Intro:

Romans 1:18 — “The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men…”

What does God’s Wrath have to do with the gospel? The Wrath of God doesn’t sound like good news to me, does it to you? And why does Paul focus on the unrighteousness of men if the gospel is supposed to focus on the righteousness of God?

There’s a lot of confusion about God’s wrath and the gospel in our world today:

The truth is that when we read the Bible, we primarily read it through the broken lens of our own personal experience and unfortunately that experience twists the interpretation of texts to sometimes mean to us what they were never meant to mean.

“The average american child has witnessed 8,000 murders on television before finishing elementary school.”

“The average American has seen 200,000 acts of violence including 40,000 murders on television by age 18.”

Notice that there is only one source through which all this violence comes: Television

An astounding finding by the University of Michigan — Kid’s programing is just as bad or worse in the amount of violence it contains. “Even in G-rated, animated movies and DVD’s, violence is common — often as a way for the good characters to solve their problems. Every single U.S. animated feature film produced between 1937 and 1999 contained violence.” [1] Click link at bottom of Notes

(This research was the condition of television in the year 2000, has it gotten any better today?)

So when someone talks about Wrath or Anger, what are they going to reference in their brains? — how will a 21st century individual interpret what God’s Wrath looks like? Through the lens of the 40,000 murders they’ve already witnessed!

God’s Anger — to most of us is interpreted as someone who is out of control, violent, unreasonable, — We think of someone who is thrown into a rage. We think of someone who stands ready to kill another, without feeling, without empathy, without sorrow or remorse.

However — The Bible declares that “He who does not love, does not know God for God is Love” — 1 John 4:8

In our mind we picture God’s Wrath and feel that God hates us because we’ve sinned. But the Bible declares that even in our sin God Loves us —

“For God so loved the world [a world steeped in sin] that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16

The book of Romans which pictures God’s wrath, just a few chapters latter says “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” — Romans 5:8

And again in chapter 8  “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.” — verse 38-39

“Men hate the sinner, while they love the sin. Christ hates the sin, but loves the sinner.” — Desire of Ages, 462.

The Wrath of God, does not picture a God who has lost His compassion for humanity, rather it pictures a God who is seeking to separate the sinner whom He loves from the sin which He hates.

Notice Romans 1:18 says that the wrath of God is revealed against what? — the Wrath of God is focused on the unrighteousness and ungodliness of men. In the same way that we would hate the cancer that is killing our loved one, so God hates the sin that is a part of His children’s lives — It is a Wrath that is rooted in Love.

This wrath Romans says is being revealed. There’s two things we can see from the greek:

1. The word “revealed” means to uncover something that was covered up or buried. It is the same greek word Jesus used in Matthew 10:26 “Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.”

God’s wrath is not something done in secret — It is on display for the whole world to take notice.

2. The tense of the verb “Reveal” describes a process rather than an all of sudden event.

God’s wrath isn’t like we might imagine. We do something wrong and instantly a lightning bolt enflames us — and God walks away saying “That’ll teach’m”

No, no… God’s wrath is something that is gradually revealed more and more and more until finally it culminates with the final display of God’s Wrath in the Seven Last Plagues — For the Bible says the 7 Last Plagues displays God’s complete wrath.

“Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvelous: seven angels having the seven last plagues, for in them the wrath of God is complete.” — Revelation 15:1

So we know that #1 God’s Wrath is not like human anger (God is still in control, and He is still full of Love for lost humanity) #2 God’s Wrath is something that can be seen worldwide (It is revealed it is not hidden)  #3 God’s Wrath is not simply an end-time event (We can’t say God’s wrath is “The seven last plagues”, because the seven last plagues is the climax of God’s wrath that has gradually unfolded over a long period of time).

Where is God’s Wrath revealed?

#4 “Revealed against the ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth.” – Romans 1:18

“The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusions, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12

As wickedness increases on the earth, and as Satan gains greater control over the minds of the people, there will be seen an ever increasing and growing hatred towards God’s truth and God’s people — It is this hatred of truth that ultimately reveals the Wrath of God.

The entire world is exposed to God’s truth, even if they do not have the Bible:

“because what may be known of God is  manifest [evident] in them [among them], for God has shown it to them.” — Romans 1:19

Have you ever had someone tell you, that you shouldn’t do something you were busy doing, and you knew they were right, but you wanted to do it anyway? — In that moment you hate the truth!

However, everyone has that battle even without someone telling you, because the Spirit of God convicts us of sin… — We naturally hate that conviction because the truth condemns us.

