The Wrath of God - How is it love?

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Aunty Jane

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Let me take that post apart a bit, since it is all over the place….clarity is important because when things are run together like this the truth can be lost.

Genesis 1:1 KJV; In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
“The beginning”….a very good place to start (apologies to Julie Andrews) So what is this the “beginning” of?
Material Creation, but not of creation itself, since God and his master workman had an audience.

Job 38:4-7….ESV…God asked Job….
”Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

“All the sons of God shouted for joy” at seeing material creation take shape. So how long were these sons of God in existence before “God created the heavens and the earth”? The Bible doesn’t say, but the one “through” whom creation came was there….at the beginning of all creation.
It is said of him…..
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Col 1:15-16 ESV)

This is called agency….God working through a second party.

John 1:2 also confirms this….
“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

God was at first alone, perfectly self contained, without needing anything or anyone. But at some point in his eternal existence, he decided to become a Father, to share life and love with other intelligent beings……and all the things God was, would be magnified in his sharing of life with “sons”….myriads of them.

One son alone was his “firstborn” as Paul states in Colossians 1 above. So creation began with his “firstborn” son who has been “with” his Father from “the beginning”. He is “only begotten” because his Father produced him as it says in Prov 8:22-23, 30-31…

The Lord created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago. From eternity I have been fashioned, from the beginning, from before the world existed. . . . . .then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times, rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth,and delighting in its people.” (NET)

The son was then “the beginning of his works”..…”fashioned before the world existed.”
“The beginning of creation” (Rev 3:14)

Through Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Gobbledegook. What is that even supposed to mean?
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Read in Greek, those words do not say what has been translated into English.
If the divine name had still been in use, it would have read…
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with YAHWEH , and the Word was divine.
And God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness”. So God created Man in his own image, in the image of God created him; male and female created he them. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the Garden thou may freely eat; but of the Tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eat thereof thou shalt surely die.
And how many people believe that that this is what really happened ? That Adam and his wife ate from the TKGE and as a result, they actually died?
Belief in an immortal soul replaced belief in what God told Adam’s descendants….that the only way to live again is by resurrection? That is a return or restoration of life…not a continuation of it immediately after death, to depart to either heaven or hell? No such scenario exists in Scripture.

“Hell” is mankind’s common grave, and all the dead are resurrected from the same place, (John 5:28-29) because all the dead are unconscious, unaware of anything that goes on after they die. (Eccl 9:5, 10)
When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, a tree to be desired to make them wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also to her husband with her; and he ate it. At once they saw what they had done, and they realized they were naked. Then they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves. ~ For the wages of Sin is Death…
Yes, the sin of disobedience carried the death penalty…..there was no other…no heaven of bliss or hell of torment….that idea came from Greek paganism. It is believed by all false religions.
Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him and he began to teach them. He said: "You’ve heard the Commandment that says, 'You must not commit adultery.' but I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Jesus went beyond the sin, to what motivates it in the first place.…this gave his audience clear indication that the steps leading to sin, when recognized, could be averted. This same principle applied to all sin…..recognizing the steps that lead to the action can help the sinners to avoid committing it. (James 1:13-15) Wonderful advice!
The wages of Sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal Life! ~ For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting Life.
Again meshing scripture….but yes, God loved the world of humanity so much that he sent his son to die for us….his “firstborn”…..the only one he could entrust with this difficult mission. And, only those who exercise faith in his sacrifice will benefit from it. Those who fail to put faith in the ransom sacrifice of God’s son will “perish” (apollymi) which means….

“to destroy
  1. to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin”
That means that they will no longer exist.…they have lost their right to life.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory;
Finish the quote….
”And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.“

He was a glorious spirit before his human birth…the unique Son of the Father because he alone is the first and only direct creation of his Father. The rest of creation came through the Son.

And John stated just a few verses later……
“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

“No one has seen God at any time”?…….how many people saw Jesus?……and God cannot be “begotten”….so how are we to understand this difficult verse? It’s only difficult for trinitarians.

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. For by Grace you are Saved through Faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by Works so that no one can boast.
Yet “faith without works is dead”…..faith and works are both necessary. (James 2:18) Does the Bible contradict itself? Or is human misinterpretation the problem?

Scripture alone cannot be understood without explanation…..something Jesus and his apostles did regularly. (Luke 24:27; Acts 17:2-3)
 

quietthinker

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Let me take that post apart a bit, since it is all over the place….clarity is important because when things are run together like this the truth can be lost.


“The beginning”….a very good place to start (apologies to Julie Andrews) So what is this the “beginning” of?
Material Creation, but not of creation itself, since God and his master workman had an audience.

Job 38:4-7….ESV…God asked Job….
”Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

“All the sons of God shouted for joy” at seeing material creation take shape. So how long were these sons of God in existence before “God created the heavens and the earth”? The Bible doesn’t say, but the one “through” whom creation came was there….at the beginning of all creation.
It is said of him…..
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Col 1:15-16 ESV)

This is called agency….God working through a second party.

John 1:2 also confirms this….
“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

God was at first alone, perfectly self contained, without needing anything or anyone. But at some point in his eternal existence, he decided to become a Father, to share life and love with other intelligent beings……and all the things God was, would be magnified in his sharing of life with “sons”….myriads of them.

