Aug 17, 2025 | Ptr Peter Tan-Chi
On KNOWING GOD, R.C. Sproul said, “The most serious problem of people have with God is not that they do not know Him, but they distort Him”. God’s wrath is His holy, just, and righteous anger towards sin and evil. It is His settled opposition to everything contrary to His holiness and love, unlike human temper tantrum. “God’s wrath is a perfection of His character, as a supremely holy and loving God” (A.W. Pink). There’s no blemish in the character of God, and it includes His wrath. “A god who is all love, all grace, all mercy, no sovereignty, no justice, no holiness, and no wrath is an idol “(Sproul). A holy God can never be indifferent to sin. It makes Him flawed. His wrath is just!
Loving God and fearing God are not in contradiction – both can motivate us (Deuteronomy 10:12-13). Today, people have no fear of God – they joke about God, when supposedly we are to fear the Lord and walk in His ways. Keeping the Lord’s commandments is for our own good.
The fear of the Lord means:
- Deep reverence and awe toward God.
- Recognition of who God is – His holiness, justice, and majesty
- Knowing that God’s wrath is real
- Realizing sin is rebellion against God
Let us “show gratitude” and “offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe” (holy fear and respect) (Hebrews 12:28-29). The world is messed up because people don’t fear God. Jesus reminds us who to be afraid of – “fear the One, who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell…” (Luke 12:4-5). Paul reminds us that since we will appear before the judgment seat of Christ, we must know the fear of the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:10-11). “The effect of false ideas about God is disaster to the spiritual life” (J.I. Packer); distorted view of God leads to wrong living. There are 3Rs we can learn about God’s wrath:
RIGHTEOUS
The wrath of God is revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men (Romans 1:18-20). Why? Because His invisible attributes, eternal power, and even divine nature have been clearly seen so we have no excuse! Mankind became like fools for refusing to honor God despite the evidence (Romans 1:21). We may know God, but is our life honoring to Him?
Genesis 6:5-7, 12-13 describes how the world has become corrupt and the human heart corrupted, so God decided to blot out the entire creation. The entire world has been in sin, “filled with violence”, so the earth was condemned and judged by water. But Noah and his family was saved from it because he was righteous in the sight of God (Genesis 6:8, 7:1). In the end times, God will judge the earth with fire. For God’s wrath is “His righteous reaction to evil, His implacable hostility to it, His refusal to condone it, and His judgment upon it” (John Stott).
RESERVED FOR THE UNGODLY
God’s wrath is measured and just – but certain. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah perfectly illustrates this (Genesis 18:20-21). God’s anger is not impulsive, but He is loving enough to check people’s way of life. Abraham appeals to God, requesting for grace for the righteous as his nephew and his family lived there (v.23). Abraham continued to ask for God’s grace, and we can assume that he was thinking about his nephew’s safety, bargaining with God to not punish the wicked with the righteous (Genesis 18:24-32). The people of Sodom showed how depraved they were – wanting to have relations with Lot’s guests who were the angels of the Lord (Genesis 19:4-5). The angels rescued Lot and his family (wife and two daughters) “for the compassion of the LORD was upon Him” (Genesis 19:15–16). Then Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed (v.24). God is involved in saving us! This serves as an example for those living ungodly lives today – but highlights how God can rescue the godly from temptation His wrath (2 Peter 2:6-7, 9).
REDEMPTIVE
These things were written for our instruction (Romans 15:4). It was described in the OT so that we will understand who God is. Jesus rebuked people for trying to flee from the wrath of God, thinking that their ways will save them (Matthew 3:7). But those who are in sin (“sons of disobedience”), will receive the wrath of God (Ephesians 5:5-6). This should cause us not only to fear, but to REPENT. God’s wrath will come because of the stubbornness and unrepentant hearts of people! The “great day of God’s wrath” – a day of judgment shall come, and no one can stand it (Revelation 6:16-17). If we do not repent now, we will not be able to escape. Only the Rescuer, Jesus, is able to rescue us from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:10). We can be redeemed from this great wrath by believing in the Son (proven by our obedience), receiving eternal life (John 3:36). When the heart believes, the heart obeys. If you are a real Christian (i.e., those who do God’s will) you will enter heaven (Matthew 7:21-23). If we continue to practice sin and lawlessness despite our “busyness” in ministry or church, we will hear Him tell us “I never knew you… you who practice lawlessness”. If you come to Jesus, your direction changes and moves towards God, in an attitude of obedience. It’s a sobering truth that suffering awaits those who will receive God’s wrath, away from the presence of God, and filled with agony (Luke 16:24). The fear of the Lord and the love of God should motivate us to live right. The kindness of God leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). We shouldn’t take it for granted! Live out “perfect holiness in the fear of God” – to keep on living a holy life (2 Corinthians 7:1). As believers, preach the Word, not ashamed to tell people about Jesus (2 Timothy 4:1-2). God’s wrath is righteous, reserved for the ungodly, but is also redemptive if we turn to faith in Jesus Christ.