Most believers are not very excited about God’s wrath and justice. However, these attributes of God are part of His perfections that He is going to put on display to bring glory to Himself. Find out why it is important that we know these attributes and rejoice in them.

Teaching Notes:

The God of the Bible is Wrathful and Just

The Wrath of God:

1) What is the wrath of God? God’s eternal detestation of all unrighteousness. It is God’s holy displeasure and righteous indignation against all evil. It is the moving cause of that just sentence which He passes upon evildoers. Because God is holy, He hates all sin. Because He hates all sin His anger burns against the sinner. Ps.7:11 “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (KJV). We tell sinners, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.” Biblically we should say, “God loves you, but is angry with you on account of your rebellion, and commands you to repent.”

2) What does the Bible say about the wrath of God? A lot! More references to wrath, anger, fury, and judgment of God (1,200) than to love, grace, mercy, and lovingkindness of God (800). Virtually every author of Scripture speaks of wrath of God. Not always using “wrath” but synonyms like judgment, condemnation, etc. Cuz are so many, restrict ourselves to NT and look at a sampling:

John the Baptist: “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come.” Mt.3:7

Jesus: “The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Mt.13:41-42

Paul: “But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the unrighteous judgment of God, who will render to each person according to his deeds: to those who be perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.” Rom.2:5-8

Writer of Hebrews: “for if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries… For we know Him who said, ‘vengeance is Mine, I will repay.’ And again, ‘The Lord will judge His people.’ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-27,30-31

Peter: “but by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2Pet.3:7

Jude: “For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Jude 4

John: “he also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.” Rev.14:10-11

3) Is God’s Wrath a Blot on His Character? I’m afraid that’s how we really feel. Is wrath unworthy of God? All of God’s attributes are Divine Perfections. God has made no attempt to conceal the facts about His wrath. He is not embarrassed or ashamed to speak of His wrath. There is no blemish in God, yet there would be if wrath were absent. Indifference to sin is a moral blemish. How could a perfect all-holy God look with equal satisfaction upon righteousness and evil, or ignore sin and refuse to manifest His displeasure with it?

4) Why Are We So Hesitant to Speak of God’s Wrath? How many sermons have heard on Love of God? How many on Wrath of God? How many times have told a sinner God loves him? How many times told him God’s wrath abides on him? Is it because God’s love is a more important attribute than His wrath? No. Cuz taboo in modern society. We have accepted this taboo and conditioned never to raise the matter. We feel need to apologize for God. We link wrath with loss of self-control or losing temper. That’s true in us, but never in God. His wrath is perfect, not impetuous & rash. Bible says He is slow to anger. Ex.34:6. His wrath is necessary reaction to moral evil. He is only angry where anger is called for. Some see God’s wrath as cruelty. Not cruel cuz cruelty always immoral, but those who receive wrath receive precisely what they deserve. Only suffer what strict justice requires, and what we have chosen for ourselves by deliberately and willfully continuing in sin and ignoring Christ’s claims on us.

The Justice Of God:

1) What is the Justice of God? Very closely connected w/ righteousness. In NT have same Greek root. Means God will do to every man what is right; God will give every man what he deserves. God never has or ever will do any wrong to His creatures. Thomas Watson: “The wicked will drink an ocean of wrath, but not sip 1 drop of injustice.”

2) What does the Bible say about the Justice of God?

Deut.32:3-4 “For I proclaim the name of the LORD; Ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock! His work is perfect, For all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.”

Psalm 89:14 “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You.”

Acts 17:30-31 “In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the Man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead.” (NIV)

Revelation 15:3-4 “And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations! Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.”

3) What Must Be True for God to Judge with Perfect Justice?

1) Knowledge of all Facts: God omniscient. He reads hearts & secrets of men, even motives.

2) Power to Execute Sentence: God omnipotent. After reaching verdict, has power to enforce it. Luke 12:5 “Fear Him who has power to cast both body and soul into hell.” Our judicial system occasionally unjust. Why? Cuz judge doesn’t know all facts; or having determined punishment unable to execute cuz of legal loophole or prisoner escapes. But God never unjust!

4) How Will the Justice of God Be Displayed in the Final Judgment? Rev.20:11-15

The Judge:

Who is the Judge? (Compare Acts 17:31, John 5:27)____________________________
Why is His throne described as great?________________________________________
Why is His throne described as white?________________________________________
Why does earth and heaven flee away from His presence? (compare 2Pet.3:10)_______________________________________________________________
What does it mean that “no place was found for them?” (compare Rev.6:15-17)____________________________________________________________

The Defendants:

Who is on trial? (compare Mt.25:31-32; 2Tim.4:1)______________________________
Where do their bodies and souls come from? (20:13)_____________________________

The Evidence:

What is recorded in the books which were opened? (20:12)_________________________

The Verdict:

What does it mean that death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire?____________________________________________________________________
Who is thrown into the lake of fire?___________________________________________
When is a person’s name recorded in the book of life? (Rev.13:8)____________________
Is every person’s name recorded in the book of life? (Rev.13:8)_____________________
How long must they remain in the lake of fire? (Rev.20:10)_________________________

Personal Application:

1. God is wrathful. Should believers seek to imitate God in any way in this regard? Eph.4:26

2. What should be our attitude toward our sin? (Ezek.36:31)

3. Do you see how vital it was that Christ’s death be the propitiation for our sins? (1Jn.4:10)

4. If the justice of God means God gives all men what they deserve, how can believers not be condemned? How is it that believers have earned eternal life? (Rom.8:1).

5. How should we incorporate the justice and wrath of God into our witnessing to the lost?