Even those who do not have the Bible experience the convictions of God’s Spirit upon their hearts… Revealing sin and also revealing truth and righteousness…

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.” — Romans 1:20

We are judged based on what is revealed!

“Said the angel, If light comes, and that light is set aside, or rejected, then comes condemnation and the frown of God; but before the light comes there is no sin, for there is no light for them to reject.” — Spiritual Gifts 4b, 4.

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” — James 4:17

People will never be lost simply because they did not have access to the gospel. People are not lost because they have mistakes or errors in their life, but because they have rejected the truth that has been revealed to them. Friends we are not lost because we make mistakes, we are lost because we reject the counsels of God — We choose darkness, we choose to reject the light — It is our choice that condemns us!

[Jhn 3:19 KJV] And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Is there any area in your life where you are ignoring God’s direction, God’s truth? Are you convicted but not convinced? Do you feel as though God would have you change your life, but you are waiting for every obstacle to be removed before you make that change?

“Desire for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians.” — Steps to Christ, 48.

How many individuals go to their grave smoking wanting to give up smoking? How many individuals are alcoholics but want to be sober? You can want something and not have it. In the same way, you can desire to live a holy life, but friends God didn’t preach that gospel so that we could desire the gospel, but so that we could live the gospel!

“Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.” — Steps to Christ, 48.

Friends, we can not wait for every obstacle to be moved, or every question answered. If it is clear that God is calling you to step forward and walk in His Truth — you cannot afford to wait to obey. Clarity comes through obedience, and understanding through Faith.

This is why, even those who do not have the privilege of the Bible like you and like me, who may not understand all the reasons for the truth, are still accountable and are without excuse before God to follow the truth, because God’s Spirit moves upon every human heart regardless of their access to truth.

Now what happens when truth is revealed to someone through God’s Spirit?

They or We have two options:  (1) We accept God’s Truth and adopt it as a practice of our lives  (2) We reject it and the result is that the Wrath of God is revealed.

“Because although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God, into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four footed animals and creeping things.” —  Romans 1:21 

If you reject God, the only thing left to revere is Nature! — Thus, idolatry of nature… Placing Nature in the place of God…

— Evolution is the deification of nature. It replaces God as the source from which all life comes, and is a from of idolatry in the Western World.

— Go to Cuba and you find that some of the voodoo gods are snakes — worshipping nature!

— the Hindu gods of India also resemble nature — Elephants, Men, Other animals…

Wherever you go in the world you find that, when men and women reject God the natural course is a turn towards the deification of nature itself. Worshipping the Sun, moon, and stars — worshipping planets it all comes from men who turned from God…

We get our days of the week from pagan planet worshippers from the Roman Empire — Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Saturday… All names of the week to worship the planets known to the greeks thousands of years ago…

But the Bible declares that we worship God because He is the source of life, our Creator. God’s act as Creator is the focal point of Worship:

“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created” — Revelation 4:11

“…Worship Him who made heaven and earth, the sea and springs of water.” — Revelation 14:7

If you reject the idea that life comes from God, then where does life come from? — Life comes from procreation — S – e – x!

For those who reject God — Nature replaces God, and S.E.X. begins the highest spiritual experience an atheist will ever attain — S.E.X. becomes a form of worship.

This is why Paul turns now to sexual sins as the natural course that one travels when they reject God.

“Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchange the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped  and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen!” — Romans 1:24-25

Sexual Immorality is on the rise friends.

• One recent study by researches, was to look into the prevalence of pornography among college aged men — The researchers gave up because they could not find a single male college student who was not actively viewing pornography on a regular basis. — Current estimates are nearly 70% of young adult men and nearly 20% of young adult females view porn at least once a week. — This is the world Today.
• Sex outside of marriage has become a social norm — Many in this church can attest to the brokenness, the emptiness, the loneliness of sex outside of marriage. It’s a counterfeit — Satan’s counterfeits offer pleasure in the present — but you must give him your peace, you must trade a guiltless counscience, you must be willing to trade your joy, your happiness, your courage — The counterfeits of Satan, and his “Get Pleasure Now” plan, comes at a high price!
• Adultery is something advertisers are now marketing for — A recent trip to the Netherlands and over the radio I hear an advertisement for married men who aren’t finding marriage fulfilling to call a discreet number and …. etc.

But I want you to notice a very interesting phrase in Romans 1:24  “God also gave them up…” This phrase is repeated in verse 26:  “For this reason God gave them up to vile passions, For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error, which was due.” — Romans 1:26-27

Notice that phrase again  “God gave them up…” — Three times in Romans 1 it mentions this phrase. Each time, a picture of humanity falling into deeper and more vile sins is painted.

