Is God Angry With Me?

The Catholic Church, the Reformed, and most evangelicals say: “Yes, but here’s what you can do to calm him down.”

Luther said: “No.”

And this difference is at the heart of the Reformation.

Paul wrote the book of Romans so that everyone in the Roman church would agree about what God says.

At the end of the letter, in 15:5-6 he says:

May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

And how does he get them to agree? He simply describes the Gospel.

That’s what he lays out at the beginning, 1:16-17:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

That’s the theme of the whole letter, and in our passage Paul shows us three things about God’s righteousness:

1) You can’t talk God into changing His mood (vv. 19–22)
2) God’s in a good mood with you because of Jesus, not because you do something to please Him (vv. 22-26)
3) You have nothing to prove (vv. 27-28)

So the first, 1) You can’t talk God into changing His mood (vv. 19–22)

Please look at vv. 19-20:

¹⁹ Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. ²⁰ For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

God gave you His law, so that you can see you need Jesus. This is a conclusion to Paul’s explanation of the Law that he started back in 1:18:

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Now, this verse is widely misunderstood, because people don’t understand what Paul means by “wrath”.

God’s wrath is not a feeling. God’s wrath is not a personal decision. — God’s wrath is a legal declaration.

Paul only describes God’s internal feelings in one place, 5:8:

God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

How does God feel about you—whoever you are? He loves you. It’s no more or less complicated than that.

And Paul tells us this loving God is righteous… …which means he consistently does the right thing.

The problem is that he loves you and me… …but you and I don’t do the right thing …because you and I are evil.

And so, Paul says, from that one feeling of love, God speaks two words: Law and Gospel.

Paul says in our passage that the Law stops our mouths… it shuts us up… …it’s given to stop us trying to justify ourselves… so that God can reveal His righteousness to us in Jesus.

And so… The Law shows God’s wrath. The Gospel shows His grace.

These are not two feelings God has, but the two legal verdicts declared by Law and Gospel.

God’s wrath is the declaration that all sin is condemned.
God’s grace is the declaration that all sinners are forgiven.

That’s why Romans 1:18 does NOT say that God’s wrath is revealed against people. It’s revealed against the unrighteousness of people. — because it’s not a feeling, or a personal thing… …it’s a legal decision.

God’s wrath and God’s grace are not two conflicting attitudes inside God. They are two works, acts, legal declarations that God has declared over every single person.

Paul explicitly calls God’s wrath a legal decision in 2:5:

you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

He connects God’s wrath to the law in 4:15:

For the law brings wrath,

He describes God’s wrath as a legal response to sin in 12:19:

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

And so this is why he explains the civil state is a servant of God’s wrath in 13:4:

the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

So as legal declarations, God’s wrath, and his grace, are not part of him: they are works that he performs through his Word: the Word of Law and Gospel.

One of these works is more reflective of how He actually feels than the other.

God’s Wrath is an alien work — something God has to do because of who we are.

God’s Grace is a proper work — something God wants to do because of who He is.

700 years before Paul wrote Romans, the Prophet Isaiah (28:21) said exactly that:

For the LORD will rise up as on Mount Perazim; as in the Valley of Gibeon he will be roused; to do his deed—strange is his deed! and to work his work—alien is his work!

In other words, God will act in wrath and judgement because He has to

But, His wrath does not show how God feels toward us. His grace does indeed show how God feels toward us.

And while both of these works are necessary, one of these works is more important than the other.

God’s wrath merely serves a purpose in God’s grace But grace IS God’s purpose.

That is the point Paul is making in the whole discussion from 1:18 to 3:20; 1:18:

For the wrath of God is revealed… who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth

God’s wrath shows us we don’t understand something.

And Paul spends two chapters explaining this, until his summary in 3:20:

through the law comes knowledge of sin.

You see how false explanations of God’s wrath fail to explain its purpose in God’s plan.

Paul does not say God’s wrath is a bad and frustrated mood. …then the purpose of the Law would be to vent God’s anger.

Paul does not say God’s wrath is a personal decision of his will, because he’s chosen to send some people to hell. …then the purpose of the Law would be to destroy the people that God hates.

No, Paul says God’s wrath is a legal decision. So it makes perfect sense that the purpose of the Law is to reveal to us the problem that’s inside of us.

1) You can’t talk God into changing His mood

I’ve spoken to several people recently, who’ve said to me something like this:

“Well… even if I’m wrong, I’ll argue my case with God when I meet him.”

We all know that feeling don’t we? Of wanting to make our case.

And that is exactly the point of the Law and the revelation of God’s wrath it brings: That won’t work. Don’t do that. That’s a bad idea.

As Paul says in v. 19:

whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God

No matter how much I try, or how clever I think my arguments are… Paul tells me in v. 20:

by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight

And the reason why the Law tells me this, is because instead of justifying yourself, arguing your own case and failing… …in Jesus God has argued His case on your behalf.

That’s what Paul explains in vv. 21-22:

²¹ But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— ²² the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

God is not angry with you… …He’s in a good mood with you… …and that’s why He’s given you His Law!

Because if you try to justify yourself: you’ll fail. …and He doesn’t want you to fail. you’ll be damned forever in hell …and he doesn’t want that

So… listen to the God who loves you, and listen to and use his wrath, as he wants for your good:

Stop talking.
Stop explaining.
Stop defending yourself.
Stop rehearsing your excuses.
Stop building your case.
Stop trying to prove you’re the exception.
Stop pretending the rules don’t apply to you.
Stop comparing yourself to worse people.
Stop interrupting the Judge:

1) You can’t talk God into changing His mood

But that’s the great thing about Paul’s second point, — You don’t need to change God’s mood:

2) God’s in a good mood with you because of Jesus, not because you do something to please Him (vv. 22-26)

This is what Paul explains, starting in vv. 22:

For there is no distinction: ²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

We are all in the same position, and so, vv. 24-25:

 ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, ²⁵ whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood,

The very people who have sinned and fall short… …these are the people God has justified as a gift in Christ.

