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Romans Chapter 1verse 18 - We have been reading of the fundamentals of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - the power of God to save - it is for everyone that believes - to the Jew first and then the Gentile - the righteousness or the rightness of God is revealed in the Gospel - and - the just or righteous shall live by faith.

But in verse 18, we read that the wrath of God is also revealed.

In the Gospel of Jesus Christ there is good news and bad news - there is mercy and justice - there is the love of God but we also see something of the wrath or anger and judgement of God.

It has been said that the wrath of God is like the sharp prick of a needle to carry through the thread of the Good News of the Gospel. One of the Puritans wrote - "The needle of God's law brings the thread of God's Gospel into your heart."

These are serious and challenging verses - which you must go through to reach the glories of Chapters 3,4,5.

The Wrath of God - do not assume the wrath of God to be like man's wrath.

There is no revenge - no personal malice - no vindictiveness. It is not the same as someone annoying us so we in turn must annoy them.

God is NOT a bad-tempered God. He does not deal people a heavy blow. He does not seek to get His own back.

We have to be careful as to how we use the words Love and Wrath with reference to Almighty God. Love depends upon the character of the one doing the loving.

Find out what God is like and you will know what His Love is like and what His Wrath is like.

C. H. Dodd translated Romans in the NEB and wrath was 'retribution' - meaning that whatsoever a man sows he will reap. Is God's wrath then an impersonal moral mechanism? Does it mean that if you do what is right God loves you? NO. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven.

It is not just the world or universe that is angry because you have done something wrong and sinful - it is GOD Who is angry. You cannot escape God's Wrath.

So what is the real meaning? God's Wrath is a personal reaction - God is a Person and He has personal reactions and attitudes to wrong and sin. It is a Person loving another person and a Person angry with another person. God reacts when we vandalise His world. He built and made and created this world.

How do we react to vandalism? God reacts positively to sin and wickedness and unrighteousness. When God created the world, it was good - when He created man, He said it was very good. Consider what He looks down on now.

He created it to be a wonderful place - but we have war - pain - suffering - disobedience - rebellion - unthankful men - sin in all its sinfulness - corrupting - destroying - robbing people - resulting in global havoc.

Our holy God reacts - He is a Person. He does not remain indifferent to the sin and evil and wickedness of men.

Note what He is reacting against - ungodliness - unrighteousness or wickedness.

Ungodliness means - living as if God did not exist!

People have no thought of God - not thoughts about God - He does not come into their thinking.

God made us. He wants to be at the centre of our lives - so that we can benefit - so that we can be blessed - so that we can avoid many of the pains and much of the suffering going on all around as a consequence of SIN.

He created us to be GODLY - to consider Him - think about Him - to worship Him - thank Him - hear Him.

People do not worship Him - they don't talk about Him - they do not acknowledge Him and praise Him and thank Him. What happens? Ungodly people soon become unrighteous or wicked - and God reacts to this.

“Loving God – this can be a difficult passage in Your Holy Word – help us to understand this aspect of Your nature and Your character. Help us to balance the reality of Your love and the reality of Your wrath – help us to see the total picture revealed in Scripture – in Old and New Testaments. Help us to help those who may have difficulty with Your righteous anger – Your wrath – in Jesus Name we pray. Amen.!

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

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