This is a series on the attributes of God.
Session 29: The Wrath of God
Purpose: In this session we shall explore the attribute of the wrath of God.
The reality of God’s Wrath
- This is taught in the Old Testament
- In the Hebrew, “There are more than twenty words used to express ‘wrath’ as it applies to Yahweh (in addition to a number of other words which occur only with reference to human anger). These are used so frequently that there are over 580 occurrences to be taken into consideration.”[1]
- “Go, inquire of the Lord for me and the people and all Judah concerning the words of this book that has been found, for great is the wrath of the Lord that burns against us, because our fathers have not listened to the words of this book, to do according to all that is written concerning us.” (2 Kings 22:13)
- Context is King Josiah of Judah speaking, after the Book of the Law was found and read.
- Here we see the mention of the wrath of God against Josiah’s ancestors and their generation because of disobedience to His laws.
- This is taught in the New Testament [2]
- Note: I want to spend some more time in the New Testament since most people think the wrath of God is an Old Testament phenomenon but not in the New Testament. We will look at two main Greek word used to describe God’s wrath.
- ὀργή
- Meaning: It is from “ὀργάω which signifies ‘to be getting ready to bear, growing ripe for something.’ It comes to mean the natural disposition or character, any movement of soul, especially stron emotion, and so anger… ὀργή is adapted to a more settled emotion…”[3]
- This term for wrath is described as coming from God in the these passages: John 3:36, Romans 1:18, Romans 9:22, Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 3:6, Revelation 19:15.
- “Your wrath” is obviously that of God in Revelation 11:18 and “His wrath” in Revelation 14:10, 16:19.
- θυμός
- Meaning: “θυμός derives from θύω which means to rush on or along and as Grimm-Thayer put it: ‘to rush along or on, be in a heat, breathe violently…accordingly it signifies both the spirit panting as it is were in the body, and the rage with which the man pants and swells… θυμός more readily denotes passionate anger, arising and subsiding quickly…”[4]
- More direct connect of wrath to God: Revelation 14:10, 14:19, 15:1, 15:7, 16:1, 16:19, 19:15.
- Implicit it’s wrath of God: Romans 2:5, 3:5, 5:9, Ephesians 5:6, Colossians 3:6, 1 Thessalonians 1:10; also 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9.
- Other ways expressed God is wrathful: God is a consuming fire according to Hebrews 12:29.
Why is there the wrath of God?
- Reason 1: God’s righteousness; Since God is righteous in His attributes He has to show wrath towards unrighteousness:
- “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” (Romans 1:18)
- Notice God’s wrath is “against all ungodliness”
- Jerry Bridges: “We might say that God’s wrath is His infinite justice in action—a justice that cannot allow any sin, be it ever so small in our eyes, to go unpunished” [5]
- “Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed, which amounts to idolatry. 6 For it is because of these things that the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience,” (Colossians 3:5-6)
- Notice lists of sins (5)
- Notice these lists are identified as why God’s wrath will be upon “the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience” (6)
- “But immorality [c]or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among [d]saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no [e]immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 5:3-6)
- Notice lists of sins (3-5)
- Notice these lists are identified as why God’s wrath will be upon “the wrath of God will come upon the sons of disobedience” (6)
- “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,” (Romans 1:18)
- Reason 2: God’s Holiness: Since God is Holy in His attributes He has to show wrath towards unrighteousness because He can’t look upon it with favor: “Your eyes are too pure to [a]approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favor. Why do You look with favor on those who deal treacherously? Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up those more righteous than they?” (Habakkuk 1:13)
- Reason 3: God has deal with unrepentance: Wrath is the way God deal with those who are stubbornly unrepentant:“ But [a]because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,” (Romans 2:5)
To escape the wrath of God we need Christ’s propitiation
What does the Greek word for propitiation means?
- What does this word mean for Greek ears?
