Daily Devotion With Pastor Dan – August 18th, 2020.
(Romans 1:18-21)…..For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
God is a God of love, but at the same time, He is also a God of wrath. This truth is avoided, even denied in most of today’s religious circles. Many just don’t want to hear that there is a righteous God who will one day judge the sinner. As much as love is a character of God, as is righteousness, as is justice, and as is wrath.
With that, He could not be God if He loved evil. or even if He condoned it, because in Him there is no sin.
(1 John 3:5)….And you know He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin.
God has made known to us His attitude towards sin. God will not tolerate sin, He will not excuse it, He abhors all wickedness. Why? Good question. Because sin has never been or will be, part of the nature of our Lord – So there must be an all out attack on what does not belong to God. there must be wrath against sin, He must judge it. This was greatly revealed when He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross for us
We must understand what God’s wrath is, and is not
- It is not a “knee-jerk” reaction to the sin of man
- It is not a desire for revenge
- It is His fixed attitude towards all unrighteousness
If a sinner continues in sin, refusing to accept God’s gift of eternal life, then God’s unchanging attitude towards sin (His wrath) will come on that sinner (John 3:36) (Ephesians 5:7) (Colossians 3:1-7)
Let us realize this truth, that God’s wrath is never poured out upon those who belong to Him (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)….For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. However, His wrath will be experienced by every person who rejects Him and His offering of salvation in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (Hebrews 10:26-31).
Why is God’s wrath revealed from heaven? Because of the “ungodliness” of man. Ungodliness is defined as a lack of commitment (devotion) to God, a lack of worship (reverence – awe) of the true God. It is also the attitude of living without God – living against all that He is (Romans 3:10-18) (Jude 14-15). It is also because of the unrighteousness of man. Unrighteousness is defined as a denial to conform one’s life to the word of God and His character. Men and women suppress (hold down) the truth in unrighteousness. And just what is this truth that man suppresses? It is the very revelation of God Himself. You see, God has manifested Himself to man in many ways, yet man willfully suppresses (resist – oppose) the truth of God so that he may continue in his sins (John 3:16-21).
Let us be the ones who glorify God for who He is, for what He has done, and let us be of the ones who are thankful to Him for His salvation.