Sometimes when I get angry about something, I need to remember even God gets angry. The emotion of anger is not a sin [making a judgment about something] but acting out in anger to harm another person becomes one. God has created us with a healthy form of anger, as well as given us a choice to act out of an unhealthy one. Every human being can experience a healthy anger at a perceived injustice; we know inwardly something is wrong, but we do not respond in a sinful way. We speak the Truth in love (Eph 4:15).
For example, last week in our LIFE Lessons Bible Study, Jesus was angry in a healthy way when he turned over the tables in the temple; the action of the moneychangers was a blatant sin against God and people (Mat 21:12-13). God’s anger is not provoked by lust, pride, selfishness, or laziness. Anger becomes unhealthy when selfish desires [the pride-driven demands of the flesh] are placed in the center of a person’s will resulting in an unrighteous, unethical, immoral, hateful or violent manner. Praise God, most people do not allow anger to drive them into violent acts or murder. However, recognizing the true motive of our anger can be difficult, because anger hides within and disguises itself coming out as blame, irritability, slander, gossip, sarcasm, complaining, etc. Unhealthy anger builds and grows within…never produces anything righteous. It’s got to go!
In our passage today, the Apostle Paul reminds the believers in Rome—and us—of God’s anger against sin and self-centered living, because God’s creation has abandoned the Truth. God is intolerant of sin; it has no union with him and is birthed out of rebellion and disobedience. Does God still love believers when we sin? Of course. However, he wants to restore us in the Truth.
We were created by God with an inner sense of God’s holiness as Creator and what is righteous—a conscience. There is nothing unrighteous driving God’s love for us; he simply gives us a choice to obey. God said, “Look, you’ve got two choices: you can be blessed, or you can be cursed. If you obey His commands, which I’m giving you today, you’ll be blessed. If you don’t obey His commands—if you leave the path I’m showing you today so you can worship other gods [flesh/patterns of an unrighteous world] who are foreign to you, then you’ll be cursed. (Due 11:26-28).
We can make gods of our sinful desires—worshiping the things God made rather than obeying God’s commands. If we continually choose to sin against that inner sense or the Spirit’s conviction, we wander from the path of righteousness. As a result of sin, deception and confusion about God’s true nature takes dominion.
Unfortunately, when we want to live in a sinful way, we claim God’s love and forget his anger. Every human being will be judged by God—Jesus—and we need the blood and eternal life of Jesus to shield us from God’s anger. If we stray too far from our Plumbline [Jesus], we will get our own way and deal with the righteous anger of God. Honestly, if we truly love God and desire the Truth, we will deny ourselves and live for God out of sincere gratitude.
Romans 1:18-25 NLT God’s Anger at Sin
18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness [prevented the truth from being known]. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.
21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for revealing the Truth in created nature to reveal your holy nature. We have tasted the beauty of nature in harmony; and we have tasted the devastating storms, as well. You offer your love, but your anger against sin will never change. We worship you and know you long to restore us in righteousness. Holy Spirit, we open our hearts to your cleansing. If there is any anger hiding in us, please help us bring it to the Truth and ask for forgiveness. Help us to obey your Word and your Voice, today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.