- It involves paying to earn God’s favor where you pay the Gods ahead of time before your endeavor, etc
- The pagan Gods were so fickle so you want to make sure they are appease and not angry with you.
- What does this word mean for Jewish ears?
- It involves setting aside God’s wrath.
- This term is used a lot in the Greek translation of the Old Testament with reference to the mercy seat of Leviticus 16.
- Summary: It means to satisfy the wrath of God.
What is the means of propitiation of God’s wrath?
- Through Jesus (1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10)!
- Through His blood: “whom God displayed publicly as a[d]propitiation [e]in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness,[f]because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed;” (Romans 3:25)
What Implications from these truths do you see apply to your life?
[1] Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids, MI: Tyndale Press, 1965), 149-150.
[2] Everything in the section on the New Testament originates from Leon Morris, The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross (Grand Rapids, MI: Tyndale Press, 1965), 180-183.
[3] Ibid, 180.
[4] Ibid, 180.
[5] Jerry Bridges, The Transforming Power of the Gospel (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2012), Location 346 of 2821.
[…] as much a part of God as any other attribute, an attribute without which God would be less than God.https://veritasdomain.wordpress.com/2021/07/21/gods-attribute-the-wrath-of-god/Thank you Pastor Jim!Worthy is the Lamb! […]
Not at all disagreeing with what the Bible says about the wrath of God or that God does have wrath, but I would caution about calling it an attribute of God. All attributes of God, properly speaking, must exist eternally in God. God’s wrath is a response to sin, which entered creation at a certain point in time. Therefore it’s more accurate to say that God’s wrath is the expression of his justice (or righteousness) against sin. Justice/righteousness is the attribute; wrath is how it’s expressed in a certain context.
Wes you are correct. Its 1 something AM here; when I wake up I’m going to edit this outline/post to reflect that.
Hi, Jimmy and Wes! I have been thinking about this for days! The Wrath of God is an eternal attribute of God. God created angels before the physical universe and Satan is an eternal created angel/being. I read a book a few days prior to this where the author said, “God created Satan to be eternal (Rev 20:10); and not even God can undo what God has done. Although God cannot put an end to an eternal Satan, He can put Satan away” (Smith, p. 249). I am not in agreement with Smith that God cannot put an end to Satan; but rather, does not choose to do so. Satan, his minions, unbelievers will experience the Lord’s Wrath forever and ever in the eternal state of damnation/hell. God knew that sin would enter His Creation before He ever created. Over the last 15-18 months the Lord has really impressed on me the seriousness of His Wrath. While I am very thankful that we who are in Christ won’t know the Lord’s Wrath it is terrifying to think that those who don’t have faith in Christ will experience the Lord’s rejection, torment etc forever and ever. Thank you for being patient with me, I am a verbal processor (whether oral or written) and I very much welcome y’all’s thoughts! Blessings, Mandy
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Good morning Jim. Thanks for tackling this. Very much needed for all of us to hear.
Also, I am fine with it being listed as an attribute. Wayne Grudem, in his Systematic Theology, does as well.
Blessings from mighty King Jesus.
Good exposition.
Thanks! Always a delight to make these outlines and teach about God. How are things weather wide for you this week so far?
Important post in a day where God’s fury is utterly avoided. I would add Reason #5 for God’s wrath: We have aligned ourselves with God’s enemy who hates us, and whose sole aim is to desecrate God’s honor and sovereignty.
That is another good reason for God’s wrath. Thanks Lisa for sharing that. It’s a topic that many Christians like to avoid but it is biblical. I pray that my generation of Christians would rediscover the importance of this doctrine
Thanks for this teaching outline on the wrath of God. Such an unpopular topic in this “God is (only) love” era. But God’s Word can’t be sampled according to worldly philosophies.
