If you have ever been in church for any length of time or if you are someone who cares nothing about God there are certain things that people think they know but they really don’t. If I said God is love I am quite sure I would get a very vocal Amen. A loud yes, even from the atheist or agnostics in the audience. But in order for us to understand God and the Scriptures, we must realize that we serve a balanced God. Yes, He is a God of love but He is also a God of wrath. What??????
Did you know that God's love is unconditional, and it's not based on feelings or emotions. He doesn't love us because we're lovable or because we make Him feel good; He loves us because He is love. He created us to have a loving relationship with Him, and He sacrificed His own Son (who also willingly died for us) to restore that relationship with our Heavenly Father (God). But there is also another side to this equation and it speaks of the wrath of God.
Wrath is a very strong word. It is sometimes defined as anger, temper, indignation. It is not an uncontrolled, unthinking, violent reaction. It is a deep, permanent, settled, thoughtful, controlled anger and temper. In the English language it is almost exclusively used for describing God’s anger with human beings and their sinful actions. God’s wrath is His anger against sin. His wrath is His reaction against unrighteousness. His anger is the opposition to the injustices of man. His anger is His punishment of evil and wicked men.
If you read the Bible you will see that in the New Testament and the Old Testament both teach that God is storing up His anger for the great and final day of judgment. This day is frequently called the Day of the Lord.
This idea was repeated by the prophets to warn Israel and the nations that no one can escape the righteous out pouring of God’s wrath (Amos 5:18-20). We also see this day spoken of even in the New Testament by John the Baptist and also the writer John in the book of Revelation 6:16-17.
Those who do not profess faith in the risen Christ remain in their sins and will be subject to God’s wrath (Roman 5:9). Those who have been delivered and reconciled themselves are delivered and are not under condemnation (Romans 5:10).
God’s wrath will be poured out on the devil, his angels and all who rebel against Him. If you need to see this graphically it is portrayed in the Book of Revelation. You will see scene after scene of God executing judgment on the ungodly. You see your choices in life is what arouses God’s anger . Unfortunately, we think we are a good person, maybe not perfect but you can think of other people in church or the family or in the world who would be better off struck down by lightening (LOL) . But what we think of as acceptable and good is inconsequential to a Holy God of the Universe. Yes, God has the nerve to judge our secret thoughts, true motives and our vilest, sordid and corruptible desires.
We are living in a Politically Corrupt world of sin. Everyone wants instant fixes and satisfactions but the God of the Universe is a God of absolutes and He is not soft on sin.
In the Book of Revelation we see that God’s stored up wrath will be unleashed in horrible ways, as He brings destruction on the earth, those dwelling on the earth, the merchants of the earth, false religions, the antichrist and all the enemies of the Gospel. The good news is that God’s wrath will be satisfied when He has put the devil, his angels, and all unbelievers in the lake of fire, to be tormented for eternity in eternal separation from God (Rev. 14:16, Rev. 20:10-15).
Now I know many of you believe that you are so good that you are perfect but the Bible tells us that if we do not make a commitment to Jesus Christ and serve Him only that we are truly living under the wrath of God.
Consider this example: You see the person who has not made a commitment to Christ and he acts against God…he does not act for God. You see the person who has not made a commitment to God rejects God…He does not receive God. The person who has not made a commitment to God ignores God. He does not confess God. The person who has not made a commitment to God denies God. He does not acknowledge God. The person who has not a made a commitment to God curses God. He does not praise God. The person who has not made a commitment to God serves religion. He does not serve God. The person who has not a made a commitment to God honors a personal ideal. He does not honor Christ, the very Son of God.
I know you find it hard to believe but a person who has not made a commitment to Christ acts against God and you are a child of wrath and not a child of God. We all think we are God’s children but the Bible says NO because we have to choose to serve Christ. If you are not serving God then you are serving the devil. The Bible says that you shall reap what you sow and the wrath of God will fall on you.
If you want to better understand God’s wrath you will find it in Ezekiel 38:18-19 and in those verses it is referring to what will happen to the northern military invaders who in the end times will come against Israel (God’s chosen people). In Ezekiel mention is made of Russia, Turkey and Iran and also Libya and Ethiopia will join the three and we will have Ezekiel 38-39 front and center. Who is like God, He who foretells the end from the beginning?
