One of the issues that has arisen in my recent Sovereignty journey is the possibility that God's wrath is necessary so that His mercy and grace can be fully understood and appreciated. I agree with the statement as it is. The question then becomes, how did God plan to reveal his wrath? What was His original design, and what does it say about His character?
In the beginning we are told that God creates. He called His own creation "very good". Wrath was missing in creation, and in the rest of the story I get the idea that God does not pour our His wrath on "very good" things. Wrath is reserved for evil things, disobedient and unbelieving things.
However, wrath and justice were clearly a part of His original plan (because they exist if not other reason). They reveal a truth about His love, that love costs the lover. He designed a system in which wrath would necessary not just to define His great love, but also to deal with sin. Sin entered the world (we can presume it was by God's plan) and sin must be destroyed according to God's character and nature.
That means that from the beginning it was God's design to create, have sin enter creation (the story is also quite clear that God did not create sin directly), and then deal with sin in a permanent way. That is where God's wrath enters the equation. God's wrath is such that it is able to destroy sin completely (and death, the effect of sin).
The question then becomes, who did God plan to release his wrath upon? The answer also becomes clear in Scripture... Himself. If we look at the conversation in Revelation we see that a question went out as to who would be worthy to bring salvation to the world. God Himself was the only one found worthy; and one might even say able. His wrath is such that were it poured out on anything or anyone else they would be forever destroyed. Only He was able to take upon Himself the full measure of His wrath and still survive.
God's plan was not that His creation would endure His wrath, but that it would experience and witness His wrath; the fullness of which was displayed upon Christ on the cross. He could do this because wrath is inferior to grace. Life triumphs over death. Love reigns supreme and is able to swallow up sin and death... and still has more to give. As Paul writes, where sin abounds grace abounds all the more.
We read in Scripture that some of creation will also partake in God's wrath. That does not mean God designed creation for His wrath. When God speaks of sin and redemption He speaks of all of creation. All fell; all were redeemed. On the cross He completed the task and paid the price in full. Those who fail to enter in to His rest do not do so because of a lack of grace but a lack of belief.
2 comments:
I've been reading in Romans the last few days as well (part of NP reading the New Testament together as a church this fall.) Your last couple blogs have obviously been on topic, and have helped me look at the subject matter from a different perspective than the first time I read through it. However, I've just read Romans 9, and am having a bit of difficulty with Verses 19-24. Verse 19 is a well timed question that was on my mind as I read through Romans 9. But Paul's answer to that question in 20-24 seems to me a bit like answering the question by commanding me to not ask the question in the first place.....a bit of an unsatisfying response. Thoughts?
Leslie and I were discussing Romans 4 last night and I came across an observation there that I believe sheds light into chapter 9. I am not quite ready to put it down on paper yet :), but it helps answer some questions for me in any case.
This whole idea of Sovereignty is rooted in Paul's response in Romans 9, the fact that we really do not have the right to questions God's decisions. IF in fact God decided to create some objects simply for wrath He could... and He would still be good.
The question I am still dealing with is, "Does the idea of God creating something purely for the sake of wrath fit with the picture of God's character I see revealed in the rest of the Bible?" I don't thing it does, so I believe He will either reveal a truth that combines the two, or it will be a mystery I just don't understand until heaven :).
Post a Comment