Romans 1:18-20, 2:5-6
The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse. But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God “will repay each person according to what they have done.”
Reflection
Do you picture the one true God, the loving God, the forgiving and gracious God having and showing wrath? In the book of Romans, chapters 1 and 2, Paul has some words for the gentiles who may not have been given a direct revelation about God from God (as the Jews were given) but who should be able to see God in all of creation. Paul also has some words for the Jewish folks that believe in God, judge the gentiles for doing incorrect things but they do those same things themselves. In both cases, God will show wrath and God will judge.
Do you have issues with our one true God showing wrath and exacting punishment? Think of this: how do you feel if a mass murderer who is really guilty gets off scot-free, i.e., no punishment at all? If that happened, if God let the mass murderer go without any punishment, what does that say to you about God? Think about and write your thoughts about how a loving God must still require punishment for sin.
