Are We "Just" before God?

 

What is JUSTIFICATION by Faith?  

Gal. 2:15-16

This is the first appearance of the important word justification in this letter, and probably in Paul's writings (if, as we believe, Galatians was the first letter he wrote). "Justification by faith" was the watchword of the Reformation, and it is important that we understand this doctrine. (W. W. Wiersbe)

     1. How Are We Justified?   Vs. 16

"How should [a] man be just with God?" (Job 9:2) was a vital question, because the answer determined eternal consequences. "The just shall live by his faith" (Hab. 2:4) is God's answer; and it was this truth that liberated Martin Luther from religious bondage and fear. So important is this concept that three New Testament books explain it to us:  Romans (see 1:17), Galatians (see 3:11), and Hebrews (see 10:38). Romans explains the meaning of "the just"; Galatians explains "shall live"; and Hebrews explains "by faith."

     2. But What Is Justification?

Justification is the act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous in Jesus Christ. Every word of this definition is important.  (W. W. Wiersbe)

         A.  Justification Is an Act and Not a Process.  No Christian is "more justified" than another Christian. ‘Having therefore been once-and-for-all justified by faith, we have peace with God’ (Rom. 5:1) this is the literal message of this verse!  Since we are justified by faith, it is an instant and immediate transaction between the believing sinner and God. lf we were justified by works, then it would have to be a gradual process.

         B.  Justification is an Act of God and Not of Man.

Furthermore, justification is an act of God; it is not the result of man's character or works. "It is God that justifieth" (Rom. 8:33). It is not by doing the "works of the Law" (Gal. 2:16) that the sinner gets a right standing before God, but by putting his faith in Jesus Christ. As Paul will explain later in this letter, the Law of Moses was given to reveal sin and not to redeem from sin (see Rom. 3:20). God in His grace has put our sins on Christ-and Christ's righteousness has been put to our account (see 2 Cor. 5:21).

          C.  Justification is God Declaring the Believing Sinner Righteous.

In justification, God declares the believing sinner righteous; He does not make him righteous in this instance. (Of course, real justification leads to a changed life, which is what James 2 is all about) Before the sinner trusts Christ, he stands GUILTY before God; but the moment he trusts Christ, he is declared NOT GUILTY and he can never be called GUILTY again! (W. W. Wiersbe)

          D.  Justification Involves more Than Mere Forgiveness.

Justification is not simply "forgiveness," because a person could be forgiven and then go out and sin and become guilty. Once you have been 'justified by faith" (Gal. 2: 16) you can never be held guilty before God. The righteous status we received initially comes from Christ not our efforts.  

Justification is also different from "pardon," because a pardoned criminal still has a record. When the sinner is justified by faith, his past sins are remembered against him no more, and God no longer puts his sins on record (see Ps. 32:1-2; Rom. 4:1-8). You see, the Lord Jesus never actually sinned during his earthly life, though he fully took responsibility for all sin.          

          E.  God Only Justifies Sinners, Not Deserving People.

Finally, God justifies sinners, not "good people." Paul declares that God justifies "the ungodly" (Rom. 4:5). The reason most sinners are not justified is because they will not admit they are sinners! They refuse to acknowledge their serious need. And sinners are the only kind of people Jesus Christ can save (Matt 9:9-13; Luke 18:9-14).

When Peter separated himself from the Gentiles, he was denying the truth of justification by faith, because he was saying, "We Jews are different from and better then the Gentiles.”  Yet both Jews and Gentiles are sinners (Rom. 3:22-23) and can be saved only by faith in Christ. (W. W. Wiersbe)

Summary: If God does not require works of the law before he accepts people, how dare we impose a condition on them which he does not impose? If God has accepted them, how can we reject them?

 

Can God Forgive This Sin?

 

Can God Forgive This Sin? 

 1 COR. 6:9-11; 1 JOHN 1:9

SUBJECT: FORGIVENESS/ SALVATION

THEME: God can forgive anyone and everyone who will receive His forgiveness. No individual and certainly no sin is beyond His realm of divine pardon. God is no longer angered over your sin or merely offended by your actions, flaws, mistakes, and sin. He offers forgiveness! 

RELEVANCY:  I can say without any reservations that God wants you to experience complete forgiveness! That is forgiveness of your sins and a full establishment of your relationship to the Lord God, forgiveness of others who have wronged you, and even the forgiveness of yourself.

