4-5 However, God is rich in mercy. He brought us to life with Christ while we were dead as a result of those things that we did wrong. He did this because of the great love that he has for us. You are saved by God’s grace! 6 And God raised us up and seated us in the heavens with Christ Jesus. 7 God did this to show future generations the greatness of his grace by the goodness that God has shown us in Christ Jesus.
Reflection
American theologian Wayne Grudem defines God’s wrath in his book Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Bible Doctrine as “God’s intense, righteous hatred of all sin and wickedness. It is not a capricious or sinful anger, but a holy, consistent, and deserved reaction of God’s character against evil. This wrath is a necessary, just, and moral attribute—not a limitation of his love.”
Thinking about God’s wrath is not something we naturally like to do. It can stir uncomfortable thoughts and emotions. Most of us would rather focus only on God’s love and kindness. Yet if God is truly good—and I firmly believe that he is—then God must also hate everything that is evil and everything that separates us from him and from his love.
My son Lucas is currently a Plebe (freshman) at the United States Military Academy at West Point. One of the biggest adjustments for him this year has been learning the many rules and regulations that Plebes must follow. At West Point, the system is designed to break them down so they can build them back up into disciplined leaders.
Recently, Lucas got into trouble talking with a friend while walking between buildings. Plebes are not allowed to talk outside. They must walk briskly, with “hand cups,” and the only words they are allowed to say are greetings to senior cadets and commissioned officers. One day a Firstie (senior) overheard Lucas asking his friend a question while they were walking between buildings. Because of this, Lucas had to give a presentation to the other Plebes in his company about the importance of following rules and standards.
At first, the situation was frustrating for him. Why was he being disciplined for such a minor thing? But over time he has come to appreciate the importance of discipline and of not allowing even small deviations from the standard. If the Army is going to function as a highly effective team, everyone must uphold the standards.
In a similar way, this lesson can apply to us as members of God’s family. Jesus taught that the greatest commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and the second is to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–39). To uphold this standard, we must also develop what Grudem describes as an “intense, righteous hatred of all sin and wickedness.” We must learn to hate anything that separates us from God or harms our relationships with others.
So, while reflecting on God’s wrath may be uncomfortable, wrestling with it helps us better understand the depth of God’s love and the richness of his mercy. Jesus took upon himself the wrath that our sins deserved so that we—and future generations—could experience God’s grace and love.
Because of that, we must never take this gift for granted. Instead, we should strive in our lives to resist sin and work against injustice in this world. This is not easy, but it is part of our holy calling.
by Manny Estevez & Lukas Estevez (USMA Class of 2029)
For Pondering and Prayer
- What comes to your mind when you think about God’s wrath?
- How are you doing in upholding the “standards” God calls us to live by—to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself?
Prayer: God of both wrath and mercy, thank you for the love and grace you offer to each one of us. May we never take for granted what Jesus did for us on the cross so that we could have a relationship with you. Grant us today the grace, peace, and wisdom we need to uphold the standards you have set for us, so that your kingdom may be realized on earth as it is in heaven. In the beautiful name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
