THE WRATH OF GOD
(Romans Bible Study Series Tape Two)
Recommended reading - Romans 1:18-32.
The Gospel is God's Good News for all mankind. In this
section of Romans, Paul declares that there is nothing good in man and
that in and of ourselves we are helpless. Paul explains that any
confidence in the flesh must be destroyed. Jesus clearly states that,
"There is none good," Matthew 19:17 (KJV). The primary
reason for this is our motive. We are self-centered. Paul paints a dismal
picture of the human race. This can be discouraging; however, there is
wonderful Good News for us as Paul describes in Romans 3:21. Paul
begins with the words - "But now". After Paul paints the dismal
picture of mankind, he explains the Good News for all mankind.
I. Paul uses a distinct methodology when he writes.
· Paul makes a
statement, then he expounds and explains the statement.
· We must first
understand the statement, before we try to understand what Paul is
explaining.
II. Paul begins in Romans 1:18 by describing the wrath of
God.
· We must not
equate God's wrath with that of human wrath. God's wrath is not a loss
of self control or emotional anger.
· Two items
describe God's wrath.
1.) God hates sin; because, He loves us.
2.) God's wrath is revealed against all ungodliness.
· Ungodliness can
mean two things:
1.) Being unlike God.
2.) Deliberately, willfully, and persistently living
without God. This is how Paul is describing the term ungodly, in these
scriptures.
· If we look
closely at the problem, we realize that unrighteousness is the
consequence of ungodliness. Unfortunately, during the last several
decades, mankind has turned its' back on God and has become ungodly. It
is clear that unrighteousness is the fruit of ungodliness.
· We must realize
that man cannot resolve the problem. The problem is not between man and
man, rather; the problem is man's relationship with God.
III. The Law of God depicts a beautiful way of life that we must
come to fully understand.
· God's law has
two important sections:
1.) Man needs to Love God.
2.) Man must love his neighbor as himself.
· God hates,
detests, and His wrath is revealed against ungodliness and its' fruit
unrighteousness. Man does not want to retain the knowledge of God
because he detests God.
· Man, who is
clearly self serving, does not want to accept the fact that he can do
nothing to save himself. That is the main problem with legalism.
Individuals who are legalistic want to contribute to their salvation.
They still want to have a certain element of goodness in themselves and
do not realize there is none. A legalist would have you believe that you
can earn your salvation. Mankind can not earn salvation. Jesus says,
"Without Me you can do nothing."
IV. Ever since the fall of man, we have been running away from God.
· Romans
1:19-20, If man does not have a knowledge of God, it is not because
he is ignorant of God; it is also because he has deliberately pushed God
out of the picture. Man began with the knowledge of God.
· God has reveled
Himself to man. He has done so in the creation of man, as well as
through nature, which He also created.
· Many have tried
to use their own human logic to intellectualize the nature of God. We
don't want to accept the true nature of God, as He is revealed in the
Bible, and by what we see about God through creation itself.
V. The moment that Adam sinned, he legally had no right to live one
more second.
· If Adam would
have died, all would have died in him.
· God planned a
way of escape for all man. He predestined, from the foundation of the
world, that all men would be redeemed in His Son. Please note
that God did not give eternal life to all men. Our loving God redeemed
all men making eternal life available.
VI. Romans 1:24-28, God let man go his own way.
· Those who have
left God, have gone against nature.
· God does not
force us to live His way; God allows us to go our own way.
· God could wipe
out mankind, but that is not God's purpose. God realized all of this was
going to occur; that is why Jesus was sacrificed from the foundation of
the world.
VII. As long as man turns his back to God, there is no solution.
· Man tries
everything to find a solution by trying to live without God; however,
everything is failing.
· God is waiting
until we raise up our hands and say, "God we can not do it."
We are God's children and He is very patient with us. He is waiting for
us to say, "God take over." God's way works. God is
waiting with open arms; He will not reject us.
VIII. God is not giving His Gospel to the masses, because the masses
are not ready.
· The masses feel
they can make it on their own, without God. Eventually, the masses will
turn back, and God will use His children to teach them.
Before all of what has been discussed can occur, we must
reach the position Paul himself reached. Paul finally lost confidence in
himself and turned his life over to Jesus Christ. We must realize our only
hope is Jesus Christ and His righteousness. We must realize that
true faith does not look to ourselves, but to Jesus Christ. God wants us
to return to Him. God wants us to accept Him as the only source of hope,
salvation, and righteousness. To do this we must use the only true formula
- Not I, but Christ! |
The Wrath of God 