INTRODUCTION:

A “Limited Forgiveness” Will Never Do. Complete (comprehensive, thorough, all-encompassing) forgiveness is required if you are to know personally and fully that God is your loving heavenly Father, and if you are ever to reach your personal destiny in this life.

I have good news for you today! God will forgive you of your sin. You can be released today from all your sin, no matter what they are, if you will do what God says to do. (Dr. C. Stanley) 

MESSAGE:

I. It is Vital to Understand the Very Nature of Sin.

Psalm 51:5, Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Earlier in the message, I defined forgiveness as “the act of setting someone free.” Sin, by contrast, is “the state of being in bondage—in need of being set free.” This state is described in Psalm 51 as the result of transgressions, iniquity, sin, and evil.

A.  WE DO WHAT WE DO BECAUSE WE ARE SINNERS.

Our sinful actions further seal the fact that we are sinners. Our being and doing are cyclical. We may not always admit to being sinners, but deep down inside, we recognize that we are sinners, and we have an awareness that we have sinned or are sinning.

The sinner knows—at some level, intuitive or conscious—that he or she is sinning. Sin involves the will, and because it involves the will, it also affects the memory. We remember our sins. They don't just float by unnoticed or ignored. The psalmist is very open about this: “For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me” (Ps. 51:3).

B.  HOW DO WE KNOW THAT WE ARE SINNERS OR THAT WE HAVE SINNED? (Rom. 2:14-16)

    1.  God Built into Each One of Us an Alarm System Called the Conscience.

It sounds each time we do something, or are about to do something, that we know is wrong. If we ignore the alarm system, our sensitivity to evil becomes dull, and eventually, we never hear the alarm. Be very concerned if you never hear that still small voice inside you saying, “This is wrong and you know it.” A healthy conscience is something to cherish and to nurture. (Dr. C. Stanley)

    2.  The Flaw in the Conscience, However, Is That it Is Based on Human Understanding of What Is Right and Wrong. Right and wrong are something we learn. Unfortunately, some people are taught that right is wrong and wrong is right. They make decisions and behave in ways that are sinful without having a great deal of regret or remorse. Until, that is, they are confronted with the truth.

The conscience always is pricked to some degree in the presence of the pure expression of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. He stands in sharp contrast to all that leads to destruction, is a lie, or contributes to death. In the presence of the gospel, even the most warped conscience is confronted with God's absolutes.

    3.  The Best Thing You Can Instill in Yourself and Your Children Is the Knowledge of the Gospel of God's Word. The best thing you can do to keep your conscience alive is to steep it in the Word of God. If you were taught a faulty perspective of right and wrong, read God's Word without ceasing in order to bring about a transformation in your mind.

C.  BELIEVERS ALSO HAVE A SIN ALERT SYSTEM.

What about believers? Believers in Christ Jesus have a dual alarm system. We have the natural conscience that has been given to every person, and we also have the Holy Spirit indwelling us.

   1.  The Holy Spirit Provides Strong Counsel That We Are Acting, or Are about to Act, in a Way That Is Contrary to God's Desire.

The Holy Spirit always points us toward Jesus and to the fullness of the Word of God. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the “Spirit of truth,” our divine counselor (John 14:15–17; 15:26).

John 14:15-17, If ye love me, keep my commandments. [16] And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [17] Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 15:26, But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

    2.  The Holy Spirit Will Never Quit Speaking to You Once You Have Received Him into Your Life. Your spiritual ears may become dull, but you can never completely silence the Holy Spirit. If you don't feel the Holy Spirit pricking your heart from time to time, you may need to ask, Am I really saved? Have I really received forgiveness from God for my sinful state?

Listen to your conscience and to the Holy Spirit today. He will tell you whether you are in need of forgiveness.

1 John 4:4-6, Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. [5] They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. [6] We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

D. THE SINNER CAN FINALLY REJECT GOD’S FORGIVENESS.

The sin that grieves the Holy Spirit today (Eph. 4:30), and that can quench the work of the Spirit in your life (1 Thess. 5:19), is: a refusal to receive the forgiveness that God freely offers to you. You can refuse God's offer of forgiveness to the point that you have a hardened heart. You can become calcified, hardened as bone tissue, to the gospel over time. Hardening causes a disruption in the normal process of the gospel. And that creates an unpardonable state.