The Bible tells us that God’s wrath is real and active. God is holy, righteous, and pure as well as loving, gracious and merciful. He executes justice as well as love. He shows wrath and anger as well as compassion. His wrath is both present and future. God’s wrath is present and active in this life. His wrath abides upon men now. His wrath is manifested against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Romans 1:18). God punishes sin in this life by giving men up to uncleanness, to vile affections, and to degenerate minds. Sometimes the worst thing is You want it, You got it
God will punish sin by giving men up to everlasting fire (Matthew 25: 41;25:46).
To hell found in ( Matthew 5:22). To outer darkness (Matthew 8:12). To weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12). To the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15). God’s wrath will be especially visible and active in the last days during what the bible calls the Tribulation years which is found in: (Revelation 6:16,Revelation 11:8, Revelation 14:10, Revelation 16:19 and Revelation 19:15).
Now that I just told you about God’s wrath I want you to know that there is only one way to escape judgment and it is by turning back to God.
While you are alive you are never lost unless you refuse to repent and ask God for forgiveness. You see, if you have an elitist attitude or an I know better than God attitude or if you mock God you are on your way to hell. But if you ask God for forgiveness and confess that you have sinned, yes, even once or even if you think you are too messed up for God to forgive you-ask Him to forgive you and He will-as long as you are alive. Once we die the decisions we have made will set the end path for us.
Yes, the earth is under the curse of sin, the same curse that plagues all of creation since Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Yes, there are natural disasters of all kinds, causing immense pain and suffering. Everyone has problems. This is what life is like in this sinful world. BUT GOD who is the Creator of all things, the God who loves us and who is in complete control, is not or put off by the way things are. He has big plans in place, and those plans include all creation and everyone who has turned to God.
Romans 8:21-24 tells us that "the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children,[a] including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved."
Now if we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. Our hope comes from the Cross which brings deliverance. When man fell, Creation fell and the opposite is true, when man shall be delivered, Creation will be delivered as well. For we know that the entirety of Creation has been affected or I guess we could say infected by Satan’s rebellion and Adam’s fall. The groaning refers to the longing of the elements of the Creation to be brought back to their original perfection and that includes ourselves, also. When we get saved, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior remember Jesus addressed every single thing lost in the Fall at the Cross, we only have a part of that possession now; with the balance coming at the Resurrection for Jesus paid it all. Our new bodies will take place at the Resurrection. SO……what is coming is so far beyond that which is here at the present time and it is to be no comparison of what is to come-the beyond. More is coming. The best is yet to come!
Did you know that God's love is unconditional, and it's not based on feelings or emotions. He doesn't love us because we're lovable or because we make Him feel good; He loves us because He is love. He created us to have a loving relationship with Him, and He sacrificed His own Son (who also willingly died for us) to restore that relationship with our Heavenly Father (God). But there is also another side to this equation and it speaks of the wrath of God.
Wrath is a very strong word. It is sometimes defined as anger, temper, indignation. It is not an uncontrolled, unthinking, violent reaction. It is a deep, permanent, settled, thoughtful, controlled anger and temper. In the English language it is almost exclusively used for describing God’s anger with human beings and their sinful actions. God’s wrath is His anger against sin. His wrath is His reaction against unrighteousness. His anger is the opposition to the injustices of man. His anger is His punishment of evil and wicked men.
If you read the Bible you will see that in the New Testament and the Old Testament both teach that God is storing up His anger for the great and final day of judgment. This day is frequently called the Day of the Lord.
This idea was repeated by the prophets to warn Israel and the nations that no one can escape the righteous out pouring of God’s wrath (Amos 5:18-20). We also see this day spoken of even in the New Testament by John the Baptist and also the writer John in the book of Revelation 6:16-17.
Those who do not profess faith in the risen Christ remain in their sins and will be subject to God’s wrath (Roman 5:9). Those who have been delivered and reconciled themselves are delivered and are not under condemnation (Romans 5:10).
God’s wrath will be poured out on the devil, his angels and all who rebel against Him. If you need to see this graphically it is portrayed in the Book of Revelation. You will see scene after scene of God executing judgment on the ungodly. You see your choices in life is what arouses God’s anger . Unfortunately, we think we are a good person, maybe not perfect but you can think of other people in church or the family or in the world who would be better off struck down by lightening (LOL) . But what we think of as acceptable and good is inconsequential to a Holy God of the Universe. Yes, God has the nerve to judge our secret thoughts, true motives and our vilest, sordid and corruptible desires.
We are living in a Politically Corrupt world of sin. Everyone wants instant fixes and satisfactions but the God of the Universe is a God of absolutes and He is not soft on sin.
