The Angry God

Why do we do what we do? Why does it seem like we get caught up in sin so easily, and can’t escape? How can something that feels natural be condemned by God? How can those who have never heard of Jesus be condemned for doing what feels right to them?

The Wrath of God is revealed against those who _suppress_ the truth.

Romans 1:18–21 KJV 1900

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Romans 1:18-

The truth has been revealed in _creation_.

Romans 1:22–23 KJV 1900

Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

When we do not worship the true God, we will worship _something_.

God’s judgment is to give them over to _total depravity_

His wrath is revealed by not stopping their sin. Isn’t it amazing how their judgment is being given exactly what they wanted? A parent or a spouse who would say “I’m done with you. Just do what you want!” Has ventured far beyond love. Restraint is proof of concern. The first punishment God gives us for our sin is letting us have it, we become totally sinful: body, soul and spirit.

Isn’t it amazing how their judgment is being given exactly what they wanted?

Romans 1:24–26 ESV

Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen. For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;

Romans 1:24–25 KJV 1900

Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

Romans 1:24-

The fundamental error is worshipping the creation instead of the creator. Like in Egypt, they worshipped the river, the sky and the sun, so God judged them all. But the creation we worship which leads to those other sins is self. When we worship self, and pretend we are God, there is nothing we will not do.

Those who sinned in their spirits were released to sin in their _bodies_.

Romans 1:26–27 KJV 1900

For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

Romans 1:26-

One of the clearest indicators of our spiritual condition is what we love.

Those who sinned in their bodies were released to sin in their _hearts_.

Romans 1:28–32 KJV 1900

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Romans 1:28

Look at some of the things in this list, right along homosexuality! How does God feel about heterosexual sin (fornication), greed, envy, divorce (covenant-breakers), hard heartedness and unmercifulness?

Those who sinned in their hearts were released to sin in their _minds_.

Conclusion

The solution is not to educate people to change their hearts to change their behavior, but to have a new birth in the Spirit. When worship is right, what we want to do will be different, what we love will be different and how we think will be different.

The solution to the ways God has given us over to our sin is a change in our very core. God is too holy to compromise his wrath. But not only did He give humanity over TO sin, He gave His Son up FOR sin.

Romans 8:3 KJV 1900

For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

Related Media

Related Sermons