God will not reach beyond the boundaries of your own stiff-necked, hard-of-heart will and save you against your will! You can die in an unpardonable state, but it won't be because you have committed an unpardonable sin.

As I stated above, no sin is unforgivable on this side of death. It is equally true that no sin can be forgiven on the other side of the grave.

The only thing that can keep people from being forgiven is the refusal to accept and receive what Jesus Christ has done for them on the cross. Refusing to believe in the forgiveness made available to humankind by the death of Christ brings about everlasting death. Accepting what Jesus did on the cross—believing in Him as Savior—brings about everlasting life.

II.  Receive God’s Forgiveness for Sin Immediately.

A.  FORGIVENESS IS YOURS TO RECEIVE—YOU ONLY NEED TO BELIEVE!

John1:11, He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 12, But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13, Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1. Believing on Christ is Receiving Him for Salvation.   

By believing in “his name;” is exercising faith in receiving Jesus Christ as the Word, and Son of God, as the Messiah, Savior, and Redeemer.

So now Jesus offers Himself to you, and if you receive Him, He gives to you the “power,” or the privileged or authority to become a child of God. Only by this means do we become children of God. Beloved, it is not by good works, not by church membership, not by doing your best—but by receiving Him, by believing in His Name.

Becoming a child in a physical sense, is a matter of birth. So, also, to become a child of God (in a spiritual sense), you must experience a second birth. This is known as the new birth, or conversion, or being saved. It is through belief in the name of Jesus that we are born again…birthed into God’s spiritual family as sons, born of God. (based on Holman KJV Study Bible)

2. Receiving Jesus is a Personal Decision for Forgiveness.

Ephes. 1:7, In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Have you made a decision to accept and receive Jesus as your personal Savior and Lord? To “accept and receive”—that's all that's required for you to be forgiven by God, regardless of the nature, magnitude, or deep entrenchment of your sins.

To “accept” is to believe with your mind that what the Bible says about Jesus and His death on the cross is true—that Jesus died for your sins and He rose to give you new life in Him. To “receive” is to say, “I don't merely accept what Jesus did on the cross as a fact of history or as a statement of sound theology, but I accept His sacrificial death on the cross as being for me personally and individually—the sacrifice that was made for my sins. I invite the Holy Spirit to indwell me, to cleanse me of all my past transgressions, iniquities, evil, and sin, and to make me a new person in God's eyes. I receive the work of the Holy Spirit in me that gives me a completely restored relationship with my heavenly Father.” (Dr. C. Stanley)

3. Remember Salvation is based on God’s Mercy and Grace and not ours!

Titus 3:5-7, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; [6] Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; [7] That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

It is the Spirit who regenerates us and gives us new life when we trust Christ. We cannot save ourselves no matter how good, sincere, or diligent we are.

B.  GOD WANTS TO FORGIVE YOU RIGHT NOW.

Have you taken Him up on His offer? If not, will you accept and receive Jesus Christ today? Will you receive God's forgiveness?

1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

C.  YOU CAN EXPERIENCE GOD’S SPIRITUAL BIRTH IMMEDIATELY.

You must consciously opt to place your faith/trust in Jesus Christ—His death, burial, and resurrection as the full payment for your sin. We acknowledge that God accepted Christ’s redemptive work by raising Him from the dead. Therefore, you must accept what God accepts as the fair and complete payment for our sins.

Consider what the Lord Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:14-18, And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15, That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17, For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Each person must utterly depend upon Christ as the One who fully paid our sin debt. Thus, we believe the gospel of Christ—to believe means to trust Christ. We entrust our eternal salvation and forgiveness to Jesus Christ the Son of God without any reservations. You must believe on Christ Jesus who died in our place and for our sins!

Paul outlines in Romans 10:9-10, writing, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10, For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 

We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus or be forgiven for any reason, we must believe that the Son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and God raise Him up again the third day for our justification before The Father (1 Cor. 15:1-4 and Rom 3:21-31). It is vital that we understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us that grant us forgiveness (Rom. 1:14-17). This is how we all experience God’s spiritual birth.

CONCLUSION: 

So then, what must we do to experience God's forgiveness? Accordingly confess your sin and accept God’s forgiveness by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Beloved, God can forgive anyone and everyone who will receive His forgiveness. No one and certainly no sin is beyond His realm of divine pardon. God is no longer angered over your sin or finally offended by your actions, flaws, mistakes, and sin. He offers forgiveness!  

