God’s Wrath – Is It Real?

Feature 1 – March 2016 — Grace & Truth Magazine

GOD’S WRATH
Is It Real?

Introduction
The word “wrath” may be defined as anger, vengeance, indignation, passion or fury. In the first epistle of John, God is revealed as “light” and “love” (1 Jn. 1:5, 4:8 KJV ) – these qualities refer to what He is in His nature. Although there are numerous references to “the wrath of God,” nowhere in Scripture does it say, “God is wrath.” This is an important difference, for “the wrath of God” is what He manifests in His dealings toward the sin and wickedness of man. “Wrath” is not what He is in His essence. In fact, the execution of His wrath is described as His “strange work ... His strange act” (Isa. 28:21). This may be understood by the wondrous truth that He does not desire the death of the sinner nor take pleasure in his destruction (See Ezekiel 18:32 and 2 Peter 3:9).

The Wrath Of God As Seen In The Cross Of Christ
“My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” —Psalm 22:1 and Matthew 27:46

Ponder these words wrung from the lips of the only Man who always pleased God and who alone was pure and sinless, within and without. In those three mysterious hours of darkness as Jesus hung on the cross, He, the blessed Son of God, became the sin-bearing Son of Man. Never was nor will there be a day like it in the entire history of the world. The shining of the noon-day sun, at its brightest, was obliterated by sudden darkness. Heaven became like brass, not hearing this Man who hung suspended on a cross between heaven and earth (Ps. 22:2). He was, as Man, absolutely alone, for God had indeed forsaken Him. Divine, holy wrath was poured out on Christ when God “made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). God’s fury, pent up because of the sin and wickedness of man, was unleashed on the Man Christ Jesus. And if Jesus had not uttered that dreadful cry on the cross, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?”, we would never have believed it.

It is a great mystery, understood only by His own explanation of it: “But Thou art holy” (Ps. 22:3). Herein, essentially, lies the answer to the unfathomable sufferings of Christ under the wrath of God. A holy God could not overlook sin for it is contrary to His nature. The fire of divine judgment fell on the head of that holy One, and when it had passed He uttered, “It is finished” (Jn. 19:30). This was the clearest indication that atonement had been made and redemption accomplished.

In the garden of Gethsemane He had prayed, “O My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless not as I will, but as Thou wilt” (Mt. 26:39). The “cup” symbolized the divine wrath of God against sin, for which He surrendered Himself in obedience. There was no other way to glorify God and remove the sins that we had committed against Him. On the basis of the sufferings of Christ, God can “be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Rom. 3:26).

Portions from Psalms 69:1, 88:7,16 and 102:9-10 describe in prophetic language what His holy soul experienced when the wrath of God was poured out on Him. A poet summed it up this way:

“On Christ almighty vengeance fell That would have sunk a world to hell, He bore it for a chosen race, And thus became a hiding place.” —Jehoida Brewer (1752-1817)

The Present Wrath Of God Against Sinners
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” —John 3:36

Since Christ suffered once under the wrath of God for sin, how can God still be angry against sinners? The salvation that God has provided for the sinner is too great, too costly for Him to be indifferent to those who reject it. Think of the discredit to God, who willingly “gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (Jn. 3:16). And consider the dishonor to the Lord Jesus Christ, who submitted Himself to unimaginable sufferings in order to save us. If I gave someone a gift of great value and it was not only rejected but also treated with scorn, I would be deeply offended. What about God? Since He in His great love and grace, which we did not deserve, provided salvation for us, then He must be free to deal with all who reject that gift, in the way He sees fit. To reject, therefore, what God has done through Christ is to incur His abiding wrath upon oneself. The question then is raised and answered in Romans 3: “Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? ... God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?” (vv.5-6). Moreover, “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness” (1:18).

Notice that God’s anger is manifested against two classes of men: those that practice ungodliness (Gentiles); and those that hold the truth in unrighteousness (Jews). Both classes are under the condemnation and wrath of God, with the exception of those who receive the salvation He has provided in Christ. In addition to this the psalmist David wrote that “God is angry with the wicked every day”; and if they do not turn from their wicked ways, God stands ready to execute His vengeance upon them (Ps. 7:11-12).

The cross of Christ is the only basis on which God can forgive sins. He is dealing with mankind in relation to the cross of Christ rather than man’s perceived progress, however impressive. Man can only come to God as a repentant sinner, and he has to trust in the Christ who endured God’s righteous anger. He must own that his sins caused Christ to suffer and die. If you have not done so yet, I urge you to repent of your sins and invite Jesus Christ into your heart, for only in this way can you be removed from under the dark cloud of His anger.

The Coming Wrath Of God
“O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” —Matthew 3:7

One has only to look at what Christ suffered on the cross to understand that God is not neutral when it comes to sin. As much as the world may scoff and mock at the warning of the coming day of vengeance, it will come suddenly and swiftly upon the world of the ungodly. In that day men’s hearts will be filled with fear and terror. They will attempt to hide themselves, saying “to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Rev. 6:15-17). There will be no hiding place for those who reject their only refuge, which is Christ. There will be no standing for “the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous” (Ps. 1:5). Hear what the LORD has said: “To Me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste” (Dt. 32:35). Is it any wonder that the Word of God urges us who believe to warn the wicked that they may turn from their sins? (See Ezekiel 3:18-19 and Acts 13:40).

Ah! God’s fury will fall, and then the last half of Isaiah 61:2 will be completed: “the day of vengeance of our God.” At the Lord’s first appearing it was “the acceptable year,” a time of grace for this sin-stricken world. However, since the cross the world has not changed in relation to its moral condition or its enmity against God. Speaking of the wicked, the patriarch Job prophesied that “his eyes shall see his destruction, and he shall drink of the wrath of the Almighty ... do ye not know ... the wicked is reserved to the day of destruction? They shall be brought forth to the day of wrath” (Job 21:20,29-30). That terrible day shall come upon those who judge others while committing the same sins; upon those who despise the goodness, forbearance and longsuffering of God which leads to salvation (Rom. 2:3-10); upon “the vine of the earth” (Rev. 14:19); upon apostate Jews who will have given up the one true God; upon apostate Christendom, which is the false church (18:2-8); and upon the nations (19:15).

Are you troubled about the coming day of wrath? If you are a Christian you need not be anxious for “God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (1 Th. 5:9-10). Therefore we are to comfort one another with these words.

By Richard Barnett