Thanks for reading this! I hope this teaching online and also this post would help lead others to be be more solid; its crazy to think of how much this theology of “God is love” then is a basis to believe in all sorts of unbiblical things. I was sad this week seeing some Christians approve someone’s new lifestyle and constant posting on FB of things that goes against Christianity and “Christians” approving it…there were no beliefs in God’s wrath among them. I imagine how it grieves you to see compromises is analogous to how I get heart broken with false doctrines…how’s your day?
Yeah, many Christians are loosey goosey when it comes to doctrine. They’ll like/approve outright heresy.
My wife’s cousins are coming over for dinner tonight so I spent a good chunk of the day prepping for that. How’s your Wednesday going?
So many of these “God is love” folks have no problem displaying/disposing wrath on those who do not agree with them. Satan’s deceptions are ramping up by the day and many Christians are too comfortable or too at home in this world to care. Love and blessings.
There’s a lot of watering down of this doctrine today even among solid Bible believing churches
Talking about the wrath of God is definitely unpopular nowadays, modern man would rather stick his head in the sand on this issue. How much better to face it and assuage His wrath by accepting the sacrifice of Christ.
This is sooo sooo important that I hope those who read this post will let this Gospel truth sink in: “ How much better to face it and assuage His wrath by accepting the sacrifice of Christ.”. How are you brother?
Thank you Jim. I just had a wee spell of fatique in the last few days which praise God has passed. I only have to deal with hot weather now, which is in the high twenties…not good for pale Scotsmen.😉
Reblogged this on My Logos Word.
Many do not like to even hear the word, wrath…so thankful for your post on today because we need to hear it more, not less! Blessings today!
Pastor Jim, thanks for sharing this thoughtful and laid-out discussion. The Scripture references were very helpful as well as the quote from Jerry Bridges. Blessings for your continuing studies into God’s Word.
The wrath of God is not a very popular subject these days.
Thank you for this study and all the work you put into it.
Have a blessed weekend.
Thank you for reading this! And for noticing the effort put into these outlines! I appreciate that very much Crissy! I imagine in Australia its similar to the US in that most churches and pastors don’t talk much about God’s Wrath?
You are right there. It’s all God’s love. But as you know when speaking about God’s love they should quote Rom 5/8.
Praying for you, your family and ministry.
I don’t know when it started that pastors, scholars, theologians began teaching that the Lord’s Wrath is temporary, coming to an end. God is Sovereign and while we who are in Christ will glorify and enjoy Him forever, there will be people, the devil, Satan who will suffer the Lord’s Wrath for eternity in hell. I think sometimes the doctrine of hell is taught more from a position of temperature and pain rather than focusing on God’s absolute and utter rejection. The last 15-18 months God has caused me to really meditate on what His Wrath means and looks like in a world that is hostile to Him. While in the birth pains and end time events before the rapture, believers will experience the wrath of Satan/man but that is NOTHING in comparison to what the Lord’s Wrath will be on those who are far from Him. I hope all those with ears to hear and eyes to see will take this lesson to heart. God is Love but as these days get darker, Satan will have his time to shine and then God’s Wrath on the unjust will be made manifest. Love and blessings to you, Nancy and kiddos.
Mandy thanks for your many comments! I think you are right with this: “ I think sometimes the doctrine of hell is taught more from a position of temperature and pain rather than focusing on God’s absolute and utter rejection”. That is so true. It would be painful and it is a horrible place to be and in my personal life it’s realizing that it’s a place I deserve because of my sins and the sinfulness of my sins thatGod has to punish is what made me see the need for Jesus as Savior! Sometimes when I evangelize I hear people not seeing hell being understood beyond a hot place. Like you since 2020 I’m convince of God’s Wrath is very real and we are deserving of His wrath. How precious then is the Gospel amen??
AMEN AND AMEN!! In reading your response, I hope I didn’t come across sounding like I did anything to earn my salvation or that I am a good person. I am also dead in trespasses and it’s all God’s grace. I will boast in Christ and Him crucified, resurrected, ascended and soon returning. I am so thankful for this series!