Remember, Christ’s suffering at Calvary was God the Father providing payment for our sins. That’s what Calvary was about—justice was served, and sin was paid for entirely. Since then, sinners can be saved—born again to enter a spiritual relationship with God. Being born again means we become a part of a new family; God is our Father who shares with us His very own divine nature. Beloved, we must exercise faith in the Person and Work of Christ to experience the spiritual birth.

In closing, God wants you to experience thorough and full to the brim forgiveness today! Stop grieving about some sin you committed recently or even years ago, let God forgive you and release you today. Your situation is not unique and you are not beyond the scope of God’s forgiving power and grace. Today you can be set free from the bondage of living in guilt because God really can forgive that sin also! 

Refuse to continue life in unforgiveness which stifles a person’s ability to love and to receive love. No more stunting the growth of your marriage and friendships. Today you choose to enter into all that the Lord might have for you in the way of ministry or outreach. Start now to enjoy the full abundant life that Christ promised.  

Since He completely forgives you, He wants forgiveness of your sins and a comprehensive initiation of your relationship to Himself. God desires forgiveness of others who have wronged you, and, yes, forgiveness of yourself also. (Based on Dr. C. Stanley) What about you?  

Who Will be Able to Stand?

REVELATION 6:14-17

SUBJECT: TRIBULATION SEAL JUDGMENTS

THEME:  The Lamb breaks the sixth seal, sending God's judgments upon the earth.

And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. 15 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? (Rev. 6:14–17, King James Version).

INTRODUCTION:

Why doesn’t God do something about all the suffering, wickedness, pain, oppression, and injustice in the world? If He loves us so much…wouldn’t He do something to help and protect us? Surely if He is so powerful, He can simply force everything…fix it all immediately. Right? Why wait to some day in the distant future? Why not change the world for good now? The worldwide hunger is senseless, poverty is also widespread, and the powerful are only concerned about themselves…. Why doesn’t God intervene to introduce some balance in the world?

These questions have been asked by many bewildered souls, and these same thoughts have occurred to many others who would not even dare to mouth them. The shocking truth is God is not primarily concerned with what often misguided people demand of Him. What He values about human beings is quite different than what we value in people and for ourselves. His timing is far more informed then we give Him credit, and His patience is beyond comparison. He exercises patience to give us more opportunities to see things His way. Eventually, He will deal with the big problems of the world and this life more aggressively. Though He will execute perfect justice by doing so, it may surprise you how He will go about it.

The SIXTH SEAL has been broken which introduces significant world chaos— the great day of God’s wrath begins— and catastrophic judgments upon the universe and the natural world occurs in rapid succession with incredible intensity (Rev. 6:12-17). In this paragraph we find that the universe is traumatized, that continents quake insanely, the sun and stars whirl through space unpredictably, and sinners will hide in utter terror. Both the heavens and earth feel the judgment of natural catastrophes while people lose all sense of normalcy and security.

The terrifying results of opening the sixth seal will cause all unsaved people, small and great, to hide in caves, calling for the rocks to crush them rather than face God’s wrath. Who will be able to stand when God finally deals with all that is wrong in the world?

LESSON:

John Hears the Impact of The Lamb’s Wrath on those Who Reject God (Rev. 6:15-17).

Even though John wrote using some symbolic language, these verses describe events that should be taken literally, and these developments should frighten even the most courageous person.  Note that men are so terrified that they cry for the mountains and rocks to crush them alive to escape the multiplied horrors of the Lamb’s wrath.

  1.  The Persons of that Great Day. (Rev. 6:15 a)

Rank and wealth will not deliver anyone in that terrible day. John's list includes kings, captains, warriors, slaves and free men, the rich and the poor. "Who shall be able to stand?"

      A.  Great Fear Will Grip Unbelievers all over the World.

Note the list of those who fear:

          — The kings and rulers of the earth will fear.

          — The great and powerful of the earth will fear.

          — The rich and wealthy of the earth will fear.

          — The military chiefs of the earth will fear.

          — The mighty and the strong of the earth will fear.

          — The slave and insignificant of the earth will fear.

          — The free and independent of the earth will fear.

Every unbeliever upon earth will be stricken with dreadful alarm…a maddening terror. They will be so frightened that panic and pandemonium will sweep the civilizations of the earth.

Isaiah 13:6, Howl ye; for the day of the Lord is at hand; it shall come as a destruction from the Almighty.

