Flee From the Wrath
Notes
Transcript
Flee From the Wrath
Text: Romans 1:18-20 and Selected
Matthew 3:7 ¶ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?
Introduction
The Book of Romans is a great book of doctrine. It presents both the great themes of the sinfulness of man and the righteousness of God.
In presenting the sinfulness of man, Paul also presents a fearful fact—the wrath of God. This idea runs contrary to the theology of modern culture. Today’s theology paints a picture of a God who is love, and He is (1 Jn. 4:8, 16). However, He is perfect and, therefore, He is a God of justice and holiness. This side of God’s character mandates that He also has wrath.
To fail to preach of the wrath of God is to fail in properly warning this lost world of the wrath to come (cf. Acts 17:30-31). Paul told the Ephesian church that he had preached the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
QUOTE: “A study of the concordance will show that there are more references in Scripture to the anger, fury, and wrath of God, than there are to His love and tenderness.” (A.W. Pink)
Transition
In Romans, the love of God is also preached. However, the first reference to the love of God does not come until chapter 5. The point is abundantly clear…You cannot experience the love of God until you first see yourself as a hell-bound, lost, undeserving sinner.
Sadly, much of today’s theology seeks to win people to Christ, by presenting salvation as a merely a ticket to a “better life.” Christ is presented as the “One who can make your life better.” He is preached as the “Answer to your question.” However, no such appeal is ever used in the Bible for drawing people to Christ. It is the knowledge of impending doom and approaching wrath that will cause the unbeliever to come to a place of repentance and faith in Christ.
Verse 16 introduces the “gospel of Christ,” and states that it releases the power of God, reveals the righteousness of God, and reports the wrath of God. That is the reason why the Gospel must be preached plainly and powerfully.
Therefore, since the Bible plainly speaks of the wrath of God, it would be imperative for us to examine...
I. The origin of God’s wrath (v.18a, “from heaven”).
A. “of God.” —It is a Holy wrath
—The fact of God’s wrath should stir every soul who claims to know Christ (cf. Heb. 10:28-31). The word “wrath” (ὀργή) = anger, wrath, indignation.
Man does not want to believe in a God who gets angry. Yet, the God of the Bible is such a God. He gets angry with sin and sinners.
Psalms 2:12 - Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Psalms 7:11 - God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psalms 76:7 - Thou, even thou, art to be feared: and who may stand in thy sight when once thou art angry?
ILLUSTRATION: (Read verses from attached sheet on the “wrath of God”).
B. “from heaven” —It is a Righteous wrath
Acts 17:30-31
30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained
II. The object of God’s wrath (v.18b)
A. Against all sin (“ungodliness and unrighteousness”).
The grace preaching of today has omitted the convicting power of the law. Men are urged to come to Christ, not because of they are sinners, but because God has a “plan for your life.”
The idea that God hates sin is not a new idea. Since the dawn of civilization, mankind has sought his own ways to appease their gods.
Since the wrath of God is because of our sin, how do we know what is sin? Galatians 3:24 states that the Law brings us to Christ. In other words, it shows us our sin (cf. Rom. 7:7).
ILLUSTRATION: Use the Ten Commandments as an indictment against the sinner. Remember that James stated that one offence makes us guilty of all (Jam. 2:10).
B. Against all sinners (“who hold the truth...”).
i.e., the sin of rejecting the truth. The word “hold” is the word κατέχω, and means “to hold back, detain, restrain.” It is the same word used in II Thess. 2:6 (i.e., “withholdeth”).
God’s wrath is against those who have been exposed to the truth and, yet, reject it. They “hold back” and do not obey it.
III. The Outcome of God’s Wrath (vv. 19-20; Rev. 6:17).
A. No more excuses (vv. 19-20).
1. The sinner rejected the inner revelation (“manifest in them;” cf. 2:14-15; Jn. 1:6-9).
2. The sinner rejected the outer revelation (“…invisible things of him from the creation…”)
––No more mercy (cf. Jam. 2:12-13).
B. No more light (v.21, “…foolish heart was darkened”)
1. The sinner refuses to acknowledge God’s glory.
2. The sinner refuses to be thankful.
3. The sinner refuses to consider God (“became vain in their imaginations”)
––“vain” (ματαιόω) = to make empty, foolish; to render morally wicked.
––“imaginations” (διαλογισμός) = discussion, debate.
These are the ones who have so seared their conscience and hardened their hearts, that they are incapable of responding to any spiritual light and having a serious discussion about their soul.
––No more opportunities (Rev. 6-20, i.e., the Tribulation & Lake of Fire).
C. No more wisdom (v.22).
––The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God (cf. 1 Cor. 1:17-25).
Conclusion: Have you fled the wrath to come? If not, why not be saved today?
Verses on the “Wrath of God”
The phrase is used 10 times in the Scriptures, with 9 of those times in the New Testament.
Psalms 78:31 - The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel.
John 3:36 - 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.
Romans 1:18 - For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Ephesians 5:6 - Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Colossians 3:6 - For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
Revelation 14:10 - The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:
Revelation 14:19 - And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.
Revelation 15:1 - And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God.
Revelation 15:7 - And one of the four beasts gave unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever.
Revelation 16:1 - And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.