This is grace… …to be declared just, and righteous, and treated as though you are perfect… …instead of God acting toward you from wrath, the legal judgement you deserve.

The only qualification you need to be justified… …is that you NEED to be justified.

Paul goes on, 25:

to be received by faith.

…in contrast to receiving it by works. Faith is not something you do. Faith is not doing anything. We’ll come back to this.

Paul finishes, vv. 25-26:

This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. ²⁶ It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Paul’s point is: God is the one who’s done it. Even though you don’t deserve to be declared right… …even though you haven’t and can’t do anything… …God is still right to declare you just because of Jesus.

Now, Paul’s whole point here …is that God has done everything, you do nothing.

Back in the Medieval ages, the Catholic church turned Jesus’ work on its head… …they said “On the cross, Jesus earned a treasury of merit for everyone… …but you have to do something to access it.”
— either by showing you’re really sorry for your sin
— or by giving money to the church
— or living a transformed life.

So, Luther, reading this very passage said: “No!”

“God has done everything for you… you do nothing. You don’t receive this by works… you simply receive it by faith.”

But, after Luther, without realising it: other Protestants turned back to Catholic ideas, by instead of hearing Paul’s contrast between faith and not works they turned it into a contrast between: faith and not having faith.

But, the problem is, when you do that, you turn faith itself into a work.

Here’s what that sounds like:
“All you have to do is believe.”
“Just put your faith in Jesus.”
“Come to Jesus and pray the prayer to accept him.”
“Accept Jesus into your heart.”

The problem is, Paul’s entire point here is that if you rely on yourself in any way, then God’s gift doesn’t belong to you.

Faith is not something you do… …it is a given to you by the Spirit.

How do you get faith? It is entirely passive, you don’t “do” any “getting.”

Paul says that in Romans 10:17:

faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

The Word of Christ is the Gospel… the raw, pure promise and legal declaration that: God is in a good mood with you… …and he has already declared you just because of Jesus.

As people hear that… the Spirit gives you hope that it’s really true… …even the smallest desire that it’s true is the flicker of faith.

You can’t generate that.

And that’s why in Romans Paul NEVER does any of things that Reformed and evangelical preachers do today:

Paul NEVER once commands people to have faith in Romans.
Paul NEVER once tells people to choose Christ in Romans.
Paul NEVER once tells people to “pray the prayer” in Romans.
Paul NEVER once tells people to receive Christ in Romans.
Paul NEVER once “issues an invitation” to have faith in Romans.
Paul NEVER once says “you need to have faith” in Romans.
Paul NEVER once says “make sure you have faith” in Romans.
Paul NEVER once tells me as a preacher to say these things in Romans.

No, everything Paul says about faith in Romans is passive… …and is contrasted to “works” —to what you do, think or say.

2) God’s in a good mood with you because of Jesus, not because you do something to please Him

When preachers make this conditional in even the smallest way… …they are not preaching the pure Gospel Paul gives us in Romans.

And so, because of the Reformation… …because of this Gospel… …hear this:

3) You have nothing to prove (vv. 27-28) this morning.

Look at vv. 27-28:

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

God is in one mood with you — he has only one attitude, and because of that, he speaks two words.

He is in a good mood with you. And so His two words are this: Law and Gospel.

The Law tells you God’s wrath… …His legal judgement that can’t do anything to help yourself …the only hope you have is Jesus. …And his just judgement that he’s chosen in Christ …to treat you as purely perfect.

When God looks at you… …he doesn’t see:
— an idolater lost in wrong theology
— a false teacher whose been leading others astray
— someone whose let him down for years by repeatedly not coming to church
— a rebellious child who failed your parents
— someone who keeps letting your anger overtake you
— that string of failed relationships, or disgusting sexual sins
— those thefts you did where you scammed your workplace
— the lies, gossip, and slander you told to protect your own reputation
— or even the thoughts, desires, plans and motivations to do these things, or anything like them.

God doesn’t see these.

God — the judge of all — has chosen not to care.

That is His “proper” work, the Word He gives that is most natural to who He is… …the Word of forgiveness, of grace, of mercy… of Christ.

God’s “alien” work, as Isaiah says, of declaring that these things are not right, …is only to help you see Jesus and His forgiveness for who and what He really is.

The great promise of the Gospel is not… …God will change you. …you can be better. …Jesus transforms lives.

This was the false gospel of the Papists, and sadly it’s the false Gospel still preached by many Protestants today.

No, God’s word of the Gospel to you, today, …right here, this very second, is: I’ve forgiven you. I love you. I’m in a good mood with you.

You have nothing to prove There is nothing to do.

So, Is God Angry With Me?

Well… 1) You can’t talk God into changing His mood

That’s what the Law shows you, that’s the point of God’s wrath: — his legal declaration that your sin is wrong. So, stop trying!

2) God’s in a good mood with you because of Jesus, not because you do something to please Him

God has declared you righteous and perfect in Christ. This has nothing to do with you. You can’t do anything to get this. There is nothing to do to get this. The presentation of faith as though it IS something… …is so unhelpful and confusing. God has this. He’s sorted it.

And so… 3) You have nothing to prove