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:7-12 ESV)
