Know The Truth About God’s Righteous Anger

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Today’s verses are challenging in that they invite us to examine God’s righteous anger.

Less than halfway into the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, he wrote…

God shows His anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. They know the truth about God because He has made it obvious to them.

Romans 1:18–19

It’s much easier to talk about God’s love than His righteous anger, isn’t it?

The Life Application Bible Notes ask…

“Why is God angry at sinful people?”

The answer they give…

“Because they have substituted the truth about Him with a lie (1:25). They have stifled the truth God naturally reveals to all people in order to believe anything that supports their own self-centered lifestyles.”

The Word repeatedly tells us that God is perfect, holy, and righteous. It assures us He loves people, but hates sin.

Because:

• Sin separates us from Him, sin cannot be in God’s holy presence.
• Sin hurts our relationships.
• Sin abuses His grace and mercy.
• Sin denies God’s truth and reveals selfishness.
• God is righteous and just.

Paul continued…

Ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

Romans 11:20

God wants more for us than just knowing He exists. He wants us to KNOW His loving character and humbly receive His gracious and merciful forgiveness.

That’s why the Lord also inspired Paul to write…

“It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”

Romans 1:15

We need faith to recognize our need for forgiveness, faith to understand that Jesus is the One who makes forgiveness possible, and faith to praise and worship God as He deserves.

Without faith defined as SEEKing, KNOWing, LOVE(ing), TRUSTing, and OBEYing God, we may…

Think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused.

Romans 1:21

God inspired the writers of Scripture to give us the TRUTH we need. All we have to do is look around to see that some people deny God’s Word from creation through the resurrection.

Why? Because they choose to worship creation rather than the Creator, and trust their own goodness rather than admit their need for a Savior.

They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator Himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. 

Romans 1:25

Culture’s “woke” message shouldn’t surprise or shock us. It’s not new, it’s just louder. Remember, “History merely repeats itself. It has all been done before. Nothing under the sun is truly new.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9)

So, what do we do?

1. Live with FAITH – SEEK, KNOW, LOVE, TRUST, and OBEY God.
2. Speak the TRUTH in love.
3. Stop stressing and worrying. God is on the throne. He always has been and always will be.

And we focus our hearts and minds on Jesus…

He was shown to be the Son of God when He was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 1:4

Jesus is God’s righteousness and justice given for us because that’s how much He loves.

Let’s pray…

A Prayer Thanking God for Jesus
and Grace for Righteous Anger

Father, thank you for being such a wonderful, loving parent. Good parents are angry when someone or something hurts their children, and You know that sin hurts Your children.

Sin hurts everyone, and those who have rejected You and take pleasure in this world’s prideful, evil, selfish “pleasures” harm themselves and the people around them.

Thank you for teaching us the truth about Your righteous anger. We get angry when someone intentionally hurts us. It’s a blessing to know You love us so much that the sin that hurts us angers You.

Sin made You so angry that You gave Your Son to offer a way for us to be forgiven through Him. Your grace is greater than our sin. I am so very sorry that my sin caused Jesus to suffer and die.

I want to honor and glorify You in every aspect of my life. With Your Spirit’s help, I will SEEK You and Your Kingdom and cherish every truth You allow me to KNOW. I thank You for opening my heart to Your LOVE. By Your grace, please strengthen me and help me faithfully respond with LOVE, TRUST, and the willing desire to OBEY You forever.

I see Your love in everything You created. Please help me show my love for You, wanting You more than anything this created world offers. I believe Your grace is sufficient, and You are the God of the impossible. I believe Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.

I’m so thankful that when the Bible talks about God’s righteousness, it also tells us that He is just and fair, gracious and merciful.

The Psalmist wrote…

I will thank the Lord with all my heart
    as I meet with His godly people.
How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!
    All who delight in Him should ponder them.
 Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty.
    His righteousness never fails.
He causes us to remember His wonderful works.
    How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

All He does is just and good,
    and all His commandments are trustworthy.
They are forever true,
    to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.
He has paid a full ransom for His people.
    He has guaranteed His covenant with them forever.
    What a holy, awe-inspiring name He has!
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
    All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise Him forever!

Psalm 111:1–4, 7–10

As you think about God’s righteous anger, always remember His grace, mercy, and unfailing love. Jesus paid it all so we might be made righteous through Him.

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