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The Wrath of God
Romans 1:18
"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all
ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in
unrighteousness" (Romans 1:18).
In all the intricacies and difficulties of Romans we are probably the most
comfortable with chapter one. Its material represents the beginning of Paul's
elaborate arguments to show that all people are sinners. Unfortunately, in the
discussion of the terrible sins listed in chapter one a key thought of this text
can be lost: God's wrath. It is this thought that leads and introduces the
entire section, yet rarely do we hear an explanation of God's wrath, how it
works, and why it is "being revealed against all unrighteousness of men." This
article proposes to examine this crucial subject, that we might have a fresh
appreciation and understanding of a neglected aspect of God's character.
God's wrath is not anger out of control. An angry God bothers some so much that
they take ever tack possible to remove the obvious meaning of the text. One
scholar argued that Paul did not mean to indicate a personal reaction on God's
part but the reaction of a "moral universe." All such attempts seem grounded in
the idea that anger is inherently wrong and sinful, and so a lot of anger (a
fairly common definition of wrath) would really be wrong and sinful. The Bible
teaches otherwise. "Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your
wrath" (Ephesians 4:26). Anger is not always irrational. Jesus was angered at
hard hearts (Mk. 3:5; Jn. 2:15-16). What feeling should such callousness as the
Pharisees exhibited evoked in our Lord? To see sin ruining lives, both now and
in eternity, and not be angry at the devil and foolish people who allow
themselves to be taken by him is unthinkable. Righteousness loves light, and
hates darkness (John 3:20).
Thus, every expression of darkness must be met with righteous indignation or
anger.
However, there is an enormous amount of difference in human anger and divine
wrath. In a time when child abuse is widely reported it is important that our
Heavenly Father not be portrayed as some sort of raging tyrant, mindlessly and
wildly hurting His children. This portrait of God is painted when people decide
God's wrath is like man's wrath. "God gets angry like we get angry," our humans
mind can think, "only His anger is bigger and more powerful." In reality, most
human
anger is not righteous anger, and so James affirm: "So then, my beloved
brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath, for the
wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:19-20). We get
angry because our egos have been slighted, and because we did not get our way.
Further, human anger usually expresses itself in ways that are hurtful to others
around us. God's anger in no way resembles our (sinful) anger. God is not angry
because He has some gigantic ego that we have failed to gratify. His righteous
anger is directed at evil people who refuse to be what He made them to be and
thus hurt themselves. He is angry at the senselessness of men and women who send
themselves to hell because they will not heed His word. Additionally, as we
shall see, Paul develops the critical point that even the expression of God's
wrath is not designed to hurt sinful man but bring him to his senses that he
will return to his maker and be saved.
God's wrath is not incompatible with the preaching of the Gospel. Contextually,
this is an interesting place for Paul to bring up God's wrath. He has just hit
the high point of chapter one in his wonderful expression that the Gospel is
"the power of God for salvation to every one . . . for in it the righteousness
of God is revealed . . . . (vv. 16-17). How can Paul inject the dark notes of
God's justice into the delightful melody of salvation? The answer is that Paul
does not see the wrath of God as being incompatible with the Gospel's message.
While many people wish to separate grace from judgment, Calvary from hell, love
from wrath Paul shows us that it cannot be done. Yes, the Gospel is good news
but it is only good news for those who receive it. For those that disregard its
saving power the Gospel reveals the wrath and judgment of God directed toward
all sin. The Gospel also reveals sinful attitudes and behaviors, as Paul will go
on to list very specifically (vv. 21-32).
