The Revelation of God's Wrath Part 2

Romans 1:18–25 (ESV)

¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, …²¹For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking…²⁴Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

²⁵because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

This passage connects man’s inability to respond to God as the Creator to God’s wrath.  Though God created man to rethink God’s thoughts and recreate his creation because of unrighteousness his natural inclination is to go the other direction.  In this the wrath of God is revealed.    

Verse 24 gives us the first way that God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.  Because natural man has chosen to not honor God or give thanks and has begun to worship false gods, God gave them up to in their lusts to impurity.  God is not the author of sin and therefore did not tempt them, but because of their rejection he allowed their lusts to grow and they in turn dishonor their bodies among themselves.  This comes about because they did not follow the truth, but made a lie and worshipped the created being instead of the Creator Himself.  Many have argued or taught that the wrath is revealed simply in the consequences of sin, that is not the case.  Yes, God’s wrath in Scripture is a consequence of sin, but here the construction of the verse brings us to an understanding that the entanglements of sin are a consequence of the wrath of God as well.  Though God has given them over to this sin it does not mean that he has forsaken them entirely.  Though unregenerate man’s entire goal is to “suppress the truth” he is, to be sure, not entirely successful in his endeavor and is never as evil as he could be; he is quite inconsistent.  We call this area of inconsistency Common Grace.  It is to this natural knowledge of God and the discrepancies of lifestyle that the gospel appeals.    The majority of men will never come to Christ so will not see as Romans 2 says, “that God’s kindness leads them to repentance.” 

Romans 1:26–27 (ESV) ²⁶For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ²⁷and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

God’s wrath is further revealed as women and men choose to do what is contrary to nature and are consumed with passion committing shameless acts and thereby receive in themselves what is due to them because of their ungodly choices.

 Our hope is that each listening may experience the mercy of God by repenting of their sin.

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/user/churchoflittleton   FW # 76

The Revelation of God's Wrath, part # 1

Romans 1:18–25 (ESV)

¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, …²¹For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking…²⁴Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,

²⁵because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

This passage connects man’s inability to respond to God as the Creator to God’s wrath.  Though God created man to rethink God’s thoughts and recreate his creation because of unrighteousness his natural inclination is to go the other direction.  In this the wrath of God is revealed.    

Verse 24 gives us the first way that God’s wrath is revealed from heaven against ungodliness and unrighteousness of men.  Because natural man has chosen to not honor God or give thanks and has begun to worship false gods, God gave them up to in their lusts to impurity.  God is not the author of sin and therefore did not tempt them, but because of their rejection he allowed their lusts to grow and they in turn dishonor their bodies among themselves.  This comes about because they did not follow the truth, but made a lie and worshiped the created being instead of the Creator Himself.  Many have argued or taught that the wrath is revealed simply in the consequences of sin, that is not the case.  Yes, God’s wrath in Scripture is a consequence of sin, but here the construction of the verse brings us to an understanding that the entanglements of sin are a consequence of the wrath of God as well.  Though God has given them over to this sin it does not mean that he has forsaken them entirely.  Though unregenerate man’s entire goal is to “suppress the truth” he is, to be sure, not entirely successful in his endeavor and is never as evil as he could be; he is quite inconsistent.  We call this area of inconsistency Common Grace.  It is to this natural knowledge of God and the discrepancies of lifestyle that the gospel appeals.    The majority of men will never come to Christ so will not see as Romans 2 says, “that God’s kindness leads them to repentance.” 

Romans 1:26–27 (ESV) ²⁶For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; ²⁷and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.

God’s wrath is further revealed as women and men choose to do what is contrary to nature and are consumed with passion committing shameless acts and thereby receive in themselves what is due to them because of their ungodly choices.

 Our hope is that each listening may experience the mercy of God by repenting of their sin.

