In Wrath Remember Mercy

The Wrath of God Explained in Romans

Text: Romans 1:18-20; 2:3-11; 5:6-10

• This morning, we are beginning a new section in the book of Romans that starts in 1:18 and goes all the way to the end of chapter 4.
• Recall our analogy of Romans as the Mount Everest of the New Testament; our goal is to reach the summit so we can witness what took Paul’s breath away and inspired him to say: 

Romans 11:33–36 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” 35 “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. 

• The introduction (1:1-17) takes place at base camp, where our guide, the apostle Paul, shares the main reason why he wrote Romans: to strengthen believers through the gospel so they would be able to make the climb, comprehend the magnificent, life-changing view from the top, and descend with a passion to share the incredible good news that rescued them from the wrath of God, delivered them from the bondage of sin, liberated them from the futility of life, released them from the fear of death, and granted them victory over the devil!
• However, the first part of the climb takes us along the barren and challenging pathway that Paul describes as “the wrath of God” (1:18-3:20). Thankfully, this section of the climb culminates at a marvelous place Paul refers to as “the righteousness of God,” where climbers are rescued from the soul-crushing damnation resulting from the wrath of God (3:21 – 4:25). However, the route Paul takes to bring us to this rescue point involves a lengthy discussion about a very difficult topic, the wrath of God!
• In this message, I intend to help us see the wrath of God from two important perspectives, and then I want to make some very specific and personal applications to our lives (individually and corporately).

1. Why is the __________ of God __________ to Paul?

   1. __________ importance: understanding the  biblical importance of the wrath of God in Romans
      1. A necessary __________ to God’s righteous and holy nature
         • Paul wants his readers to view the “wrath of God” as a necessary aspect of His nature – specifically, His holiness and righteousness. Since God is holy, He must stand firmly and fiercely against anything that opposes His nature. 
         • By firmly, I mean that God must stand against sin and sinners at all times, in all places, and under all circumstances. 
         • By fiercely, I mean that God cannot simply walk away from sin or sinners and ignore them. His justice demands that sin be condemned and that those who sin be judged and punished appropriately for rejecting the revelation of His righteousness (1:18-23), rebelling against His righteous commands (1:24-27), and reveling in unrighteousness and depravity (1:28-31).
           

           Add A Note

      2. A necessary __________ of God’s faithfulness to His Word:
         • In Romans 2:5 God promises that He will judge sin and punish sinners – so be warned!
         • In Romans 5:8-10 God promises to deliver His people from their enemies and vindicate them before the world on the day of His judgment when He executes his wrath on His enemies– so be strengthened by hope!
           

           Add A Note

   2. __________ significance: living in light of the wrath of God against sin and sinners
      
      1. We were born and continue to live in a realm that is marked by __________ and thus is under the wrath of God.
         The evidence of this is that everyone and everything in this realm experiences four consequences of the wrath of God – including Christians who have been saved from the wrath of God but still live and do life in the realm marked by sin and death!

         Add A Note

         1. Inescapable finality of __________ and __________ (Rom. 6:23; 3:19)
         2. __________ of life (8:20-21)
         3. Painfulness of __________ (8:22-23)
         4. Abandonment to __________ and its __________ (1:24,26,28)
            

            Add A Note

      2. We have hope because we have been lifted from that realm and granted permanent standing in another realm characterized by __________ and governed by the __________ of God!
         The evidence for this can be seen in how the gospel addresses the four consequences of God’s wrath we discussed earlier.
         1. The gospel delivers us from the finality of death. Death has become the door to a better, eternal existence marked by all the things we long for in this life (Rom. 8:31-39).
         2. The gospel gives meaning to this earthly life by infusing the futility of our earthly life with divine purpose (Rom. 8:28).
         3. The gospel provides redemptive meaning to suffering and pain, serving as a powerful means by which God demonstrates the gospel’s truthfulness to unbelievers (Rom. 5:3-5; 8:18).
         4. The gospel rescues us from the bondage of sin and liberates us from being slaves to sin by providing us with the strength to overcome sin and resist temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit, who now dwells within us and enlivens us (He used to convict us and judge us) (8:1-11).
            

            Add A Note

   3. __________ value: __________ and __________ the incredible antidote that rescues people from the wrath of God (both now and on the day when God will judge the world)
      • Paul wants to remind his readers that God has consistently warned people (starting with Adam, Noah, Pharoah, Israel, and the Nations) to flee from the coming wrath of God against sin and disobedience (Rom. 2:1-5).
      • Now that his readers have escaped that wrath when God delivered them through the gospel, they have a moral obligation to warn others of the coming day of wrath and compel them to repent and flee to Christ for safety (Rom. 1:14-15; 15:18-21).
        

        Add A Note

2. How should __________ __________ to the wrath of God?

   1. We must __________ __________ __________ to __________ the wrath of God!
      • We must recognize that we are born under this wrath as descendants of Adam (5:12), and thus, we are subject to God’s righteous judgment and just condemnation (5:16a).
      • We must turn away from the temptation to rely on our own self-efforts to escape God’s wrath and instead run to Christ for safety (5:6-11).
        

        Add A Note

   2. We must __________ ourselves in the __________ of God by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (1:16-17)!
      
   3. We must __________ our lives gratefully to the One who rescued us from wrath as His __________ __________ for __________ (6:12-14)!
   4. We must live __________ before others who are yet under God’s wrath by __________ and __________ God’s mercy (12:1-2).

Conclusion: How do we live this out in real time?

We can live out this message by answering three questions that are framed by Paul’s three purposes for writing Romans:

1. Theologically, Paul wants to make sure you understand God’s wrath and why this understanding should matter to you. Here is the question he would want you to answer: Am I __________ God’s wrath __________ this morning, and does it __________ me sufficiently? 
2. Pastorally, Paul wants you to live in light of the gospel that saved you from God’s wrath. Here is the question he would want you to consider: As a Christian, do I take God’s wrath __________ in my __________ and in the lives of __________ __________ me?
3. Missionally, Paul encourages you to share the hope of the gospel with those who remain under wrath. Am I __________ people from the wrath of God by __________ the __________ of God’s __________?

Romans 15:21 but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.”