It is interesting that in our day "fire and brimstone" preaching is considered
dreadfully old-fashioned and out of date. While Puritan preachers were renowned
for sermons that suspended the audience over the very fires of hell some
preaching today seems to disdain to even mention eternal condemnation. In truth,
many of those Puritan preachers may have over-emphasized judgment and
condemnation, and may have been guilty of just giving the audience a good scare
for the entertainment value such terrifying sermons packed. Realizing this as an
extreme surely we can see the mistake of going to the other extreme and deciding
never to speak of God's righteous wrath, the day of judgment, or the plain truth
that not everyone will go to heaven. Jesus was remarkably unafraid to discuss
hell in explicit detail. Shall his followers be reluctant to tell the truth as
Jesus did? Yes, talking about hell is a frightful thing, and thinking about
going there is not enough to make
the hair bristle on the back of your neck. So it ought to be! God's wrath is not
to be trifled with, people will account for their deeds some day, and some folks
(yes, many folks) will be lost. Something is going to happen to everyone's soul
and we need to carefully contemplate the two possible choices that we would make
the right choice. Let our pulpits and Bible classes and private meditation be
full of thoughts of heaven and joy, but also be balanced with thoughts that it
is indeed a
"fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb. 10:31).
God's wrath is being currently expressed. Usually our thoughts about the wrath
of God track along as expressed above, i.e. God's wrath is expressed in final
judgment. Yet this is not what Paul says. Verse 18 clearly states that God's
wrath "is revealed" (present tense), not God's wrath "will be revealed" (future
tense). What does this mean? How is God's wrath being expressed even now?
The answer is found in the phrase "God gave them over," used three times in the
passages from 21-32. We are told that God gave them (sinful Gentiles who refused
to acknowledge Him as God) over to the lusts of their hearts (v. 24), degrading
passions (v. 26), and to a depraved mind (v.28). This expression "gave them
over" is a technical term that referred to what one did with a convicted
criminal: he or she is given over to be punished. So Paul tells us that sinners
are being punished right now by God "giving them over." God's wrath is expressed
presently by this decision of God's to "give them over."
Further examination of the text shows this to be true. The crime these are
guilty of is rejecting the knowledge of God (v. 21) and the punishment is God
giving them over to do as they wish to do. When people turn away from God He
will not force them to come back and serve Him (though He has the power to do
so). No, instead God releases people to do as they want. God gives them over to
the evil desires in their hearts (v. 24), to do things that not even animals
would do and which only debase humanity (v. 26), and to minds so infected with
sin that they will rationalize every kind of iniquity (v. 32).
In some ways this may seem like a punishment that anyone would enjoy. Most
children would love to be told "Since you were naughty I'm going to allow you to
do whatever you want to do." But what would the end result of such a punishment
be? Would it teach the child self-control, discipline and endurance so necessary
to be productive and useful in life? Or would the child ultimately end up a mess
of uncivilized passions, completely dominated by selfishness? So the listing of
sins concludes: "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" (verse 32). Man decides that he does not
want to know about God or serve Him, so God will allow men and women to do as
they please, push God far from their thoughts and live exactly as they want to.
The end result is that humanity is in a sorry state, miserable beyond words, and
totally
trapped in its own evil deeds.
Surely God's wrath could be expressed in a different form. He could, for
example, strike everyone dead who did the terrible sins Paul lists in our text.
But that would not work to bring people to repentance. We should remember how
the Prodigal Son's father allowed the boy to live in the pig pen knowing that
only if he learned the misery of sin could he truly come home. In the same way,
God "gives people over" to the horrors of sin in hope that they will see their
sad condition and repent. Understanding this we realize that God's giving people
up to such a life is an expression of His wrath, but also shows His current
ongoing concern and love for their souls.
The key to all of this is the vantage point of faith. Only when we have faith in
the Gospel can we see the futility of this life. Only when we believe in God's
wrath and judgment can we see that men and women are presently experiencing that
wrath in the lifestyle God is allowing them to live. Only when we trust God's
merciful love can we see that He is trying to bring them to repentance by
causing them to know the vanity of sin.
God's wrath is not a pleasant topic of discussion. It ought to thoroughly
frighten us to contemplate being on the receiving end of the wrath of the
Almighty. But whether we want to think about it, enjoying thinking about it, or
care to think about it is not the issue. God's wrath is part of His character
and we do well to understand it and live righteously because of it. The words of
Romans 1:18 will not fail. God's wrath is revealed will your manner of life
cause you to receive it?
By Mark Roberts
From Expository Files 2.5; May, 1995