Isaiah 13:8, And they shall be afraid: pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth: they shall be amazed one at another; their faces shall be as flames.

Fear drives people to extreme and entirely irrational behaviors in the interest of self-preservation. Everywhere people will perceive multiplied threat to themselves and their loved ones…such painful horrors cannot be escaped. Some will literally wither to the point of incapacitation due to the gravity of their situation and associated anxieties. Constant fears stimulate angst, acute stress, fright, and deep sadness. Though many of the individuals described in this passage are powerful people, they will surely be gripped with the realizations they are not in control and their doom is unavoidable. Is there any hope of escape?

      B.  No One Is Going to Escape the Judgment of God, and They All Know It.

          — And there is no partiality with God; God has no favorites.

          — The world of unbelievers will quake in terror and fright before the unusual events happening in outer space and upon earth.

          — There will be a keen sense, a sharp awareness, an aching consciousness that the judgment of God is looming right over the horizon. The very atmosphere of the earth will be heavy with the feeling that the end is at hand.

Zeph. l:14, The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly.

Joel 2:1, Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for it is nigh at hand.

There is no means of escape for those who have rejected Jesus Christ after hearing the Gospel message. The future is expressly marked by horrific judgment from the Almighty for them. If you are among those who believe you will get away with your sin…I invite you to please think again.

  2. The Places of that Great Day. (Rev. 6:15b-16a)

The sound of the cries comes from the caves and among the rocks of the mountains. Pandemonium and panic have driven people to the wilderness regions for hiding and protection from others. Distrust is escalating in all sectors of society…no one can be trusted. Some are driven from their once luxurious homes and pampered lifestyles to the dangers and inconveniences of the wilderness.

     A.  People Will Seek Refuge in the Mountains and Rural Areas.

This makes sense in light of the massive destruction that has transpired in the average cities of the earth. Cities, especially coastal cities, will be in intolerable chaos and devastation. The industrialized world will collapse, and national and international economies will utterly fail, while people begin to leave the cities of the world and seek refuge in the hills, mountains, and rural areas. Generally, these less developed areas will have less devastation by these judgments; people will retreat to these regions perceiving them as safer and more conducive to hiding.

     B.  People Will Try to Hide from the Face of God and from the Face of the Lamb!

Imagine wanting to hide from a lamb! Dr. Vance Havner said that the day would come when the most expensive piece of real estate would be a hole in the ground, and he was right. They know who they are accountable to…God and The Lamb. They understand exactly who is responsible for these judgments upon humanity and the natural world. Finally, they get it! Yet, it is too late for them. Oh, that people will heed God’s warning today and trust the Savior!

     C.  We Will See More of “The Wrath of God” as We Progress Through Revelation (Rev 11:18; 14:10; 16:19; 19:15).

     D.  We Will Also Encounter the Wrath of Satan (Rev 12:17) and the Wrath of the Nations as They Oppose God (Rev 11:18).

If men and women will not yield to the love of God, and be changed by the grace of God, then there is no way for them to escape the wrath of God... Why not place your trust in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, for the forgiveness of sins today?

  3.  The Prayers of that Great Day.  (Rev. 6:16-17)

Despair and hopelessness have now settled upon these refugees. What? Surely with all this trouble they will now turn to God! Right? Well, these displaced souls do not pray to the God on the Throne nor to the Lamb…they cry out to the mountains and hills and beg for death.

     A.  They All will Cry Out to Be Hidden from the Wrath of the Lamb.

They have endured as much as they can handle…they want no more of this dreadful existence…. “Wrath” refers to God’s displeasure with humanity and our actions of unbelief and rebellion. This divine anger is righteous and holy; it is an expression of God’s love for justice and holiness! W.A. Elwell stated the wrath of God is fully consistent with Old Testament and New Testament portrayals of the Almighty. In the Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible he says,

Unfortunately, ignorance of the OT and a misunderstanding of the NT have resulted in a heretical view of the biblical canon (Marcionism), in which the OT reveals the God of wrath and the NT reveals the God of love. Contrary to popular misconception the NT, like the OT, also teaches the wrath of God in connection with his love. The biblical teaching on God’s love cannot be appreciated unless it is seen in contrast with the biblical teaching on his wrath. The word “wrath” is a concept represented by many different words and idioms in the original languages of the Bible. The references to God’s wrath are the most frequent—nearly three times as many as any other subject. --(Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Wrath of God. In Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, pp. 2166–2167)).

