Sovereign Grace Baptist Church

Free Grace Media

Of Princeton, New Jersey

 

AuthorClay Curtis
TitleThe Wrath of God Revealed
Bible TextRomans 1:18-2:12
Synopsis It is important that all pay close attention to the message of our text. But it is especially important that all who have never cast their care on Christ pay close attention to the message of our text. Listen.
Date24-May-2018
Series Romans 2018
Article Type Sermon Notes
PDF Format pdf
Word Format doc
Audio HI-FI Listen: The Wrath of God Revealed (32 kbps)
Audio CD Quality Listen: The Wrath of God Revealed (128 kbps)
Length 47 min.
 

Series: Romans

Title: The Wrath of God Revealed

Text: Romans 1: 18-2: 16

Date: May 24, 2018

Place: SGBC, NJ

 

Normally, I preach the grace of God by which God saves his people apart from our works.  This time I am preaching the wrath of God by which God pours out justice upon those who are condemned by their works.

 

It is important that all pay close attention to the message of our text.  But it is especially important that all who have never cast their care on Christ pay close attention to the message of our text. 

 

THOSE WITH THE LIGHT OF CREATION

 

The wrath of God is against men who reject the truth, even when they only have the light of creation—Romans 1: 18: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;  

 

Notice, he speaks here about men who did not have the word of God. Yet they had the truth, they had some light.

 

All men, by nature, know God is—Romans 1: 19: Because that which may be known of God is manifest in [to] them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20: For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

 

Everywhere men see the things God has created.

 

Psalms 19: 1: <<To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.>> The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2: Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3: There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4: Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.

 

By nature, God has written on every man’s conscience that God is. Therefore, when men see creation, they know his eternal power and Godhead.  God says right here in our text that all men know that God is by creation. All men know that the things created did not come from nothing. By nature, all men know the Godhead because they know God created it, God hath shewed it unto them in their conscience.  God says all men know God is eternal because they know God was before creation.

 

Therefore, even though men do not have the bible, the word of God, they are without excuse for not walking in the light of conscience and the light of nature. So God’s wrath is against them because they hold the truth in unrighteousness.

 

The way they hold the truth in unrighteousness is by worshipping man rather than GodRomans 1: 21: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened

 

Men without the word of God saw creation. They heard the voice of their conscience saying, “God eternal created this!” But against this light, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful.  By rejecting the light they had, their heart became totally darkened.

 

How did their foolish heart become darkened?—Romans 1: 22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

 

Rather than professing God to be wise, they professed themselves to be wise and they became fools.  Rather than glorifying God, they changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man.  They first only imagined uncorruptible God to be like corrupt man. But then they made images of man and called it god.  Then they made images of “birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things” and called them gods.

 

For these reasons, the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against them—Romans 1: 24: Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

 

The only thing God had to do to give them up to uncleanness was give them up to the lusts of their own hearts. The lusts of man’s own heart was—to dishonor their own bodies between themselves.

 

Again, he reminds us why God’s wrath is against them and he tells us what God’s wrath resulted in when he gave them up—Romans 1: 25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26: For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

 

The reason for God’s wrath is because man changed the truth of God into a lie. How?  What is the lie? Man worshipped man; man worshipped his own will; man served the creature rather than God our Creator!

 

Homosexuals say, “I can’t help it, I was born this way!”  Indeed, it was in the heart. But the reason God takes the restraints off on a mass scale in a nation is the wrath of God turning men over to a reprobate mind. It is because they worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator!

 

God gives men exactly what they want in their ignorance—Romans 1: 28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29: Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30: Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31: Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 

Have you asked yourself lately what is going on in our nation and in the world? This is what is going on.  For the past 100 years, preachers have been telling men to worship their will and their works rather than Christ and his works.  For this reason, God has sent judgment and turned men over to reprobation.

 

THOSE WITH THE LIGHT OF GOD’S WORD

 

We saw the wrath of God against men who did not have the word of God.  But what about us who have the word of God?  Knowing the judgment of God, do you say in your heart that those sinners which commit those wicked things described in chapter one are worthy of death?  Do you think such sinners are worse than you?  Then hear what God says.

 

Romans 2: 1: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

 

What same things?  That list of ugly sins which are so wicked are in your heart and in mine. If God took his restraining hand off you and me each of those lusts of the heart are in you the same as they are in me.  Someone might say, “I am not that bad!” Yes you are!  You are exactly that bad! The fact is, by nature, we are all as guilty and utterly inexcusable as the most barbaric heathen who ever drew breath.

