Is The Judgment and Wrath of God Real?

What is God to do when like a parent, He lovingly lays down rules for the good of His children, but they blatantly defy Him with high handed rebellion? - Clint Decker

A survey from a few years ago found that “nearly eight-in-ten U.S. adults think God or a higher power has protected them, and two-thirds say they have been rewarded by the Almighty. By comparison, somewhat fewer see God as judgmental and punitive. Six-in-ten Americans say God or a higher power will judge all people on what they have done, and four-in-ten say they have been punished by God…” (Image from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary)

When it comes to our natural instincts, if we are given a choice, we would rather receive messages about how God is pleased with us and loves us, rather than how He will judge us. Am I correct? Despite our personal feelings though, is the judgment and wrath of God real?

Jesus once said, “…whoever does not obey the Son [Jesus] shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him” (John 3:36). Wrath of God? The phrase is uncomfortable. Jesus is the most compassionate, kind and loving person the world has ever known.

Sometimes we might think the idea of God’s wrath, judgment or anger was just an Old Testament thing, and that when Jesus came in the New Testament, it all ended. Not true. There are hundreds of verses throughout the entire Bible that speak about the judgment of God.

What is the wrath of God? Theological scholar, Dr. Leon Morris, wrote that it is the “active opposition of God’s holy nature to everything that is evil.” Evil is anything that goes against the ways of God. He helps us understand by providing a comprehensive list of evil things sinful hearts do, saying they are “…filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.” (Romans 1:29-31)

How does God respond to this evil in our hearts? By being both merciful and just. When we persist in going our own way, in a display of divine grace, God patiently and mercifully speaks the truth to warn us. He does it through His Spirit and human messengers. God cautions us about what will happen if we refuse, just like He did in the beginning with Adam and Eve, history’s first man and woman. God said to Adam, “You may surely eat of every tree of the garden, but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17)

What is God to do when like a parent, He lovingly lays down rules for the good of His children, but they blatantly defy Him with high handed rebellion? God will respond with equitable justice. He will act impartially, and come against every thought, word or deed that violates His glory, honor and holiness. The Scripture says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Is there a purpose for divine judgment or is God just an angry God? When we experience the internal conviction of things we have done wrong, the negative consequences of our own actions or some form of divine discipline, it is all meant to help us. God’s judgment is a supernatural-sent spiritual alarm, to wake us up to the condition of our life and where it is headed, unless we change course.

The Scripture says that God, “…is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9) Right now, Jesus is waiting for you with arms stretched open wide. Stop. Sin no more, and receive His forgiveness. Trust in Jesus and be gloriously saved forever this very hour.

A prayer for you - Lord God, I praise you for your mercy and justice. You are a God without partiality and a wise judge. Let us walk in reverent fear before you because of your mighty power. Help us to turn from our ways and find salvation for our soul in Jesus alone. In His name. Amen.