Wrath or Love?

Unfortunately, there are some people of the opinion that anyone who has faith in Jesus Christ uses that "religion" as a crutch, and even more misinformed that Christianity is a system of control through strict and overstretching commands. I have learned by reading God's Word that, "Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17) OR John 8:36, "So if the Son has set you free you are free indeed" completely contradicting that notion. I could give many more examples but you get the idea. The opinions of the world are both sad and misinformed but the opinion that really cuts to my soul is the belief that God is not loving at all. Frequently the world points to things like destructive weather or babies born with diseases to support their opinions. Is God a God of wrath or is He a God of love? To be honest, the Bible presents Him as BOTH, but God's 'wrath' is not based on vindictiveness as worldly wrath is. This can be seen, as an example, in the 6th chapter of the book of Revelation when The Lamb (Jesus Revelation 1:29; 1:36) opens six seals of the scroll of history. There we read, "Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountain and rocks, "Fall on us from the face of Him who is seated on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the Great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?" (Revelation. 6: 15-17). The real question? Is the word wrath as we use it in society the same "wrath" as spoken of in Revelation? When we use that word if ever, we refer to anger based on revenge for something done TO us. An angry wife might burst out, "He will feel my wrath for cheating on me." However, the "wrath of God" is not born from a seed of revenge! Christ died to save this lost world; He did not come to get revenge on you. There is a huge difference. It is the disobedient rebels in this life against God who perceive Him as mean and cruel, without any reason to pronounce righteousness judgment of any kind. They do not see Jesus as "The Lamb Who was slain," Who by His sacrificial Blood "ransomed people for God from every tribe, language, people and nation" (Revelation 5:9; 5:12; 13:8). They don't see Him as loving but rather wrathful. They unjustly look upon their only hope (having that knowledge or not) and perceive unjust judgment. They only see a cruel God with a heavy hand who enjoys throwing people into hell.

Later in the book of Revelation, we read that the same people REMAIN in rebellion against God all their life choosing to curse the Name of God. They never repent but are left without the redemption that comes from the Lamb's Blood by grace through faith and they are left with only a "fearful expectation of judgment" (Hebrews 10:27) and "a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries." So yes, God is a God of wrath to those who deny His sacrifice and Sovereignty, however, it is a retributory punishment of merits NOT ONE OF REVENGE. For all we've ever done, some still do, God could wipe us out in a heartbeat if His punishment was one of angry revenge. Instead, the earth keeps spinning despite all the rebellion, hatred, filth, murder, perversion, and corruption. And why? Because God is and has been long-suffering, slow to wrath, patient, loving, and hopeful ... He's waiting for as many who will come to the truth that He and He alone is God and our hope of salvation. "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). But time is drawing down. And despite the fact God's wrath will fall on some, He doesn't choose it. WE DO! His mercy and love can be seen in the very next chapter, Revelation 7:15-17 and He shelters those who came to belief. "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the Throne will be their shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." You and I have a choice. That choice is called free will. Free will is a wonderful thing because it proves God is not trying to control us. We control our own destinies. God desires for us to love Him because we want to, not because we have to out of fear of revenge or punishment. If we perish without Him, we choose to perish. No one gets to enjoy heaven who doesn't love God. That has to make sense even to a non-believer! Just as you would not leave your children's inheritance to a complete stranger or a neighbor who might only know your name, God will not reward His eternal treasures to those who totally disregard Him or in passing say they have heard of Him in church but are not a part of His family.

One day at the judgment seat of Christ we will be in one group, "saved" or "unsaved." "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what we have done whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). You may be wondering who then can be saved if final judgment is based upon the good or bad that we've done because the truth is, we've all broken laws set forth by God in one way or another. The Word of God verifies that "ALL have sinned" (Romans 3:23). That's just it! Without Jesus, YOU CAN'T BE SAVED. The only thing separating you from God or His Kingdom ISN'T YOUR SIN, it is your rejection of Jesus Christ! Let that sink in. I'll explain. As one example, why am I promised heaven but an atheist is not? I have committed as many sins as an atheist! What exonerates me and not an atheist? It's my choice to believe or not believe that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life and then follow Him (John 14:16). I personally choose no other way. I've rejected every other religion, practice, belief, goodness, or merit. The Bible tells us Jesus is the propitiation for our sins: 1 John 2:1-2 (KJV) "If any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the propitiation for our sins." Propitiation means atonement. Jesus is our atonement, our sacrifice, penance, recompense, OUR PAYMENT for the sins we've committed. He suffered and died for YOUR sins so that you wouldn't have to! Jesus gets you off the hook (so to speak) no matter what your sins are or were, no matter how bad, or how seemingly unforgivable. The truth is, without Jesus as your atonement, you will stand before God unrepresented and your sins will be uncovered; exposed! God will see them all. When a person has a change of heart, believes and accepts Jesus as the only way to heaven, his sins are "covered" never to be seen by God. Anything that person has ever done wrong in life was wiped away at the moment of belief, repentance, and conversion of heart! He stands before God at the judgment seat pure as the driven snow (Isaiah 1:18). Paul said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). The Apostles did not preach to be saved you must be good, or kind, or generous, or live a decent life. Our deeds are not good enough no matter how noble because they are incapable of erasing sin! Being kind or generous doesn't erase the fact we are cheats, liars, thieves, adulterers, murderers, drunkards, child molesters, etc. Our sins drove his nails!


Jesus offers you forgiveness without cost! You don't have to clean yourself up first to come to Him. You come as you are because you are incapable of cleansing yourself! No amount of goodness, good works, or even church attendance, will do it. You have to realize and admit that you cannot clean yourself up; you must admit that apart from His grace, sacrifice, and mercy, you haven't a shot in Hades! Like the atheist, followers of cults, religions, other beliefs, gods, or philosophies, cannot stand blameless before His holiness and expect exoneration without Jesus. Period. And for those who describe themselves as Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterian, or whatever, if you have not accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, but you're relying solely on your denomination, your label means nothing. You likewise, will perish in unbelief because your sins will be revealed, unmasked, brought to light. Somebody has to hear the truth.
Until next time,
-Pat-