The Wrath of God

God's Anger Against Unbelievers

Paul J. Bucknell

Knowing God Series Index

Purpose: Although God's anger equally flares out toward all sinners, the outcome is different. This section describes God's great anger against unbelievers.

God's anger against unbelievers

God's justice makes sure all offenses against God's judgments are fully paid. We all suffer from God's wrath, "Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest" (Ephesians 2:3).

wrath of God revealed Romans 1:18-19

Man cannot excuse Himself from this judgment as he himself lives by this standard. Although man can overlook sin (e.g. bribes), society as a whole depicts this same sense of judgment through the appointment of judges, existing criminal court systems and personal offenses.

"He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).

We might dismiss our sin as being unimportant, trite or even a personal preference, but no matter what we think, God the Maker holds every sinner liable for his or her rebellious deeds and thoughts. This is the reason God's wrath ‘abides' on us. It is constant and waiting, as a storm, to rain God's judgment upon us sinners.

God's greater plan encompasses the sinfulness of man by its clear manifestation of the righteousness and love of God.

"What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory" (Romans 9:22, 23).

His wrath will one day be unleashed upon the sinner.

"If anyone worships the beast and his image, and receives a mark on his forehead on his hand. He also will drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is mixed in full strength in the cup of His anger; and he will be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb" (Re 14:9-10).