The Wrath of God and The Wrath of Man

“The Wrath of God and the wrath of man”

Without a doubt, God’s divine attribute of wrath is an unexpected character of God.  We expect him to be holy, sovereign, omniscient and omnipotent… but “wrathful”?  It’s not how we choose to view a loving God. 

It’s funny, really- how much of the world has always loved the dark, violent side of sin… in fact, we have come to expect it from lost humanity.  It seems that the world would love the wrathful side of God… (“It” seems rebellious and vengeful) but instead, the world uses this divine character to reject Him instead of embrace Him.

For the Christian, however, it makes since.  True believers want so much to be like God and the Christ of the Bible- and yet we are taught to avoid wrath and pursue peace.  Turn to James 1:19.

Romans 12:18 says, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.”

This clear scripture seems to give some leeway to activity that is contrasting to peace; “If it be possible…”  What may be some typical scenarios that would cause a Christian to choose between peace and… not-so-peaceful?

Our chief objective

Our chief objective is live glorified lives- harmonious with the scriptures.  This is only possible when justified Christians seek continually to live sanctified (set apart) lives.  Being set apart from the world causes us to see the lost in a different light.  When our objective is to live a glorified life, anything less than glorious is easily noticed. However, when we live too worldly, the line between us and them becomes very blurry.  These blurry-eyed Christians find wrath a more convenient pattern of life.

Wrath is ours… but not ours

Wrath is God’s attribute, not ours.  Due to our sin nature, wrath is our first choice… but it shouldn’t be. Now, having been washed, ours is to release vengeance to our God.

The scriptures are clear that God delights in the protection of God’s people:

Duet 32:43  “Rejoice, O ye nations, [with] his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, [and] to his people.”

Psalm 94:1  “O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.”

Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

Matt. 18:6 “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and [that] he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”

It’s clear that God longs to be Lord of our life… even over our adversaries.  One final scripture should seal the deal… Matt. 5:44, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.”