In today's teaching and preaching the emphasis in on God's love with very little said about the wrath of God. Take a close look at the cross and we clearly understand God's love, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16 ESV). This is the message we like to focus on because it is comforting. Look again at the cross and we see God's wrath being poured out on Jesus. Let us consider what wrath is. John Piper says, "The wrath of God is God’s settled anger toward sin expressed in the repayment of suitable vengeance on the guilty sinner." Because of our sin each one of us must face the wrath of God, but on the cross Jesus is drinking the cup of wrath in our place. If we don't come to Jesus Christ in faith believing he has taken our place on the cross then what will it be like when we experience the wrath of God?
Today, on my afternoon walk, I listened to an intense sermon on this topic. I can honestly say that in 63 years as a Christian I have never listened to a clearer and a more intense teaching on this topic. We need much more of this teaching to help people understand the seriousness of sin. Without understanding this dimension I fear that a great multitude of people who think they are Christians are in reality on their way to eternal destruction.
There are two sermons that should go together. I happened to listen to the second one first and realized from it that I should probably listen to the one before it. I did that when I couldn't sleep last night. Both links are given below. The second one is real intense.
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