Nov 29, 2020
Scripture Reading: John 3:31-36
"To an age which has unashamedly sold itself to the gods of greed, pride, sex, and self-will, the Church mumbles on about God's kindness, but says virtually nothing about His judgment" (J. I. Packer, Knowing God, 148).
The Bible has much to say about God's wrath about rebellion against Him. Arthur Pink says that there are more references in the Bible regarding God's wrath than regarding His love (cf. Pink, Attributes of God, 82). It is important to note that God's anger is not like human anger. Human anger is vindictive and usually represents a loss of control.
God's anger is His holy and controlled response against sin and against those who persist in opposing Him. His wrath rises out of His holiness and justice and, therefore, is not simply emotional, but fundamentally judicial. One definition of divine wrath is: God's holy reaction to sin and His resolve to bring judgment on those who rebel against Him.
God's wrath is right (cf. Nah 1:3) … and terrible (cf. Nah 1:4-6; Mt 8:12; 2 Thes 1:9) … and certain (cf. Nah 1:8,9; Deut 32:35,39-41).
It is the wrath of God that Christ bore, in our place, on the cross. God offers His mercy in Jesus so that we might escape His horrible, everlasting judgment. The more we understand the wrath of God and, given that we deserve it in its consuming fullness, the deeper our wonder at the mercy of God in Christ and the greater our gratitude to our God and Savior … and the sweeter our love for Him.