#18. The WRATH of God

Arthur Pink et al.

(You will find it helpful to LISTEN to the Audio, as you READ the text below.)

"The wrath of God is being revealed from Heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men." Romans 1:18

The wrath of God is the expression of His infinite holiness, stirred to action against sin. It is not a sudden or irrational fury, but the steady and righteous opposition of a God who is light, in whom there is no darkness at all. A God who does not hate sin cannot be holy--and a God who does not judge sin cannot be just.

Though men recoil at the thought of divine wrath, Scripture never hesitates to declare it. God's wrath fell upon Sodom, devastated Egypt, consumed rebellious Israel--and it will fall again with perfect justice upon all who remain in their sin. "Our God is a consuming fire!" Hebrews 12:29

This wrath, however, is never arbitrary. It is always measured, and always just. Nowhere is this more clearly seen than at the cross. There, the spotless Son stood in the place of the guilty. The cup of divine fury was not withheld--but was drained by the Savior on behalf of those He came to redeem. In that awful hour, the depths of human depravity and the majesty of divine justice met. Christ bore not merely the punishment of Hell--but the wrath of Almighty God.

Let lost sinners tremble--and flee to the only Refuge. Let the redeemed bow in reverent wonder. We were not merely spared from eternal ruin--we were rescued from the wrath of God Himself! All glory to the Lamb, who endured the curse, that we might receive the blessing.

"All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath!" Ephesians 2:3

"God did not appoint us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ!" 1 Thessalonians 5:9