This is “The Wrath of God”, No longer restraining them. The Wrath of God is the withdrawal of His presence and protective barrier in our lives, and we are left — unprotected, but still loved by our God who weeps and calls for us to Confess and Forsake our sins that He might be free to give us His Grace!

“God’s wrath against sin is exercised in the withdrawal of His presence and life-giving power from those who choose to remain in sin and thus share in its inevitable consequences.” — Bible Commentary, Vol. 6, p.477.

This Picture is vividly portrayed in the flood story: Genesis 6:1-3

Holman Christian Standard translates this verse: “And the LORD said, My Spirit will not remain with mankind forever, because they are corrupt…” — (v.3)

The Evidence that God’s Wrath is being poured out on people is not that lightning bolts are falling from the sky, but that people are falling deeper and deeper into their sins. It is evidence that God is withdrawing His Spirit from their lives, and leaving them to experience the path of their choosing.

Homosexuality practiced in and celebrated by society is a sign of the Wrath of God being revealed. God’s Spirit is being withdrawn from the earth, and people do not even realize it. God’s Wrath is already being poured out.

Now I want to make a brief comment to those here today who have struggled with your sexuality — The fact that you struggle in this area does not make you unworthy, unloved, or unchristian. Your internal battle with temptation does not mean God has abandoned you — Each person here has internal battles they face, and although our battles may not all be the same, God has provided one solution for all battles with sin — that solution is Jesus Christ!

• If your battle is Pornography, I want you to know today that there is Freedom & there is hope in Jesus Christ.
• If your battle is homosexuality, you need to know that Jesus can give you victory day by day to remain pure.
• If your battle is something else, there is hope in Jesus — Continually cast your twisted thoughts upon Him and resolve in your heart that you will follow Jesus and will lay all on the altar for Him. Don’t buy into the lie that there is happiness in following our sin-sick hearts, there is only happiness when we are obedient by faith through the power of our Savior.

It is not evidence of God’s Wrath that men struggle or battle with temptations — It is evidence of God’s Wrath that men embrace temptations, embrace sin, embrace that which God condemns.

Notice the verse says “They receive the penalty of the error which was due”. The practice of homosexuality & sexual acts outside of marriage, degrades men and women who were made in the image of God, and strips them of their dignity, their glory, and their identity.

“Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.” — 1 Corinthians 6:18

“And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful, who, knowing the righteous judgement 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.” — Romans 1:28-32

Does this pretty much picture our world today?

Friends the cup of God’s Wrath is nearly full.

“The days in which we live are solemn and important. The Spirit of God is gradually but surely being withdrawn from the earth. Plagues and judgments are already falling upon the despisers of the grace of God. The calamities by land and sea, the unsettled state of society, the alarms of war, are portentous. They forecast approaching events of the greatest magnitude. The agencies of evil are combining their forces, and consolidating. They are strengthening for the last great crisis. Great changes are soon to take place in our world, and the final movements will be rapid ones” — Testimonies, Vol 9, 11.

“Already the Spirit of God, insulted, refused, abused, is being withdrawn from the earth. Just as fast as God’s Spirit is taken away, Satan’s cruel work will be done upon land and sea. The wicked have passed the boundary of the probation; the Spirit of God, persistently resisted, has been at last withdrawn. Unsheltered by divine grace, they have no protection from the wicked one.” — Last day Events, 242.

Today in American Society, and in cultures around the world, the Wrath of God is being revealed — Through the degradation of society and the depths to which humanity is steeped in sin and unrighteousness.

And it is for this reason that our world desperately needs the Gospel — “A Revealing of God’s Righteousness in us”…

Just as the Wrath of God is revealed through the increasing unrighteousness of humanity, so also the Righteousness of God is revealed through the increasing righteousness of God’s people.

So what does the Wrath of God have to do with the gospel — The Wrath of God declares humanities need of the gospel — Our need not simply of forgiveness, but our need for transformation!

Today our world needs men and women who will boldly live the truth, proclaim the truth, and while calling sin by it’s right name, with through earnest effort lead men and women to the foot of the cross where by faith they may receive the Righteousness of God.

Appeal:

Do not cave into culture friends. Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Today God is calling for preachers of righteousness, men and women who by faith live the righteousness they preach and hold high God’s standard of truth. God is calling for a people who will stand against the tide of vice and immorality of society. God is calling for a church that does not look like or act like the world a place where His Righteousness is Revealed.

So I ask, are you willing to be that church? Are you willing to set God’s standards as the standards of your home? Will you commit your life for God to reveal His Righteous Character in you and through you?