Forsaken - Wrath of God
The wrath of God is revealed in Scripture and demonstrated at the cross, but it also contains elements of sympathy and mercy.
The preacher from the Longer Catechism of The Orthodox explains the significance of Orders as a Sacrament, where the Holy Ghost ordains chosen individuals to minister sacraments and care for the flock of Christ through the laying on of the Bishop's hands. Those in Orders are considered ministers of Christ and stewards of God's mysteries, entrusted with the responsibility to feed and nurture the Church, purchased by Christ's blood. The different degrees of Orders - Bishop, Priest, and Deacon - each have specific roles in serving and hallowing the Sacraments, with the Bishop possessing the authority to impart the gift and grace to hallow them to others.
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The Bible is careful to call attention to the wrath of God. We read of His "hot anger" (Judg. 2:14), His "hot displeasure" (Deut. 9:19), and His "fiery indignation" (Heb. 10:27). "The wrath of God is revealed, coming, poured out, abiding, filled up in its awful fullness upon he ungodly." . . . In hell, His wrath abides on those who have refused the gospel.
But of all the revelations, we see His wrath in clearest demonstration at the cross. There the Father forsook His Son because on the cross, Jesus was assuming responsibility for all the world-s sin-guilt. God's attitude toward sin forced Him to turn His back on the dearest of all to Him when that son insisted upon going to the place of condemnation for the sinner. In the distant eternity the Son of God had elected to represent lost men and deal personally with their condemnation. He knew that He would have to suffer alone. The book of Revelation pictures Christ as "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). May it not be that the prospect of this hour of God-forsakenness is the explanation of the vicarious agony that never forsook Him from the moment He set out upon the path of redemption until this lonely cry broke from His lips?
God's smoldering wrath, so long as it delays its manifestation, strangely enough contains glorious elements of sympathy.
. . . We have at the cross a prophetic demonstration of Judgment Day when no consideration is given, no sympathy offered, to Him who bears sin upon His vicarious shoulders.
Do we see that feature of God's wrath? Do we understand that all unbelievers must appear before an angry God who will refuse every suggestion of mercy? How different it will be from the manifestation of the God of the gospel! Now, He pleads with the sinner to accept His mercy; now, He urges us to appropriate His favors; now, He pursues us with His kindness. It will not be so in the Day of His Wrath. . . Perfect justice will be stern. . . No mercy was granted to Him in response to His cry. Nor will it be otherwise with him who goes down to judgment unprepared by repentance and faith.
. . . The Judge will be none other than the Lamb that was slain! "The Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son" (John 5:22).
What will you do about it? There is still time to accept the sacrifice, escape the torment, and satisfy the heart of God by turning to Christ now (Gold from Golgotha, pp. 56-61).
Sermon Outline
- I. The Wrath of God
- A. Revealed in Scripture
- B. Demonstrated at the Cross
- II. The Father's Forsakenness
- A. Jesus assumed responsibility for all sin-guilt
- B. God's attitude toward sin forced Him to turn His back on Jesus
- III. The Glorious Elements of Sympathy
- A. God's smoldering wrath contains elements of sympathy
- IV. The Judgment Day
- A. No consideration or sympathy will be given to those who bear sin
- B. Perfect justice will be stern
Key Quotes
“The wrath of God is revealed, coming, poured out, abiding, filled up in its awful fullness upon the ungodly.” — R.B. Jones
“The Father judges no man, but has committed all judgment unto the Son.” — R.B. Jones
“May it not be that the prospect of this hour of God-forsakenness is the explanation of the vicarious agony that never forsook Him from the moment He set out upon the path of redemption until this lonely cry broke from His lips?” — R.B. Jones
Application Points
- You can still accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and turn to Him now to escape the torment of God's wrath.
- You must prepare for Judgment Day by repentance and faith in Jesus Christ.
- Perfect justice will be stern, and no mercy will be granted to those who go to judgment unprepared.