The wrath of God – Part 4

It is an issue of the character of God in Christ that the “speaking” (life to all people of all nations) is far more effective than the “striking” (life to Israel), for our Rock is Christ. On the day God shall judge the secrets of men’s hearts through Jesus Christ according to my gospel, the kinds of things over which their conscience will convict them are pretty plain. Those who preached the word in hypocrisy (Lord, Lord, didn’t we do many mighty worked in your name? ….Depart from me I never knew you) will be saved, but as those passing through the flames. Those who did not meet the needs they saw along the way (I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, naked and you gave me no clothes). Those who were abusive in their stewardship over the inheritance (When the landowner was away, he began to get drunk and beat the menservants and the maidservants). Those who condoned wickedness and taught sorcery (You tolerate that false prophetess Jezebel….Unless you repent I will throw you with her upon a bed of great tribulation). Those who judge others rather than themselves (With the measure you mete so shall you be measured) Failure to forgive (forgive not and you shall not be forgiven). Of course, only God knows the secrets of our hearts.

Even now as “the day dawns,” everyone is continually brought to the light of day for testing in the fire. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Mercy abounds everywhere in God though men often refuse it. As the full noon approaches, those who persist in disobedience are experiencing -and will experience “bitterness” and chastisement (for the purpose of correction), those who persevere in doing good, are entering- and will enter the joy eternal life. So, all must flee from the wrath to come into the loving, edifying, forgiving arms of Jesus and abide there faithful to the end, for he that endures to the end shall be saved. Jesus says, “I am the vine you are the branches, whosoever abides in me will bear much fruit, and that fruit shall remain. If any one abide not he shall be withered as a branch, cut off and cast into the fire”, and it is an invitation and an admonition. When we abide in Christ, we have not become perfect, in the absolute sense that our daily conduct never fails. Our perfection is that we walk in love and humility, acknowledging our sins and inadequacies, growing in grace, being transformed into the likeness of Jesus. Then, as we are cleansed continually by the blood of Jesus, we walk in “eternal life.” This is the life (Zoë) of God and the life that is in us through Christ, the vine. There is no need for fear in this life because perfect love casts out all fear. We have been perfectly loved, and as we abide, we can love perfectly, our perfection being the honesty and humility of those redeemed by grace. This is the great reward of those who believe in this age, and their reward extends into the ages to come.

Therefore, you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practise the same things. And we know that God’s judgment rightly falls upon those who practise such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practise such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?
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