The-Wrath-of-God

Dr. Nik Schatz (DMin ’24)

The wrath of God is an uncomfortable topic to study. To think of God as a Being prone to anger, fury, and retribution seems to contradict our views of his love, grace, mercy, and patience. Yet until we grapple with God’s wrath, we will never fully grasp his holiness or the depth of his mercy. I explore below three aspects of God’s wrath:

  • Divine vs. Human Wrath
  • Destructive vs. Constructive Wrath
  • God’s Wrath Against Unbelievers vs. Believers

 Divine vs. Human Wrath
At points Scripture depicts God the Father as “wrathful” (Nahum 1:2), “enraged” (Isaiah 34:2), and “a consuming fire” (Hebrews 12:19). Furthermore, Jesus Christ is also portrayed as coming with a “rod of iron” in the prophetic Psalm 2:9 and as a “sharp sword” (Revelation 19:11-21). Many find this unsettling; honestly, I find this unsettling! These descriptions trouble us because we instinctively project our experiences of human anger onto God.

We humans often become angry for sinful reasons. We tend to be self-righteous and self-deceptive, leading to unjust outbursts of anger. By contrast, God does not fly off the handle or lose control of his emotions; he practices “a settled indignation”[1] that has a righteous foundation and a purposeful conclusion.

God’s wrath is a necessary expression of his holiness. D.A. Carson explains the connection between holiness and wrath this in his book The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God. He writes, “[God’s wrath] is a function of God’s holiness against sin. Where there is no sin, there is no wrath — but there will always be love in God. . . . The price of diluting God’s wrath is diminishing God’s holiness.”[2]

Destructive vs. Constructive Wrath
Human anger is often destructive. It flares up when egos are bruised, preferences are blocked, or control is threatened. In those moments, wrath leaves a trail of relational damage: cutting words, broken trust, and sometimes even physical harm. Our anger is often impulsive and self-centered, more focused on defending our pride than pursuing what is right. Scripture is honest about this danger, which is why believers are repeatedly warned against “man’s anger” that “does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:20).

God’s wrath, by contrast, is always constructive.

In Psalms 2 and 23, Jesus is pictured as holding a “rod of iron.” A rod was a common tool used by shepherds in the ancient world. It was basically a stick with a big knot at the end and was used to fight off enemies (like a wolf or a thief) or to bring sheep into safety.

Likewise, kings would carry a fancier rod called a “scepter,” symbolizing authority and peace. Whoever has the rod has all the power, so speak carefully when the king holds his scepter! It also indicated peace: In the story of Esther, the king extends his scepter as a sign of acceptance (Esther 4:11, 5:2).

A “rod of Iron” can either be terrifying or relieving. When you look up at a shepherd holding a rod, you either feel nervous or relieved. If you belong in that flock, it’s a relief. If you are a thief, you’d better be scared. When you look up at a king holding a rod, you either feel nervous or relieved. If he is your king, you are relieved. If he’s the enemy king, you’d better be scared.

Unlike human wrath, God’s wrath “is neither a vindictive, emotional overreaction, nor is it unpredictable.”[3] Rather it is just, measured, and reliable. In a word, it is constructive—a constructive wrath that rights what is wrong and straightens what is crooked.

God’s Wrath against Unbelievers vs. Believers
In his love, God has provided Jesus as a way of escape from his wrath: “In Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood” is it possible to be “saved by him from the wrath of God.” (Romans 3:25; 5:9). The word propitiation refers to the appeasement, or satisfaction, of God’s wrath.

On the cross, Jesus’ death satisfied God’s wrath. All of his anger and indignation was directed totally to Jesus. The punishment of your sin was placed on him. Jesus received the blow of God’s wrath as your substitute, your sacrifice. He poured out his righteous anger on Jesus Christ in your place.

If you are a follower of Jesus, there is something you should know: God is not mad at you. He’s not disappointed in you. He’s not disgusted with you. As a child of God, you may be the recipient of God’s discipline (see my other article on this topic) but never his wrath.

If you are not a follower of Jesus, I must tell you a hard truth: You remain under God’s wrath. John 3:36 states that “whoever believes in the Son [Jesus] has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”

God’s wrath is an unsettling topic, but it is not a blemish on his character; it is expression of his holiness. If he never became angry at evil, injustice, and human rebellion, he would not be good.​

We have seen that God’s wrath is not like ours. His anger is never a selfish outburst but a self-controlled opposition to all that threatens his good creation. It is constructive wrath that brings evil to justice and straightens what is crooked. Like a shepherd’s rod or a king’s scepter, the wrath of God can be terrifying or comforting.

[1] MacArthur, The Wrath of God, 21.
[2] Carson, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God, 67.
[3] Walter A. Elwell and Philip Wesley Comfort, Tyndale Bible Dictionary, Tyndale Reference Library (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001), 1312.

Nik Schatz currently serves as the lead pastor at Spring Branch Community Church in Virginia Beach and adjunct professor of Bible and Theology at Lancaster Bible College. He holds a DMin from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a ThM from Dallas Theological Seminary.