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/user/churchoflittleton First Word # 76

Sparks highlight 2-15-12

This whole last  Sparks year we have been learning about salvation – our Bible heroes and their lives are pictures of Jesus.  They were saved or were used by God to save someone else.  We learned that Christmas was when Jesus – God’s Son, God in human form – came to earth in human flesh as a baby.  Last week, for Valentine’s Day we talked about God’s love for us that He gave us that gift of Jesus that when we believe on Him, we can have everlasting life.  That gift of love took the punishment of our sin, which was death.   He was and is our salvation from the punishment of our sin.  Tonight, and for the rest of the Sparkie year, we are learning about who Jesus is and why He is the One who is fit to take that punishment and to claim He is God in the flesh.  To claim why He is the One and Only One that can grant us salvation.   Specifically, tonight, we are looking at Jesus’ character of Holiness.  He was tempted to sin, yet did not.  He could not take the punishment for our sin if He Himself was a sinner and He would be no different that you and me.   Indeed, we are not perfect as Jesus to never sin, but we can use His example to help us try not to sin.  Jesus was tempted three times in Matthew Chapter 4, and each of those three times, He used the help of His Father God to resist the temptation.   Those words He quoted were words of His Father, and you know, we have those same words in scripture.   That is why it is so important to learn God’s words, memorize scripture.  These verses your Sparkie works on every week are the words of God!   They can hide those words in their hearts that they might not sin against God.   Ask your Sparkie why he/she made a STOP sign tonight.

You are welcome to join us anytime at Sparks!    You can also check out the AWANA program at           www.fbc.littletonil.org.    

Mrs. Jennifer Schroeder, Mr. Roger Fox, Mrs. Barb Stein.

Sparks Highlight 2-1-12

We have learned thus far about many heroes who obeyed, but there were heroines, too.   One such was Esther.  There is even a book of the Old Testament bearing her name that accounts her amazing obedience to God.  She was a queen who saved the whole nation of Israel.  The evil king’s advisor Haman had plotted to kill all the Jews.  Esther was challenged by her Uncle Mordecai that she needed to tell the king she was Jew and that her people needed to be saved.   Esther would have to present herself to the king without being called by the king – this was unheard and might cost her life.  Mordecai pointed out to her that God may have just put her in this certain time in history for His special purpose.  It was true then and even so true now.  Esther pleased the king and thus he extended his golden scepter, as an invitation, to her which was the sign that she could approach him.  Esther was able to save her people from death after she accepted the king’s scepter  (invitation) to inform him of the plot to kill the Jews.    Again we see the picture of God’s salvation for us.   He extends the open invitation to us to come, to approach Him.  The “golden scepter” that He extends for us is Jesus, and we are allowed to approach God when we accept Jesus.  And when we accept Jesus, we are saved from eternal death – the certain punishment of our sin.   Esther saved her people from physical death, and Jesus saves us all from eternal death.

You are welcome to join us anytime at Sparks!    You can also check out the AWANA program at           www.fbc.littletonil.org.    

Mrs. Jennifer Schroeder, Mr. Roger Fox, Mrs. Barb Stein.

Reasons for God's Wrath

Romans 1:18–23 (NKJV) ¹⁸For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, ¹⁹because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. ²⁰For 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, ²¹because, 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. ²²Professing to be wise, they became fools,

²³and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

The first reason for God’s wrath mentioned in this passage is that men “suppress the truth in unrighteousness.”  The sinful actions of men suppress or keep God from being known as He should.  Men love darkness rather than light, so when it comes to truth they do all they can to avoid it and not let it be a part of their life.

Paul continues in verse 21 and says that they “did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful.”  When man chooses to live following his own desires he does not consider God’s.  In doing this, he tries to glorify himself rather than choosing to revere and honor God.  He fails to thank God for the life that he allows them to live, for the provisions that he gathers for them, and every other area of blessing that comes from God.  Since God is not getting any credit this man’s thinking is futile or vain.  There is no purpose in it, it is simply useless.  This results in a darkened heart a heart that has no light from God in it.

In their self-proclaimed wisdom reveal their foolishness by giving up the worship of God and begin to worship false gods made after the image of man and animals.  This worship is not always as easily seen as an individual bowing before an idol though in places it can be.  For many it is   simply the worship of self or another that they make more important than obeying and revering the almighty Creator God.  When our ways are better than God’s ways and we choose as Proverbs says to “lean on our own understanding” rather than acknowledging God (Prov. 3:5-6) we have made ourselves God.

Remember these individuals are under the wrath of God.  When they suppress the truth they are directing people away from the God of the universe.  When they fail to be thankful they take credit away from the great and loving Shepherd who provides all.  When they allow other gods to take the place of the True God they are guilty of idolatry and God is a Jealous God.

The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/user/churchoflittleton  FW # 70