I remember a time when I was in middle school, during one of my classes, a friend needed something to write with. As a young teenager, there was no way that I was going to just simply walk this pen across the room and gently hand it over to them – no way! Of course, I did what every one of us would have done. I threw that puppy tomahawk style as if I was going to be a major league pitcher or NFL quarterback. What I saw as helping out my friend and having a little fun, my teacher did not see it as such. I received a week-long suspension for being a danger in the classroom. I remember my heart sank as low as it possibly could have into my stomach as I had to bring that suspension slip home to show my parents. Regardless of whether or not I agreed with it, there were consequences for my actions. I earned the punishment and needed to pay the price.
This week, we are going to look at an aspect of God that many find difficult or confusing to understand. In fact, I would argue that many people struggle to fully put their faith in God because of these attributes. This week, we are going to be taking a look at God’s wrath and justice. Buckle up!
1. What are your first reactions when you hear that God is a God of wrath and justice?
When it comes to talking about God’s wrath and justice, there are some ground rules or foundational pieces that we need to take a look at. We are going to take a look at a few verses that are not only essential to this topic but are essential to Christianity as a whole.
2. In your own words, why did God send His Son to Earth?
The very first thing that we need to discuss on this topic is where we stand on our own in relation to God.
I feel that it is necessary to write this caveat – If at any point during this lesson you feel that these are new concepts to you, please bring that up to somebody! Your leader, student director, location Pastor, and even your peers would love to discuss these concepts with you.
Romans 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
This one verse is essential and is the framework for all of Christianity. Without agreement or alignment on humanity’s separation from God because of self-inflicted sin, no other progress can really be made.
3. Do you agree with what it says in Romans 3:23? Why or why not?
Let us continue.
We learn from Romans 3:23 that all have sinned. That includes you and me. With that in mind, the natural question to ask is, “What now?” For this answer, we will stay in the book of Romans.
Romans 6:23 continues, “For the wages of sin is deat,h but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Isaiah 59:2 adds, “But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.”
Like it or not, our rightful and deserved punishment for our sin is death. This is another non-negotiable in Christianity. Earlier, I mentioned that many people hold this concept as a stumbling block in their personal faith journey. People struggling to grasp this concept will commonly ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” “Why does God allow for sickness and death?” and “How could a loving God send people to Hell?”
While these are not irrational questions for someone to have or wrestle with, the harsh reality is that they show a lack of understanding or trust in God’s nature.
4. If someone were to ask you any one of those questions, what would you say?
My fear is that, for many, their view of God is incomplete or improper. If God is viewed as someone who is simply there to answer our prayers (prayers being asking for things or to aid in solving our problems), then we are really only interested in what we can get out of it.
5. What does your prayer life say about your faith or your view of God?
God is fully perfect and fully good. Everything He does is fully perfect and fully good. Sin is not just separation from God, but it is the opposition of God. As we read, “the wages of sin is death.” As harsh as it is to read, death or Hell is what we deserve. Our sin must be atoned for (atone: to do something to make up for a wrong that has been done). This is the only way that God’s wrath can be satisfied.
Thankfully the story is not done. Let us continue reading from the book of Romans.
Romans 5:8 adds, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
I love the words in Romans 5:8, “while we were still sinners.” The fascinating thing about those words is that Christ died for you before you even existed. God had a plan from the beginning. He does not want to see any of His children suffer or perish.
Knowing that Jesus took the debt we owed to the cross, what then is our response?
Romans 10:9-10 declares, “Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”
6. Have you done what it says in Romans 10:9-10? Is there anything in your life that you need to talk to someone about?
As I was writing this lesson, I could not get the words to the song “In Christ Alone” out of my head. We will conclude this week’s lesson with these words.
‘Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ, I live