           1.  The phrase "wrath of the Lamb" seems a paradox, "Wrath of the lion" would be more consistent. We are so accustomed to emphasizing the meekness and gentleness of Christ (Matt 11:28-30) that we forget His holiness and justice. The same Christ who welcomed the children also drove the merchants from the temple.

           2.  God’s wrath is not like a child’s temper tantrum or punishment meted out by an impatient parent. Nor is it like the knee jerk reactions of a poor manager or supervisor who drives his or her people with harshness, cruelty, manipulation and sarcasm.

           3.  God's wrath is the evidence of His holy love for all that is right and His holy hatred for all that is evil. Only a soft and sentimental person would want a God who did not deal justly with evil in the world. The truth is all of us want justice for ourselves and our loved ones, but few are concern with justice for God. The God who made the universe… the Giver of every loving and just law…the Lord of all humanity and peoples whether saved or not. All of us would want justice if our mother was captured, repeatedly raped, senselessly brutalized and finally killed and dumped naked in the streets like worthless trash. Without exception we all would demand for justice to be visited upon the perpetrator of such heinous crimes. Each of us would be correctly offended, horrified, and pursuant of retribution to the extent of the law. There would be rioting in the streets if such vicious crimes go unpunished. So, if a person treated so inhumanely should receive fair recompense under the law then why not the perfect God of glory? God has been offended by our sinful feelings, thoughts, motives, and actions every day since the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden until this very moment. He will see to the proper administration of impartial justice. God deals in the realm of pure righteousness, and He will determine what is right and equitable without a single exception.

           4.  Furthermore, the people mentioned in Revelation chapter six are impenitent. They refuse to accept God’s salvation and submit to God’s will. They would rather hide from God in fear (remember Adam and Eve?) than run to Him in faith. They are proof that judgment by itself does not change the human heart. Not only will men seek to hide from God, but they will blaspheme Him as well! (Rev. 16:9, 11, 21).

Is.2:19, And they shall go into the holes of the rocks, and into the caves of the earth, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty, when he ariseth to shake terribly the earth.

     B.  They Will Cry for Death Instead of Facing God.

The terror and fright will be so exasperating that massive populations the world around will degrade into panic. People will be insanely scampering about to hide in the clandestine dens and rocks of the wilderness regions. They will literally beg for death as the only perceived means of escape from their terrors. Their only hope now is to be annihilated in order to keep from having to face God’s eternal judgment. This is how the unregenerate mind thinks! It is not guided by faith, but fears. The Scriptures give this warning many times over with the hope of people heeding God’s counsel.

Lk.23:30, Then shall they begin to say to the mountains. Fall on us; and to the hills. Cover us.

Joel 2:11, And the LORD shall utter his voice before his army: for his camp is very great: for he is strong that executeth his word: for the day of the LORD is great and very terrible; and who can abide it.

Hos. l0:8, The high places also of Aven, the sin of Israel, shall be destroyed: the thorn and the thistle shall come up on their altars; and they shall say to the mountains. Cover us; and to the hills, Fall on us.

The sad truth is death is not a means of escape for the unsaved. It flings them violently into far more severe judgment of an eternal nature. Annihilation is a false hope…it is not fixed in truth and reality. We are everlasting beings who will exist forever somewhere. With God or without God are the options…in heaven or in hell. My friend, it is not all over once we die…after physical death comes judgment from God for the unsaved person. Suffering in the Lake of Fire forever is the clearest teaching of the Bible and the Lord Jesus Christ. Everyone who refuses God’s gracious gift of salvation through Jesus Christ must face the God they have sinned against and receive their final sentence to hell.    

   4.  The Point of that Great Day. (Rev. 6:17)

The Judgment Day of the Lord: there is the reason for the catastrophes throughout the universe and for the panic of men-the great day of God's wrath is at hand. This “day” refers to the entire period while these judgments endure and not a mere 24-hour time frame.

     A.  What Is the Great Day of God's Wrath? 

        — It is the day when all unbelievers must stand before the face of God who sits upon the throne of the universe.

        — It is the day when all unbelievers must face the wrath of the Lamb; the day when they must face the Son of God Himself, the Lord Jesus Christ whom they have rejected, denied, cursed, disobeyed, disbelieved, ignored, and neglected.