 

Romans 3: 9: What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; 10: As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12: They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one…23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

 

Also, the same things that men today are doing who have the light of God’s word is thisRomans 1: 22: Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23: And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things…25: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

 

In the word of God it is the leper who came to Christ, bowed down, begging mercy, begging, “If you will, you can make me whole!” But in most churches today that is turned around. They have Christ begging the sinner if the sinner will then the sinner can let Christ help him out a little.  Religious people reject the righteousness of God in Christ while looking to their own religious works, and keeping of commandments and outward morality.  The apostle Paul called it will-worship! Men worshipping their own will and their own works, calling it the worship of Christ!

 

Romans 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God…23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?

 

Yet, there is someone who is even worse than those in will-works religion.  It is all who sit under the gospel of Christ in truth, week in and week out, who go on in unbelief.  It is worse for those who have the light of the truth of God’s righteousness manifest in Christ and him crucified who yet go on in unbelief—Romans 1: 1: Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

 

Every time a man hears the gospel preached that Christ is the Righteousness of God and he does not believe on Christ,

he does the same as those who sinned against the light of nature. He does the same as the Jews who sinned against the light of God’s word. He worships himself rather than God, saying, “I think I am righteous on my own!”

 

Each time a sinner hears the gospel preached that Christ is the Sanctification of his people and goes on in unbelief, he does the same as the heathen who sins against the light of nature. He worships and serves the creature more than the Creator!

 

Oh, sinner, please here this!   The wrath of God turned those men over to a reprobate mind! And every day that you go on rejecting Christ, you are flirting with the same judgment of God who can justly turn you over to a reprobate mind—Romans 1: 2: But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3: And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?

 

How I pray God save you from your pretended goodness and Christ make you willing in the day of his power to cast all your care on him!

 

God said of those men “when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful.”  Now, here is the question for those to whom God has given far more light in that he has given them the light of his word—Romans 2: 4: Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

 

The goodness of God chose his own Son to uphold his holy law for his chosen people.  The goodness of God is that he sent his only begotten Son to be made of a woman, to be made under the law, to be made sin for his people, to be made a curse for his people, to make his people the righteousness of God in him. And declare God just and Justifier in the process!  Then the goodness of God sent the gospel into your midst giving you great light!  Sinner, do you despise the goodness of God! That is what unbelief says!

 

The forbearance and longsuffering of God toward his people is due to God looking to his people in his Son rather than looking at us in ourselves.  In ourselves we are guilty lawbreakers; in Christ we are righteous, justified, without one trace of sin in God’s books. In ourselves we are vile and unholy; in Christ we are holy as God is holy, with not one impure thought ever.  God forbears and suffers long with his sinful children because by the grace of God he chose us in Christ and accepted us in the lamb slain from the foundation of the world.  Sinner, the goodness of God in giving you the light of the gospel and forbearing with you and suffering long with you ought to lead you to repentance. Do not be like those who despised the light God gave and perished in their sins.  Believe on Christ today and show that you love God’s goodness and forbearance and longsuffering!

 

Not only this, we saw how those men who sinned against the light of nature treasured up God’s wrath until he poured it out by giving them up. So listen to what God says to all men who reject the light of God’s word—Romans 2: 5: But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6: Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, [God shall give] eternal life: 8: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness [God shall pour out] indignation and wrath, 9: Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10: But [God shall give] glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11: For there is no respect of persons with God. 12: For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;…16: In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

 

In the Day of Judgment, God will deal justly with every person according to his deeds. Every man will answer for himself in all that he has thought, said, and done. No partiality will be shown to anyone!

 

Those who trust Christ are those who do well. We are seeking the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Believers are seeking the honor and immortality that is in and by Christ Jesus our eternal Redeemer! And “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, [God shall give] eternal life.”  We are free from sin and condemnation because we have fulfilled the law and suffered its just penalty in the obedience and death of Jesus Christ, with whom we are one.

 

Romans 5:19: For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. 20: Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 21: That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness by despising the gospel of Christ, by refusing to trust Christ, God shall pour out “indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish,” forever in hell. It will be what he earned. “The man who sinned without the law will be judged without the law, but all who sinned with the law [having the word of God], shall be judged by the law.”

 

Please understand, “God is no respecter of persons.” Men look on the outward appearance. So they imagine they will please God by an outward show of goodness and righteousness. They imagine God will be pleased with religious deeds and morality. But God's judgments are true and righteous. God looks on the heart, not on the outward appearance.

 

Romans 2: 28  For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29  But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

 

Therefore, except you trust the Lord Jesus Christ, you shall be forever damned and it will be just because you earned it! But trust Christ and you shall be forever saved, and it will be just because it is what Christ earned for his people. God give you grace to trust him!               

                              

Amen!