July 10, 2025 -- Romans 1:18 -- Wrath of God. Love of God.
/People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven
against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,
who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
Romans 1:18 ESV
Every Wednesday evening Carolyn and I host a supper and Bible Study in our home. Our currently study material is Dr. Michael Kruger’s video series “Romans Bible Study.” (It is available on-line and is free. Recommend it.) Last night our study had just this one verse in focus. For the benefit of our students and those interested, I’ll give a summary of his three main points adding some of my own observations. He titled this episode, part 5, God’s wrath.
God’s wrath is foundational; it is why we need the Gospel. It is possible for someone to be very ill and not know it. Perhaps there are vague symptoms but nothing specific. He doesn’t see a need to change anything to improve his health. At a routine doctor’s appointment, the doctor shows some concern and orders various medical tests. The results show the man is very ill. Suddenly everything changes. His health will become something vitally important, and he will make necessary life-style changes so that he will live. Hell is real. God’s judgment is real. Our world finds it hard to accept its need for a Savior because people are unaware how dire their condition really is.
The wrath of God is universal. It is against all men. Kruger noted “We grandly underestimate our sin and grandly underestimate the holiness of God”. The result is that the gap between God and me is relatively small. Not a big deal. The fact is God’s holiness is far beyond us and our sinfulness is so great we can not ever reach Him on our own. And, all men, all people deserve God’s wrath. This is what drives believers to go out and evangelize. The bad news is all men face that wrath of God which will cast them into hell for eternity. The good news is there is salvation in Jesus for all who believe.
God’s wrath is revealed from heaven. God is love. But that is not His only attribute, as if He only had no other one. He is holy. He is good. He is just. Every single sin ever committed, and every sin ever to be committed in the future, must be punished by God. He will, as His holiness and justice demand, pour out His wrath on the sinner. Or, for all those who believe in the Lord Jesus find God’s wrath was poured out on the Person of Jesus and the perfect obedience of Jesus is credited to them. That is Good News. That is what fuels evangelism.
It is important to note that wrath is not God having a fit of rage. He’s not flying off the handle. God’s wrath is a disposition born out of His holiness. That leaves us with a huge question: “If God takes sin that seriously, how is your disposition toward sin?” Do you excuse your sin? Underestimate it? Do you underestimate the holiness of God or compare yourself with others you consider are more sinful than yourself rather than comparing yourself with Jesus, the perfect standard. He alone of all people who ever lived, ever will live, or are living now, He alone had the perfect obedience that turns away God’s wrath. He is our beautiful Savior.
O Supreme Moving Cause,
May I always be subordinate to thee, be dependent upon thee,
be found in the path where thou dost walk,
and where thy Spirit moves,
take heed of estrangement from thee, of becoming insensible to thy love.
Thou dost not move men like stones, but dost endue them with life,
not to enable them to move without thee,
but in submission to thee, the first mover.
O Lord, I am astonished at the difference
between my receivings and my deservings,
between the state I am now in and my past gracelessness,
between the heaven I am bound for andthe hell I merit.
Who made me to differ, but thee?
for I was no more ready to receive Christ than were others;
I could not have begun to love thee hadst thou not first loved me,
or been willing unless thou hadst first made me so.
O that such a crown should fit the head of sucha sinner!
such high advancement be for an unfruitful person!
such joys for so vile a rebel!
Infinite wisdom cast the design of salvation
into the mould of purchase and freedom;
Let wrath deserved be written on the door of hell,
But the free gift of grace on the gate of heaven.
I know that my sufferings are the result of my sinning,
but in heaven both shall cease;
Grant me to attain this haven and be done with sailing,
and may the gales of thy mercy blow me safely into harbour.
Let thy love draw me nearer to thyself, wean me from sin,
mortify me to this world,
and make me ready for my departure hence.
Secure me by thy grace as I sail across this stormy sea.
“The Mover” Valley of Vision
https://youtu.be/ojHxW3zMGyU?si=RZS9tyTOAzjEoZfc Behold, What Manner of Love
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