The Wrath of God

 Mike Johnson

God loves everyone! This fact should cause us to be encouraged. Many people understand that God loves them, but they have misconceptions about His love. Some say, “God is a God of love; He will not punish me for my sins.” As a result of this attitude, many continue committing sins, having little regard for God’s law.

It is essential to realize that God is a God of “justice” as well as a God of love. He will punish people for their sins, and He will destroy that which He has created. Evidence of this is in both the Old as well as the New Testament. In the Old Testament, we learn in Genesis 6 and 7 that all who lived on earth were destroyed by water except Noah and his family. Later, in Genesis 19, we learn of God’s wrath against the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. In the New Testament, God’s wrath will be seen at the final judgment when God punishes the wicked and will destroy the earth. II Thessalonians 1:8 says Christ will return “in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Note also II Peter 3:8-10, which speaks of the destruction of the earth at the second coming of Christ.

God is a God of love, but He will punish the wicked. Matthew 25:46 says the wicked will go into everlasting punishment, and Hebrews 10:31 tells us, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 12:29 says, “For our God is a consuming fire.”

Please remember God’s love for His people will not keep Him from punishing them when they sin.