God’s Wrath in Relation to Justice

There are many examples in the Bible where God’s wrath came upon man.  

Romans 1:18 – “…For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness…” 

Un-righteousness is non-righteousness and since righteousness comes from God thru His commandments, un-righteousness is disobedience to God’s commandments.

Un-righteousness is therefore iniquity; lawlessness; it is to commit sin.

Ø  John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Ø  Eph. 5:6 - But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Ø  Col. 3:5-6 - Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

Moses exhorted them throughout the book of Deuteronomy.

Joshua exhorted them; in chapt. 24:31 - And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.

Judges 2:7, 10-15 – 

⁷And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel...

¹⁰And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

¹¹And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:

¹²And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger.

¹³And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

¹⁴And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

¹⁵Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.

The children of Israel persisted in ungodliness until they were destroyed.  

2 Chronicles 36:15-16 – “And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.”

God’s wrath comes because of disobedience; which is the opposite of faithfulness.

Faithfulness doesn’t just happen; it requires effort.  As this relates to the work of a congregation of God’s people, it requires a COLLECTIVE effort. It requires:

Good leadership: Joshua 2:7, 10 - Joshua; all the good kings of Judah (cf. Joash, Amaziah, Azariah, Jotham, Josiah, Hezekiah, etc.)  

Good (qualified) elders will keep sin “out of the camp”; while individually there may be “idols in the heart”, there will be peace within the camp; the work of evangelism, edification, and benevolence will not be hindered; the collective will be deemed “faithful” as was the nation of Israel at Joshua’s death.

In the home; in the gov’t, good leadership must be in place; there must be LEADERS!

Willingness to follow: those under good leadership will feed off the leadership. Respect & honor is to be esteemed upon good leaders.  This too comes naturally.  Leaders who lead after the Lord’s example draw people to honor and respect God, and the Lord.

Philippians 2:3 -Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

1 Thess. 5:12-13 - And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

James 4:6 – “…God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.”

Obedience – It has been said, ‘the road to hell is paved w/good intentions’; willingness has to do w/attitude; there MUST be a following-through. 

2 Cor. 8:11 - Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have.

Patience & perseverance – How long did it take to drive out the inhabitants of the land of Canaan?  Was the work ever going to be over?  Would there come a time when no heathen nation would not seek to conquer and re-take control of Canaan?  They would ALWAYS, have to be in a position to defend their land, for their faithfulness MUST continue.  Each generation would need to be taught so as to be ready.  Each generation was to develop future leaders.  

So w/us as a church and as parents = our teaching is NEVER going to be over; but our task of preparing our children to grow up to be leaders is ever before us; it must take top priority, or our children will be the generation who grows up to “forget”.

- - - Young people…purpose to lead, not follow! Learn the Bible message of God’s eternal purpose, or you will suffer the plagues that the majority of the children of Israel suffered.

The point is, this was an on-going effort for the children of Israel; it would NEVER end; so it is in our life; temptations; trials; persecutions will NEVER cease; we need to have patience and perseverance to remain faithful.

Encouragement & prayer: Joshua 24 is an entire chapter of encouragement from Joshua to faithfulness.  Two verses stand out: spiritual encouragement: 15 & 23

15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

23Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

Spiritual encouragement is the most needed encouragement to ensure faithfulness.

Cooperation & fellowship: Israel demonstrated this at times (2 ½ tribes helped the 9 ½ tribes – Joshua 22); at other times they suffered through civil war (Divided Kingdom era). They were brethren and as such, they were family.  The responsibilities of living in the land required cooperation and sharing (fellowship) in the responsibilities of faithfulness.

So it is today; in a church; cooperation and sharing(in responsibilities), are necessities for faithfulness to continue.

We are brethren; we are God’s family.

We must give up “self” for the body (of Christ).

Phil. 2:1-5 –

¹If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

²Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

³Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

⁴Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

⁵Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

God’s wrath is beyond anything known to man; our children will suffer worse things because of our negligence in preparing them to be leaders among the nations/societies of their adult life.

Let us resolve to be as we read in Psa. 78:4-8 – 

⁴We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

⁵He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,

⁶that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,⁷so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments;⁸and that they should not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, a generation whose heart was not steadfast, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

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