In the Book of Revelation we see that God’s stored up wrath will be unleashed in horrible ways, as He brings destruction on the earth, those dwelling on the earth, the merchants of the earth, false religions, the antichrist and all the enemies of the Gospel. The good news is that God’s wrath will be satisfied when He has put the devil, his angels, and all unbelievers in the lake of fire, to be tormented for eternity in eternal separation from God (Rev. 14:16, Rev. 20:10-15).
Now I know many of you believe that you are so good that you are perfect but the Bible tells us that if we do not make a commitment to Jesus Christ and serve Him only that we are truly living under the wrath of God.
Consider this example: You see the person who has not made a commitment to Christ and he acts against God…he does not act for God. You see the person who has not made a commitment to God rejects God…He does not receive God. The person who has not made a commitment to God ignores God. He does not confess God. The person who has not made a commitment to God denies God. He does not acknowledge God. The person who has not a made a commitment to God curses God. He does not praise God. The person who has not made a commitment to God serves religion. He does not serve God. The person who has not a made a commitment to God honors a personal ideal. He does not honor Christ, the very Son of God.
I know you find it hard to believe but a person who has not made a commitment to Christ acts against God and you are a child of wrath and not a child of God. We all think we are God’s children but the Bible says NO because we have to choose to serve Christ. If you are not serving God then you are serving the devil. The Bible says that you shall reap what you sow and the wrath of God will fall on you.
If you want to better understand God’s wrath you will find it in Ezekiel 38:18-19 and in those verses it is referring to what will happen to the northern military invaders who in the end times will come against Israel (God’s chosen people). In Ezekiel mention is made of Russia, Turkey and Iran and also Libya and Ethiopia will join the three and we will have Ezekiel 38-39 front and center. Who is like God, He who foretells the end from the beginning?
The Bible tells us that God’s wrath is real and active. God is holy, righteous, and pure as well as loving, gracious and merciful. He executes justice as well as love. He shows wrath and anger as well as compassion. His wrath is both present and future. God’s wrath is present and active in this life. His wrath abides upon men now. His wrath is manifested against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Romans 1:18). God punishes sin in this life by giving men up to uncleanness, to vile affections, and to degenerate minds. Sometimes the worst thing is You want it, You got it
God will punish sin by giving men up to everlasting fire (Matthew 25: 41;25:46).
To hell found in ( Matthew 5:22). To outer darkness (Matthew 8:12). To weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 8:12). To the Lake of Fire (Revelation 20:15). God’s wrath will be especially visible and active in the last days during what the bible calls the Tribulation years which is found in: (Revelation 6:16,Revelation 11:8, Revelation 14:10, Revelation 16:19 and Revelation 19:15).
Now that I just told you about God’s wrath I want you to know that there is only one way to escape judgment and it is by turning back to God.
While you are alive you are never lost unless you refuse to repent and ask God for forgiveness. You see, if you have an elitist attitude or an I know better than God attitude or if you mock God you are on your way to hell. But if you ask God for forgiveness and confess that you have sinned, yes, even once or even if you think you are too messed up for God to forgive you-ask Him to forgive you and He will-as long as you are alive. Once we die the decisions we have made will set the end path for us.
Yes, the earth is under the curse of sin, the same curse that plagues all of creation since Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden. Yes, there are natural disasters of all kinds, causing immense pain and suffering. Everyone has problems. This is what life is like in this sinful world. BUT GOD who is the Creator of all things, the God who loves us and who is in complete control, is not or put off by the way things are. He has big plans in place, and those plans include all creation and everyone who has turned to God.
Romans 8:21-24 tells us that "the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children,[a] including the new bodies he has promised us. We were given this hope when we were saved."
Now if we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. Our hope comes from the Cross which brings deliverance. When man fell, Creation fell and the opposite is true, when man shall be delivered, Creation will be delivered as well. For we know that the entirety of Creation has been affected or I guess we could say infected by Satan’s rebellion and Adam’s fall. The groaning refers to the longing of the elements of the Creation to be brought back to their original perfection and that includes ourselves, also. When we get saved, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior remember Jesus addressed every single thing lost in the Fall at the Cross, we only have a part of that possession now; with the balance coming at the Resurrection for Jesus paid it all. Our new bodies will take place at the Resurrection. SO……what is coming is so far beyond that which is here at the present time and it is to be no comparison of what is to come-the beyond. More is coming. The best is yet to come!
RSS Feed