Wrath of God (Rom. 1:18-19) by Carey Dillinger
(Reprinted from The Expository Files: http://www.geocities.com/w_berkley/)
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. (Rom. 1:18,19 - NKJV)
"Wrath [is] the personal manifestation of God's holy, moral character in judgment against sin. Wrath is neither an impersonal process nor is it irrational and fitful like anger. It is in no way vindictive or malicious. It is holy indignation - God's anger directed against sin." (Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1986 ed., p.1108.)
Wrath (or anger) ascribed to man can be dangerous when it has no cause, is taken to excess, or held for an extended period of time (Mt. 5:22; Col. 3:8; Eph. 4:26). But when wrath is ascribed to God it is sinless and a true example of righteous indignation. The Psalmist has this to say, "God judges the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day." (Ps.7:11 - MKJV)
Towards What Has God Directed His Wrath?
According to our text God's wrath is against two things: all ungodliness
of men and all unrighteousness of men. Ungodliness represents
sins directed against God (failure in one's duties toward God),
while unrighteousness represents sins directed against God's precepts
(failure in one's duties towards ourselves and our fellow man).
Taken together these terms express God's anger towards those that
practice the entire catalogue of sin.
Towards Whom Has God Directed His Wrath?
In the context at hand God has directed His wrath towards "…men,
who suppress the truth in unrighteousness." These men were
the Gentiles who had in times past received God's will via direct
revelation, angels, or inspired men, but since those times had
through their traditions (or pure ignorance) watered down the
truth (or ignored) until it was unrecognizable in their lives.
So these unrighteous men were "holding down the truth"
either purposefully or through their own ignorance.
A claim of ignorance would be no excuse "because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them." Paul will use the remainder of Romans chapter 1 to prove these facts.
What Specific Sins Had Been Committed?
Romans 1:22-25 shows that the Gentiles had become idolaters and
had practiced all the lusts of the flesh that attend such worship.
This was their ungodliness. Romans 1:26-32 shows that the Gentiles,
because of their ungodliness, began to practice unrighteousness
as they sinned with and against one another.
Note the list contains sins such as: idolatry; disrespect of one's own body, which includes but is not limited to: lesbianism and homosexuality (sodomy); those filled with injustice, a greedy desire, ill will, a vicious disposition, discontent at another's good fortune, intent to commit murder, a quarrelsome attitude, treachery; attributing the worst motives to the actions of others; those practicing cowardly or open slander, gross disrespect, empty pretensions, a mind to disobey their parents, purposeful ignorance; covenant breakers; and the unmerciful. (See also Col. 3:5-7.)
Verse 32 tells us that not only are the perpetrators of these sins guilty, but also those that would approve of their practice.
How Could These Sinners Avoid God's Wrath?
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is
the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the
Jew first and also for the Greek. For in it the righteousness
of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, 'The
just shall live by faith.'" (Rom. 1:16-17 - NKJV)
Paul has already explained how salvation is obtained - through the Gospel. "The Gospel is God's power for salvation to those who believe it, for a way for sinners to become righteous is revealed in it, as an inducement for men to believe it so as to escape the penalty of a violated law." (R.L. Whiteside, Commentary on Romans, p. 22)
What About Today?
Would practitioners of the things in Paul's list be guilty of
sin today? Would they be in danger of the wrath of God?
In the minds of the world today, Paul has concocted a disjointed list of behaviors ranging from outright wrongdoing (murder) to some things that are probably wrong (contract breaking, slander) to activities that are nobody's business except the consenting adults who are practicing it (homosexuality). These are the very empty words that Paul told the Ephesians that would come from the disobedient (Eph. 5:6).
Unfortunately for the world they are not in tune with God. Just as the world of Paul's time had disregarded God and His laws concerning these matters, our world has done the same. What our world (along with the world of the first century) does not understand is that God's wrath is a demonstration of His love.
"God's wrath is a demonstration of His holy love. If God is not a God of wrath, His love is no more than frail, worthless sentimentality; the concept of mercy is meaningless; and the Cross was a cruel and unnecessary experience for his Son." (Nelson, ibid, p.1108.)
Rom. 3:23: "…for all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God,…"
Rom. 5:12: …death spread to all men, because all sinned…"
The Blessed Gospel is for All, because all men need salvation!
The joy we have in mind in the title of this essay does bring felicity, and is mentioned and discussed in many passages in the New Testament. The verb, chairo which means "to rejoice," occurs 72 times in the New Testament, while the word chara means "joy," and appears 60 times. But we inquire, is this joy manifested by the direct operation of the Holy Spirit as He acts independent of the Word of God? I think not.
In Acts chapter 8 we read Luke's account of the conversion of a nobleman from Ethiopia who had charge of all the treasures of the Queen. This man had been to Jerusalem to worship God. No doubt he felt good about the sacrifice he had made to drive such distance (several hundred miles), never doubting that with a sincere heart as he had that there was more to be required by his God in order for him to be saved.
An angel appeared to Philip, the evangelist, giving him instruction to join this nobleman to instruct him in the plan God has to save him and all other men who shall live until the end of time. Philip asked the man if he understood what he was reading. He was reading from Isaiah's prophesy concerning the death of the Messiah. This is known to us today as Isaiah 53. Philip preached Jesus as the Christ of God, and when they came to a certain water the nobleman said, "See, here is water what hinders me from being baptized?" The evangelist told him that faith in Jesus Christ was necessary, which the sinner confessed, and they BOTH went DOWN INTO the water and the preacher immersed him. When they came up OUT OF the water, the Spirit called Philip away so the nobleman saw him no more. Reader friend, observe the statement found in verse 39 where it is declared that the nobleman went on his way REJOICING!
What caused the rejoicing? Some miraculous gift of the Holy Spirit? He studied the word of God and obeyed that word. Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, and he that believeth not shall be condemned (Mark 16:16). The man had just obeyed the Lord in his faith and baptism and Jesus promised he shall be saved. Why was he rejoicing? To ask that question is but to answer it.
"The great danger in education today is the fact that we have failed to see the difference between knowledge and wisdom. We train the head and let the heart run wild. We allow culture and character to walk miles apart, stuffing the head with mathematics and languages - leaving manners and morals out of the picture. - Theodore H. Palmquist
"Talent is God-given; be grateful. Fame is man-given; be thankful. Conceit is self-given; be careful."
"If you preach what is new, it won't be true. If you preach what is true, it won't be new."
MONTHLY BIBLE READING: Jesus Teaches New Covenant Concepts - The Gospels and Hebrews
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Carey Dillinger is the editor. He can be reached at the church
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