        — It is the great day of His wrath, the very day that His wrath is to fall, the very day that every unbeliever must face Him.

        — It is the day when no unbeliever shall stand, the day when all unbelievers shall crumble and be subjected to the humiliation of eternal guilt, condemnation, and punishment.

Jn. l2:48, He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.

Ro. 2:5, But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God.

Rev. 6:17, For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

Is. 2:11-12, The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. For the day of the LORD of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low.

So, the great day of God’s wrath encompasses a season and series of judgments upon the world and lost humanity. It is not capricious or thoughtless nor is it unreasonable. No, it is God giving people what they want. A life and world without His goodness, blessings, grace, interventions, and provisions—life without Him. It is a time of holding people and nations accountable for decisions and actions.

     B.  John Walvoord Puts it in Simple and Striking Words saying:

The Day of the Lord is a period of time in which God will deal with wicked men directly and dramatically in fearful judgment. Today a man may be a blasphemer of God, an atheist, can denounce God and teach bad doctrine. Seemingly God does nothing about it. But the day designated in Scripture as 'the day of the Lord' is coming when God will punish human sin, and He will deal in wrath and in judgment with a Christ-rejecting world. One thing we are sure of, that God in His own way will bring every soul into judgment. — (The Thessalonian Epistles. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1967, p.76).

At this point I must implore you to remember: this passage reveals what will happen in the early portion of the Day of the Lord. These events-the catastrophe in the heavens and on earth and the fright and panic that strikes people with maddening terror-all this transpires before the Great Tribulation Period. This is merely the breaking of the seals of God’s book and the events within the pages of the book-the worst judgments-are yet to come. Beloved, who will be able to stand?

Without any element of exaggeration, the message to all people everywhere is twofold:

1) All unbelievers will stand face to face with God on the great day of His wrath, and that day is right over the horizon.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the rich and the powerful who thought they were self-sufficient and in command of their lives.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the religious who thought they could be good enough and do enough good to be acceptable to God.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the poor who thought they were too insignificant or even thought their oppression would cause God to look upon them with mercy.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the intelligent who thought they were too knowledgeable to believe in Christ.

     — The wrath of God is coming upon the scientist and technician because they thought they had progressed so far, they could disprove God.

2) We must trust Jesus Christ now to escape the great day of God’s wrath.

Zeph. l:14-16, The great day of the LORD is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of the trumpet and alarm against the fenced cities, and against the high towers.

Mal.4: l, For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.

Beloved, only Jesus can save us from the wrath that will come upon the entire world. Trust Him today for the forgiveness of sins.

CONCLUSION:

In contrast, the Apostle Paul outlines in Romans 10:9-10, writing, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We cannot simply believe anything about Jesus, we must believe that the Son of God, died for our sins, was buried, and God raise Him up again the third day for our justification before The Father. That is correct…the Lord Jesus is fully and literally alive forevermore. He has finally triumphed over death, hell, the grave, and sin! It is crucial that we understand that it is faith in Jesus Christ and His Gospel that is the power of God that saves us (Rom. 1:14-17).

Christ’s sufferings at Calvary were God providing payment for our sins. This is what Christ’s crucifixion was about—justice was served, and sin was paid for in full. God accepts Christ’s sacrifice completely! Now, sinners like you and me can be saved—born again to enter a relationship with God. It is the Spirit who regenerates us and gives us new life when we trust Christ. We cannot save ourselves no matter how good, sincere, or diligent we are. Being born again means we become a part of a new family, God becomes our Father who shares with us His very own divine nature. All of this is realized the moment we humble ourselves in repentance before God acknowledging our sins while trusting Christ and His payment for them. We must accept sin’s payment personally in an attitude of godly sorrow and a willingness to turn from our former sinful lifestyles. We do not need to make ourselves better and then come to God. We come to God recognizing our sinfulness trusting Him to change us deep within which will result in a changed life. Beloved, we must exercise faith in the Person and Work of Christ to experience a spiritual new birth. What about you? You, like me, cannot stand before a holy God with the guilt of all your sins. Why not accept Jesus’ payment for those sins and ask God to forgive you and change you deep within?

So, is there any hope for believers during this terrible time of judgment? And what about God’s special people, Israel, who will make a covenant with the Antichrist? Certainly, people will trust the Lord even after believers from this age are taken to heaven, but how will they manage? We will turn to Revelation chapter Seven for some of these answers.