Knowing God Study - Lesson 17 Ý
Copyright 2004-5 by William Meisheid

Chapter 15: The Wrath of God

Today’s theme: Facing the absolute terror, the wrath of God

Scriptural background: Hebrews 10:30-31 "For we know Him who said, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.' And again, 'The Lord will judge His people.' It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God."

Job 9:33-35 “If only there were someone to arbitrate between us, to lay his hand upon us both, someone to remove God's rod from me, so that his terror would frighten me no more. Then I would speak up without fear of him, but as it now stands with me, I cannot.”

Quotes for the week

WRATH, n. Anger of a superior quality and degree, appropriate to exalted characters and momentous occasions; as, "the wrath of God," "the day of wrath," etc. . . . Ambrose Bierce (journalist, short-story writer). The Devil's Dictionary, 1911.

"There were times, when I drove along the Sunset Strip and looked at those buildings or when I watched the fashionable film colony arriving at some première … that I fully expected God in his wrath to obliterate the whole shebang." S J Perelman (humorist and writer). "On Hollywood", Paris Review, Spring 1964.

"I suggest that we can never truly understand why it is that the Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, had to come into this world unless we understand this doctrine of the wrath of God and the judgment of God." D. Martin Lloyd-Jones. "The Wrath of God". Sermon at Westminster Chapel.

Concern: Will we soft peddle God’s wrath and reduce the seriousness of sin and judgment, thereby reducing the uniqueness of Christ’s passion?

"And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others." Ephesians 2:1-3

1   Looking at this scripture, why isn't God's wrath part of discipleship?

"You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: 'My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the LORD loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.'" Hebrews 12:5-6

2   How is the scourging of God, to which this verse refers, different from His wrath? Why is this important.

Interacting With The Text

Goal: To face up to the truth of God’s anger and wrath over sin, since without giving it its proper place we diminish the significance of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God.

Amos 3:6 “Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? Shall there be evil in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?” The image of a man, his hands raised over his head to ward off the anger of God, while he is beaten down to his knees, is not a pretty picture or one you will find on any stained glass windows. But, it is something we have to come to terms with.

1   What is the difference between wrath and anger? Why is this distinction important?

2   How do you react to the statement that there are more verses in the bible dealing with God’s anger, fury and wrath than expressing his love? Why do you think that happened?

3   How do you deal with Paul’s words in 2 Thessalonians 1:7b-9 “...the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  And these will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power...”

4   What two biblical considerations rescue God from any accusations of cruelty or meanness when considering his wrath?

5   Explain the how God’s wrath has meaning to you personally and to your life as a Christian.

6   How is God’s wrath made known?

7   How are we delivered from God’s wrath? Does this truth change your view of the cross?
If so, how?

What To Do Next

Read Chapter Sixteen: The Goodness and Severity of God. It is important that we see the balance in God’s dealing with man and His utter graciousness to those whom he calls His children.

Goal: To never lose our proper “fear” of God

Think of Aslan, C.S. Lewis’s personification of Jesus Christ in his Narnia series. “Is he safe?” Lucy asks. “Safe? Of course not, he’s a lion!” is the reply. Hold onto that this week while at the same time remembering that He is our Father, who loves us with an everlasting love.