Romans Chapter 1Why the Gospel is Needed - Part 1

The Reality of God’s Wrath - Part A

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.


Any explanation of the gospel of salvation poses the question of “salvation from what?” What’s the problem? The problem is that God is angry with mankind. He hasn’t just turned away and ignored us. He is angry with us, and the expression of that anger is evident. The text says that God’s wrath is revealed – it does not say it “will be revealed.” The wrath of God already abides on all who have not believed on the Name, and do not obey the only Son of God. {John 3:36} And it will continue on into eternity for those who remain that way.

We only have to see the world the way it is in order to understand the truth. Wars, pestilence, cruelty, selfishness, hatred, disasters of all kinds, suffering and finally death itself have to mean that God is angry. Does he cause these things? Are they punishments? These questions will be examined as we delve deeper. But let us not be blind to the grace of God, who rains His mercy down upon the just and the unjust alike. Aside from suffering there are also the gifts of providence, the bounty of beauty in nature, love and kindness, tolerance, patience, gentleness and a many other positive blessings to be seen.

Our existence displays precisely the mixture of goodness and depravity, joy and suffering that you would expect to find in a universe where God is both angry and is also displaying grace and mercy by restraining evil. Everything is an expression of His will. He either causes it or He allows it.

God’s wrath is not something to be trifled with. Yet when was the last time you heard a sermon on the wrath of God? Do you even know what it means? Let us be sure to take it in, or else our dull human minds will gloss over the import of the word. For myself, I must confess that I often read words without coming to a true or a full understanding of their significance. This is why so many recommendations are made to not only read the Bible, but also to meditate upon what God is saying in the passage that is being read.

"Wrath" is a word demanding more than a cursory glance - and "the wrath of God" deserves our very greatest attempt at understanding.(v18) Here are a few definitions of "wrath" from Webster's New International Dictionary:

• Determined and lasting anger
• Extreme and violent rage
• Fury
• Vehement indignation

These definitions correspond exactly with the meaning of the original Greek word "orge" (or-gay), from which the English translators worked.

We can see immediately that this is more than just being "a bit ticked off". Mere human wrath can be a powerful thing - but for this word to be used of the Almighty Maker and Sustainer of all things, Whose power is unopposable and Whose judgments are without appeal is indeed a terrifying prospect. What would be "lasting anger" for a man, for example, can only be maintained until he dies. If I could manage it, I could be in a rage from now until my dying day at you over some indignity done to me. But that would be it. Not so with God! As eternal and immortal Being, God's rage against all unforgiven indignities to His holiness will continue unabated forever. And He has both the eternity of Being and the omnipotence to do it. The Bible confirms this:

Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems; and he has a name inscribed which no one knows but himself. He is clad in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, followed him on white horses. From his mouth issues a sharp sword with which to smite the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron; he will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords. {Revelation 19:11-16}

and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. {Revelation 20:15}

This, of course is commonly held to be speaking of as yet future events, but Jesus Himself said:

"So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, utter in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim upon the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. {Matthew 10:26-28}

From this we can see that there is a coming judgment and that God's disposition will be final – a time when all of God’s restraining graces and mercies will be fully and finally removed from those who love evil.