Hey folks,
Today we're tackling something most preachers avoid like the plague - God's wrath. But here's the deal: if we don't understand God's wrath, we'll never fully grasp His love. Let's dial in.
"Yet forty days and Nineveh will be overthrown." Jonah 3:4
Picture standing before a judge who sees evil being done but just shrugs and says, "Bummer." Would you call that judge good? Of course not. A good judge must hate injustice. That's exactly what we see in God's response to Nineveh's sin.
Here's what's wild - we've been conditioned to downplay God's wrath, like we need to do a PR campaign for God. But think about it: when you see videos of babies being aborted or people being trafficked, don't you get angry? Shouldn't a good God hate evil even more than we do?
The Bible doesn't apologize for God's wrath. In fact, it's mentioned more than 162 times in the New Testament alone, with Jesus Himself speaking about it 70 times. Why? Because God's wrath isn't a character flaw - it's a perfect response to evil that flows from His holiness and love.
But here's where it gets even better - God's wrath makes His love shine brighter. The cross wasn't just a display of love; it was where God poured out His righteous wrath against sin onto His own Son instead of us. That's why Romans 5:8-9 says we're "saved from wrath through Him." The most unloving thing we could do is hide this truth from people who need to hear it.
How has modern culture influenced your view of God's wrath? How does understanding God's hatred of sin actually deepen your appreciation of His love?
In what ways have you been tempted to downplay God's wrath when sharing the gospel? How can you speak this truth with both boldness and compassion?
Stay dialed in,
Jonny Ardavanis
