The Wrath of God Cannot Be Divorced from the Gospel of Christ

Studying Romans 1:18.

Photo by Johannes Plenio on Unsplash

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. (Romans 1:18-19)

There is so much evil in our world today. Innocent people are murdered. Precious lives are destroyed by greed and selfishness. Human beings are mistreated because of the color of their skin.

Because some “Christian” teachers have ignored teaching what the Bible says about sin, we have a generation that does not understand how God feels about sin. That leads some to believe sin is no big deal to God, and it pushes some away from Christianity - because they see the evil and think God doesn’t care.

One of the tragedies of modern religious life is that there has been a preaching of the love of God to the exclusion of the preaching of the hatred of God. There cannot be too much preaching of the love of God, provided it is balanced with a preaching of God’s hatred for sin and God’s ultimate wrath toward those that know Him not and who obey not the gospel of His Son. - Barnhouse Romans Vol. 1, 218

Let’s notice what the Holy Spirit says through Paul in Romans 1:18.

The gospel of Christ does not ignore sin.

Paul had just been discussing the gospel of Christ in Romans 1:16 and how the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel.

Immediately following these passages about the gospel of Christ is the mention of “the wrath of God” against all “ungodliness and unrighteousness.” God does not turn a blind eye to sin. In fact, God’s wrath toward wickedness is a vital part of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The revelation of the wrath of God at the cross of Jesus Christ is sufficient guarantee that the Lord God will finish what He started. He will yet manifest His glory and majesty and dominion and power, and will bring all of the rebel elements to doom. - Barnhouse Romans Vol. 1, 223

The death of Jesus on the cross had to happen to satisfy the judicial wrath of God against sin. He shed His precious blood so sinners might be justified - legally ruled innocent.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. (Romans 5:8-9)

To reject Jesus is to reject the only offering for sin that appeases the wrath of Almighty God against all “ungodliness and unrighteousness.” The Hebrews writer wrote, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Hebrews 9:27-28).

God is merciful, not because He is lenient with the sinner, but because Christ died. The gospel has not changed God’s attitude toward sin. The gospel has made it possible to accept the sinner. The sinner must have either the righteousness or the wrath of God. - McGee, Thru the Bible Vol. IV, 652

The day of wrath is coming.

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead (which is proof positive of His deity) provides assurance that He will “judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31). Knowing we will stand “before the judgment seat of Christ” ought to be terrifying to sinners who have not obeyed the gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:9-11).

Revelation gives a picture of the day of the Lamb’s wrath.

And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?" (Revelation 6:15-17)

Imagine the terror you would have to feel to want to be crushed under a landslide and buried alive than face the wrath of the Lamb of God!

The good news of Christ does not ignore sin. It emphasizes just how terrible and evil sin really is. God is longsuffering because He wants all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), but the day of His wrath is coming.

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The gospel of Christ cannot be separated from the wrath of God upon sin. Jesus’ death on the cross demonstrates God’s justice as well as His love for us.

You have a choice to make.

• You can continue down the path of sin and reject Jesus. You will stand before the Judge of all the earth one day and experience His justice and wrath.

• You can repent (turn) and obey the gospel of Christ by being immersed into His death and be forgiven by His blood (Acts 2:38; Romans 6:3-4). You will stand before the Judge of all the earth and “be saved from wrath through Him” (Romans 5:9).