“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness” (Romans 1:18).
The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee was a longtime pastoral minister and host of the “Thru the Bible” radio program. Shortly after he relocated to California in the United States, McGee was asked how he liked his new pastoral position. “It’s wonderful. I enjoy it, but there is something strange out here…” he replied. “I can teach the Book of Revelation in my church, and it will fill up on Wednesday nights. But if I teach the Epistle to the Romans, I empty the church.” (1)
J. Vernon McGee may have had our text from Romans 1:18 in mind when he made that observation, for this passage marks our entry into a profoundly challenging portion of Scripture. From this point forward and continuing into chapter three, Paul the Apostle will lay out the justification for God’s indictment of this world. Much like a courtroom attorney, he will begin by presenting several pieces of evidence to support that indictment.
The first exhibit in that line of evidence involves the human inclination to suppress what we know of God’s existence (verses eighteen and nineteen). The next exhibit will probe humanity’s deliberate rejection of the forms of revelation that God makes available to us (verses nineteen and twenty). Finally, Paul will close this chapter with a long list of examples that document humanity’s preference to think and act in ways that dishonor its Creator (verses twenty-one to thirty-two).
Paul’s opening argument begins here in verse eighteen with a reference to “the wrath of God” that “is revealed from heaven.” There are two ways we can view this reference to God’s wrath. First, we can view the wrath of God as something that is rehabilitative in nature. From this perspective, God’s wrath serves to persuade and encourage us to refrain from harmful actions. Much like a scalpel in the hands of a skilled surgeon, God’s wrath is often painful, but highly effective in healing those who demonstrate the need for such procedures.
A second (and more difficult) option is to view the wrath of God as a punitive response. This involves a sentence or penalty incurred by those who defiantly refuse to permit the truth of God’s Word to influence their behavior. For example, there are undoubtedly many who know what they should do in a given situation but spurn the opportunity to act on what they know. In such instances, we might view the wrath of God as a disciplinary sentence that is imposed upon those who persistently refuse to do what they know is right.
(1) J. Vernon McGee, Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee, “Revelation 10:8-11” Copyright 1981 by J. Vernon McGee