Wrath(ὀργή) is an outward expression of anger.
There are many times recorded in Scripture and human history of God’s wrath coming upon a people which brought their destruction, such as with Sodom and Gomorrah. Therefore, the concept of the wrath of God is often focused on the coming tribulation period, in which His wrath will be poured out in full upon the ungodly, Revelation 11:18, or swift destruction coming upon the unrighteous. However, this is not the only way in which the wrath of God is manifested. An aspect of God’s wrath is being displayed today upon the ungodly and unrighteous men who hold down the truth in unrighteousness, Romans 1:18. God is permitting them to continue in their corrupt ways, turning them over to an unapproved mind and to the uncleanness of the lust of their hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves, receiving in themselves the punishment for such an immoral lifestyle, and filling up to the full their judgment. Therefore, in reality, they are not getting away with their corruption. This is in stark contrast to how God deals with a Christian who is acting in an unbecoming way. He will discipline us, allowing sickness, being crippled, and even death if we continue in a sinful lifestyle, for He will not allow us to be condemned with the world; therefore, when we are judged we are child-trained to correct our actions, 1 Corinthians 11:30-32. As Christians, we are not appointed unto any quality of God’s wrath, 1 Thessalonians 5:9. However, those who reject the truth are by nature the children of wrath, Ephesians 2:3.
Although the wickedness of this world today makes us very angry, especially when they lie, cheat, and use deception and unrighteousness to take advantage of us and others, bringing in harmful policies and seeking to force everyone to accept and glorify their corrupt lifestyle, the wrath of man does not work out the righteousness of God, James 1:20. Therefore, we are to lay aside all immoral filth and the abundance of wrong, receiving with an objectivity of mind the implanted Word while putting away all bitterness, inner burning anger, wrath, blasphemy, along with abusive language by clothing ourselves with the new man in Christ who is being renewed according to the image of the one who created it, so that we are a luminary to this corrupt and perverted generation, Ephesians 4:31; Colossians 3:8. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, Romans 12:19. We have been given the ministry of reconciliation, not wrath, 2 Corinthians 5:18. And the reality is, the wrath of God is coming in a very visible way upon all those who reject the truth. They will receive in full, without mercy, the punishment for their works. However, this does not mean His wrath is not evident today, for He is not showing them any mercy for the unrighteousness by correcting them. Therefore, our focus needs to be on not having anything in common with the unfruitful works of darkness, but to expose them, Ephesians 5:11. For the things they do in secret are shameful and need to be brought to the light, Ephesians 5:12-13.
In response to their wickedness, let us lift up pious hands apart from wrath, 1 Timothy 2:8, and as children of the light, walking in a manner that shows the hope that we have in Christ so that we truly are a luminary to this corrupt and perverted generation, exposing their wickedness and demanding justice by those who have been given the duty to punish the wicked. And when they refuse, let us stand firm against them, not sharing anything in common with their unfruitful works of darkness, for we are not to sin in our wrath, or let the sun set on our indignation so that we give the Devil an opportunity to deceive us, Ephesians 4:26. Rather, let us give place to God’s wrath and show no mercy to those who seek to push their perverted way upon our society by exposing them for who they really are and giving them the opportunity to be reconciled to God. For in their rejection, they only heap more coals of fire upon their own heads.
