Understanding the Wrath of God in the Context of the Gospel

I have made the assertion that the subject of this letter to the believers in Rome is the Gospel.  Paul desires that there would be an obedience that comes from their faith.  He is aiming to help them understand the Gospel so that their practice would reflect that Gospel and ultimately bring glory to Christ.  The Gospel means good news.  Paul explains that this Gospel reveals a righteousness from God that has the power to completely save a person from the penalty of their sin, the power of sin, and ultimately the presence of sin.  That is really good news, but then Paul immediately shifts to the subject of God's wrath.  How is that good news?
Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth."


In our culture, we have a tendency to downplay the wrath of God because of our fear that others would see God as angry and abusive.  We like to talk about salvation because that is easier for our soul to resonate with, but I wonder if we can truly appreciate or even understand the great mercy of God without dealing with the subject of His wrath.  How can you truly absorb what you have been saved from if you never wrestle with what you were saved from?  Good news exists because humanity stands condemned to suffer the wrath of a righteous God.  This idea of righteousness is the same concept as justice.  God is just and must deal justly with people who are guilty of violating justice.  Paul will take the next two chapters making the argument that all are guilty before a just God and all stand justly condemned before Him (Romans 3:9,23).  As condemned people, we all are deserving of His righteous wrath.  Unless we embrace this, we will never truly understand nor appreciate the depth of God's mercy shown to us through His Son.  The Gospel has a context.  It is good news because we are helpless to change the fact that we deserve God's wrath.  Instead, a righteous God provided a way for unrighteous people to be declared righteous by the death and resurrection of His Son.   Jesus bore the wrath intended for us.  He bore the wrath for all our sin making it possible for unrighteous people to be declared righteous.  In doing so, God dealt with sin and could declare people righteous while not violating His just character.  By the way, this is all handled in Romans 3.  The point is that we must understand that the wrath of God is real and that we all deserve His wrath.  Without this as a foundation to the Gospel message, we will fail to see the depths of God's mercy and love for people.  Take a few moments to reflect on His mercy and verbally thank Him for His kindness expressed through His Son, Jesus.

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