Sermon Outline for Romans 1:18-23 - The Righteousness of, and the Reason for the Wrath of God.
The wrath of God is God’s righteous or just anger against sin.
The question that probably arises in many people’s minds is this: Is it really ever right for God to be angry? Is it really ever good to talk about the wrath of God against sin?
We live in a culture where people often don’t like to talk about the subject of sin, let alone talk about the wrath of God against sin. I can remember a motivational psychology course that I took in university that started out the course by looking at Jonathon Edwards’ famous sermon: “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” and it was obvious that the professor and the majority of the class could not fathom that anyone could even preach that sermon, let alone listen to it and believe it.
What I am going to dare suggest to you today – is that not only should we be willing to listen to and accept the reality of the wrath of God, but we should also be willing to give thanks for the wrath of God. I say that carefully, but I do say it sincerely. We ought to give thanks to God for His wrath, because His wrath actually helps us realize His righteousness and goodness. This in turn, helps to fuel and focus our faith in God and His wonderful saving provision in Jesus Christ.
So, here is how understanding the wrath of God, helps to teach us to trust God.
A couple quick contextual thoughts:
1. Vs. 18 is an explanation of verse 16 and 17. Paul writes “ For the wrath of God.” Why is Paul not ashamed of the gospel? It is because the gospel does two things – It teaches us that the only way to be saved is to trust in God and for those who trust in God, they will continue to see and experience the revelation of the righteousness of God. If you trust God, you will see continually how right God is in all His ways and you will live on account of the fact that you have trusted in God.
2. Paul emphasizes the word “reveal” . In vs. 17, Paul says in the gospel “the righteousness of God is revealed.” In verse 18, Paul says “for the wrath of God is revealed.” What we need to see is that this is not a major subject change – but rather, Paul is arguing that the wrath of God is one of the ways that God reveals His righteousness. The gospel is the announcement that God is saving us from not just sin but the wrath of God that comes on account of sin. If you trust in God, and follow Him you will understand the absolute rightness of God’s ways. (Follow God and you will always discover how right and good He is and loving He is to direct you in His ways.)
I. The Present and Ongoing Reality of the Wrath of God – God’s wrath “is revealed from heaven.” This is not a past tense act. This is a present reality. God’s wrath is being revealed right now in our time. The word “reveal” indicates that God is purposefully letting us see how He feels about our sin.
i. The reason for wrath – ungodliness and unrighteousness. What God is just angry about is the determined, continuous, and universal involvement in humanity in lifestyles characterized by dishonourable, unjust, sinful behaviour. The two words used by Paul are not that distinct but they do carry with them the notion of a lack of reverence towards God and a lack of justice towards one another. In other words, God’s wrath is towards the wickedness that exists amongst humanity when we act in a way that shows total disregard for God and for the good of one another.
ii. The source of God’s wrath – “from heaven”. It is a simple statement – but what we need to see is that in our days, we are observing God’s direct involvement from heaven in the lives of human beings on earth. Paul is about to point to the consequences of living a godless existence. However, we must acknowledge that this is more than simply a matter of “cause and effect.” This passage is not simply teaching that humanity is suffering the consequences of our sin. It is teaching that God has deliberately acted from heaven upon the affairs of men. How so?
iii. The scene of God’s wrath: Vs. 24 teaches that God’s wrath is expressed by God giving humanity over to its wickedness. In other words, in the normal affairs of God’s loving providence for humanity, God restrains evil. When God reveals His wrath, He removes His restraining hand.
Main Point: When you look at the world, and ask the question – how can God, if there is a God, permit such evil – the Bible answers and declares – God is deliberately removing His restraining hand from humanity so that we might see the consequences of our ungodliness and unrighteousness. God’s wrath demonstrates God’s righteousness. God’s wrath proves to us that God is good, wise, loving, and just when He tells us to trust Him and follow His ways obediently. When we fail to follow Him, we end up living in a very unmerciful world (see how things progress to Romans 1:31)
God’s wrath is a merciful demonstration to us of the consequences of not trusting in Him. He is showing how that when we don’t trust in Him, we die. When we do trust in Him, we are saved from the brutal world that we create for ourselves.
God is angry with sin because He knows without this demonstration how evil our sin actually is! He continually reveals this wrath so that we can see it for ourselves! So that we will realize that those who trust in God will truly live.
II. The Present and Ongoing Reason for the Display of God’s Wrath – We hate it when people knowingly suppress truth when it has disastrous effects on the lives of others (ie. environmental issues). It angers us when we know that they have knowingly done so for some evil selfish agenda. That is exactly what angers God. What angers God is that human beings deliberately refuse to trust Him, even though He has shown that He is pre-eminently trustworthy. It is the deliberate refusal (against all reason) to trust God and to follow God’s ways that has led God to reveal His anger.
The steps to suppression of truth –
1. Unequivocal Revelation of God’s righteousness: God has gone out of his way to make it known to human beings not simply that God exists but that God is good, wise, righteous, and therefore trustworthy (vs. 20-21).
a. An inward conviction – “is evident within them”
b. An outward display – “God made it evident to them.” Creation is an enormous display not just of the existence of God – but of His eternal power and divine nature.
2. A progressive Rejection of God
a. Stubborn refusal to honour God and to give Him thanks. Give God no place in our lives. Don’t honour Him by letting Him be who He is for us – our kind, benevolent Creator, Sustainer, and friend.
b. Silly alternative speculation – We deliberately attempt to explain what exists, why it exists, and how it works by our own conjecture rather than accepting divine revelation. We chose human postulation over clear revelation.
c. Inner Corruption – Our hearts are darkened. We become committed to what is wrong rather than embracing what is good and right. We actually become anti-God. Choose evil over good, our selfish ambition over God’s will.
d. Created Substitution – When we eventually make a mess of things by not trusting God, we then have to create things that we hope will rescue us from the destructive world that we have made. Idols can be carved objects of wood or stone or sophisticated theories like technology and scientific exploration. Technology and exploration are not evil in themselves. They become evil when we hope that they might save us instead of returning and simply trusting God and believing that He will give us life in His Son.
Application: God revealed His wrath because we intentionally ignored the revelation of His righteousness through the good things that He has made. God offers us in the gospel a path back to life –the good, abundant, and eternal life that comes through trusting Him. Jesus Christ fixes the mess not only of this world – but of our offence against a good, righteous, and deserving God.
