top of page
Writer's pictureDaniel Grimwade

Merchants of Disaster


 


"They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.” Romans 1:25


THE WRATH OF GOD


The book of Romans is all about the Gospel


The gospel gives us the righteousness of God: v16-17, making us acceptable.


As Paul begins his detailed explanation, he presses upon us that God is furiously angry


He wants us to understand our need of the righteousness of God in the gospel



1. THE ENFLAMING OF GOD’S WRATH


What is making God furiously angry? He lists 3 things mankind does that stirs God’s wrath:


a) Suppression the truth about God: v18


Suppression = hold down, smother, ignore truth which is clear


The truth about God: v19. His existence is obvious: v20


It is impossible to have something from nothing - universe exists!


The world has been carefully designed. E.g. DNA


The world is full of life - only explanation is that a living being made us


b) Not giving thanks: v21


A lack of thankfulness shows how entitled we are towards God – we judge him


c) Worshipped idols instead of God: v22-23, v25


In the place of God we put something else: pleasure, money, power, status


This why God is angry.

2. THE EXPRESSION GOD’S WRATH


How does God’s wrath show itself? “God gave them over”: v24, v26, v28


He removes the restraint and says: “go ahead” – do what you want


These disordered desires spring from their hearts (v24), lusts (v26) & minds (v28).


Mankind says to God: “get out of my life & leave me alone” – he does. Where lead?


Drastic consequences – feel full effects of sin as a force of destruction & ruin: v29f


Society falls apart - opposite of integration, completeness – all just unravels


Overtime it all becomes accepted and normalised: v32


Why so much space given to homosexual desire? (v24-27)


i) A “gentile” sin – focus shifts in chapter 2!


ii) Graphic illustration of “exchange” – a disordered affection


Main point: moral chaos of the world is visible evidence here and now of the wrath of God.


3. THE ESCAPING OF GOD’S WRATH


How can we avoid God’s wrath? World is under judgement and that includes us.


Must grasp depth of problem – our attitude towards God & we are powerless


Good news: there is a way to avoid the wrath of God. We need another exchange:


One who can stand in our place, take wrath of God for us, give us righteousness we need


That person is Jesus - just listen to Romans 3:21-25


Paul’s purpose is not to crush us, but make us run to Jesus as the only Saviour.

bottom of page