The Wrath of God
A Sermon on Romans 1:18
Originally preached April 27, 1956
Scripture
18For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Sermon Description
The bold boast of every Christian is Jesus Christ. There is a terrible need for the gospel today and there is nothing but the good news of Jesus Christ that adequately meets the need. This is the reason that Paul worked day and night in all circumstances to boldly preach the gospel. In the sermon “The Wrath of God,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that Paul’s preaching was never human-centered but was only God-centered. Romans 1:18 points out that one of the main reasons Paul preached with urgency is because the wrath of God has been revealed. The wrath and judgement of God is not something that everyone talks about in their daily lives and Dr. Lloyd-Jones outlines three attitudes about the wrath of God. One of those attitudes comes from evangelicals who do not accept the teaching of God’s judgment and only choose to focus on the love and mercy of the Father. This is the mark of cults which highlight one doctrine and exclude others. Dr. Lloyd-Jones echoes the apostle Paul’s warning against those who hold to this teaching by reminding that the wrath of God is approaching. The Christian should never make light of the judgment of the Lord or avoid talking about it when evangelizing. The gates of heaven will be shut on some people and Paul urges all to repent.
Sermon Breakdown
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The apostle Paul begins by stating that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. This is the motive for evangelism and the reason Paul preaches the gospel.
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There are three main attitudes towards the wrath of God: unbelievers who reject it, liberals who reject it, and evangelicals who accept it in theory but deny it in practice. We must accept it in both theory and practice.
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The wrath of God is mentioned 10 times in Romans. It is a controlling concept for Paul.
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The wrath of God is also mentioned in 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, and Hebrews. It is a consistent theme throughout the New Testament.
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The wrath of God is not just emphasized by Paul but is also found in Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, Jude, and Revelation. It is a consistent biblical theme.
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The wrath of God was also preached by Peter, Stephen, John the Baptist, and Jesus himself. It has been preached by great evangelists like Luther, Calvin, Whitfield, Wesley, and Edwards.
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We must start with the wrath of God as Paul did if our evangelism is to be biblical. A jocular evangelist cannot properly understand this doctrine.
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The great evangelists of the past were serious men who feared God and preached His wrath. We should follow their example.
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The purpose of the gospel is to reconcile men to God, not just fill churches or produce good statistics. We must preach the wrath of God.
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May God give us a realization of this awesome truth so we can minister for His glory.
Sermon Q&A
What Does Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones Teach About the Wrath of God in Romans?
Why does Paul begin his evangelistic message with the wrath of God in Romans 1:18?
According to Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Paul begins with the wrath of God because this reveals the terrible need for the gospel. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes, "This is the motive for evangelism. Here is the thing that urged and drove this man. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and all unrighteousness of men." The apostle starts with humanity's relationship to God and their standing before Him rather than focusing on people's personal experiences, happiness, or particular needs.
How does Lloyd-Jones contrast biblical evangelism with modern approaches?
Lloyd-Jones contrasts biblical evangelism with modern approaches by noting that many contemporary evangelists start with human needs rather than God's wrath. He says, "Christian people, let us never so represent the gospel that it sounds as if it were a cult." He criticizes approaches that say "Come and join us next Sunday evening. Come to our bright Sunday evening service. Come and have a good time with us." Instead, he argues that biblical evangelism must begin where Paul begins - with humanity's position before a holy God and His wrath against sin.
How frequently does Paul mention the wrath of God in Romans?
According to Lloyd-Jones, Paul mentions the wrath of God ten times throughout the epistle to the Romans. He provides a detailed breakdown of these occurrences in chapters 1:18, 2:5, 2:8, 3:5, 4:15, 5:9, 9:22, 12:19, 13:4, and 13:5. Lloyd-Jones states, "This great apostle in this one epistle, ten times over, repeats this and repeats it and repeats it. That's why he starts with it. It's a controlling conception."
What three groups does Lloyd-Jones identify as objecting to the doctrine of God's wrath?
Lloyd-Jones identifies three groups that object to the doctrine of God's wrath: 1. Unbelievers who say the idea of divine wrath is "unthinkable" and incompatible with a God of love 2. Liberal theologians or modernists who claim the wrath of God is merely "a kind of relic or remnant of the tribal God of the Old Testament" 3. Evangelicals who believe in the wrath of God in theory but deny it in practice by avoiding the topic in their preaching to appear more attractive to modern audiences
How does Lloyd-Jones demonstrate that the wrath of God is taught throughout the Bible?
Lloyd-Jones demonstrates that the wrath of God is taught throughout the Bible by providing extensive references beyond Paul's writings. He cites examples from: - The Old Testament prophets - John the Baptist's preaching ("who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come") - Jesus' own teaching (including references to judgment, hell, and the unquenchable fire) - The apostolic preaching in Acts - The book of Hebrews - The epistles of James, Peter, Jude - The entire book of Revelation
He concludes that this doctrine appears "everywhere from beginning to end" in Scripture.
Why does Lloyd-Jones believe methods of evangelism are as important as the message?
Lloyd-Jones believes methods of evangelism are as important as the message because they must both be scriptural. He states, "Our methods of evangelism must correspond to the scripture as much as our message." He argues that starting with human needs rather than God's holiness and wrath distorts the gospel itself. Lloyd-Jones warns that improper methods can make Christianity appear like just another cult offering happiness and personal benefits rather than reconciliation with God.
According to Lloyd-Jones, what is the primary purpose of evangelism?
According to Lloyd-Jones, the primary purpose of evangelism is not to make people happy or solve their problems but to reconcile them to God and save them from divine judgment. He states, "The business of the gospel is to bring people to God and to reconcile them to God, not to fill churches, not to have good statistics, but to reconcile men to God, to save them from the wrath to come." The gospel addresses humanity's fundamental relationship to God rather than merely offering personal benefits.
The Book of Romans
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.