An Abiding Wrath

EXCLUSIVE: 

Belonging to a particular individual or group and to no other;  

not shared:

Is Christianity exclusive?

John 3:36 reads...

He who believes in the Son

(to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to place confidence in,

to commit your trust to) 

has eternal life;

(never to cease, everlasting, that which has always been and always will be)

NASB but he who does not obey/KJV not believe the Son

(meaning to refuse belief and obedience-does not comply.
NIV uses “rejects”) 

will not see life,

(vitality, animate-boldness and courage,

the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God.)

but the wrath of God

(anger exhibited in punishment)

abides on him.

(to remain and wait for)

 

That was Jesus speaking!

 WE NEED TO GRASP WHAT JESUS IS SAYING HERE.

Jesus didn’t say that if you don’t believe in Him then God is going to stand by and wait until you change your mind.

Jesus did say that if you reject Him as the Savior, not only will you be excluded from eternal life with God, you will also have to deal with God’s wrath…

Think about it.

This is more than just an idle threat.

This is more than just getting a spanking.

This is more than just getting yelled at or talked down to.

This is a promise that if you reject Jesus, then you will face Gods wrath.

There’s a slight problem.

When was the last time you felt God’s wrath?

When was the last time that you saw God’s wrath?

When was the last time you heard of God’s wrath?

When was the last time you even thought of Gods wrath?

How do you tell someone about Gods wrath when you have never experienced it, nor will you as a believer, ever experience Gods wrath yourself?

How do you teach someone about God’s wrath when you never hear teachings about Gods wrath?

How do you demonstrate a part of God that most modern day Christians deny even exists?

How do you treasure a characteristic of Almighty God (His wrath) when the whole world, except for the Muslims, sees wrath, not as justice, but as an evil, undesirable, lower level personality trait?

Think about it.

If you are a fundamentalist Christian, you believe in the biblical account of Noah, the world wide flood and the Ark.

Interesting thing is that flooding the world is not something that God did in wrath. 

The flood demonstrates Gods judgment and Gods power over nature, but it does not demonstrate Gods wrath…

Genesis 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. 
(the Lord repented and was injured and affronted in His heart)

7 The LORD said, I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them. 
(for I am pained and will be comforted by an action)

8 But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD. 
(FAVOR: Grace and acceptance)

What is God’s wrath?

God’s wrath is…

Anger,

Agitation

and violent emotion.

This is bad enough but this wrath is promised punishment for not accepting Gods free gift of salvation.

Promised punishment?

Yup.

Look at the verse…

John 3:36

but the wrath of God (anger exhibited in punishment)  
abides on him. (to remain and wait for)

Let me emphasize that God’s wrath already abides with those who reject Jesus as Savior.

This is a far more serious thing than wearing the scarlet letter!

Abide is to remain and to wait for, to continue to be present.

“The wrath of God abides on him” means that Gods wrath is already present with those who reject Jesus…

See, you can take that scarlet letter off and move to a place where no one knows you or your past.

But with God, you are either already marked with the Holy Spirit unto salvation, or you are already marked with Gods impending wrath.

The difference between them is Gods mark never fades nor fails. 

Most of all, Gods mark is never forgotten.

You are owed something.

Heaven or Hell.

And that’s a promise.