One son alone was his “firstborn” as Paul states in Colossians 1 above. So creation began with his “firstborn” son who has been “with” his Father from “the beginning”. He is “only begotten” because his Father produced him as it says in Prov 8:22-23, 30-31…

The Lord created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago. From eternity I have been fashioned, from the beginning, from before the world existed. . . . . .then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times, rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth,and delighting in its people.” (NET)

The son was then “the beginning of his works”..…”fashioned before the world existed.”
“The beginning of creation” (Rev 3:14)


Gobbledegook. What is that even supposed to mean?

Read in Greek, those words do not say what has been translated into English.
If the divine name had still been in use, it would have read…
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with YAHWEH , and the Word was divine.

And how many people believe that that this is what really happened ? That Adam and his wife ate from the TKGE and as a result, they actually died?
Belief in an immortal soul replaced belief in what God told Adam’s descendants….that the only way to live again is by resurrection? That is a return or restoration of life…not a continuation of it immediately after death, to depart to either heaven or hell? No such scenario exists in Scripture.

“Hell” is mankind’s common grave, and all the dead are resurrected from the same place, (John 5:28-29) because all the dead are unconscious, unaware of anything that goes on after they die. (Eccl 9:5, 10)

Yes, the sin of disobedience carried the death penalty…..there was no other…no heaven of bliss or hell of torment….that idea came from Greek paganism. It is believed by all false religions.

Jesus went beyond the sin, to what motivates it in the first place.…this gave his audience clear indication that the steps leading to sin, when recognized, could be averted. This same principle applied to all sin…..recognizing the steps that lead to the action can help the sinners to avoid committing it. (James 1:13-15) Wonderful advice!

Again meshing scripture….but yes, God loved the world of humanity so much that he sent his son to die for us….his “firstborn”…..the only one he could entrust with this difficult mission. And, only those who exercise faith in his sacrifice will benefit from it. Those who fail to put faith in the ransom sacrifice of God’s son will “perish” (apollymi) which means….

“to destroy
  1. to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin”
That means that they will no longer exist.…they have lost their right to life.

Finish the quote….
”And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.“

He was a glorious spirit before his human birth…the unique Son of the Father because he alone is the first and only direct creation of his Father. The rest of creation came through the Son.

And John stated just a few verses later……
“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

“No one has seen God at any time”?…….how many people saw Jesus?……and God cannot be “begotten”….so how are we to understand this difficult verse? It’s only difficult for trinitarians.


Yet “faith without works is dead”…..faith and works are both necessary. (James 2:18) Does the Bible contradict itself? Or is human misinterpretation the problem?

Scripture alone cannot be understood without explanation…..something Jesus and his apostles did regularly. (Luke 24:27; Acts 17:2-3)
not another thesis!
 

Hey You!

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Let me take that post apart a bit, since it is all over the place….clarity is important because when things are run together like this the truth can be lost.


“The beginning”….a very good place to start (apologies to Julie Andrews) So what is this the “beginning” of?
Material Creation, but not of creation itself, since God and his master workman had an audience.

Job 38:4-7….ESV…God asked Job….
”Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?”

“All the sons of God shouted for joy” at seeing material creation take shape. So how long were these sons of God in existence before “God created the heavens and the earth”? The Bible doesn’t say, but the one “through” whom creation came was there….at the beginning of all creation.
It is said of him…..
“He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.” (Col 1:15-16 ESV)

This is called agency….God working through a second party.

John 1:2 also confirms this….
“All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.”

God was at first alone, perfectly self contained, without needing anything or anyone. But at some point in his eternal existence, he decided to become a Father, to share life and love with other intelligent beings……and all the things God was, would be magnified in his sharing of life with “sons”….myriads of them.

One son alone was his “firstborn” as Paul states in Colossians 1 above. So creation began with his “firstborn” son who has been “with” his Father from “the beginning”. He is “only begotten” because his Father produced him as it says in Prov 8:22-23, 30-31…

The Lord created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago. From eternity I have been fashioned, from the beginning, from before the world existed. . . . . .then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times, rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth,and delighting in its people.” (NET)

The son was then “the beginning of his works”..…”fashioned before the world existed.”
“The beginning of creation” (Rev 3:14)


Gobbledegook. What is that even supposed to mean?

Read in Greek, those words do not say what has been translated into English.
If the divine name had still been in use, it would have read…
”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with YAHWEH , and the Word was divine.

And how many people believe that that this is what really happened ? That Adam and his wife ate from the TKGE and as a result, they actually died?
Belief in an immortal soul replaced belief in what God told Adam’s descendants….that the only way to live again is by resurrection? That is a return or restoration of life…not a continuation of it immediately after death, to depart to either heaven or hell? No such scenario exists in Scripture.

“Hell” is mankind’s common grave, and all the dead are resurrected from the same place, (John 5:28-29) because all the dead are unconscious, unaware of anything that goes on after they die. (Eccl 9:5, 10)

Yes, the sin of disobedience carried the death penalty…..there was no other…no heaven of bliss or hell of torment….that idea came from Greek paganism. It is believed by all false religions.

Jesus went beyond the sin, to what motivates it in the first place.…this gave his audience clear indication that the steps leading to sin, when recognized, could be averted. This same principle applied to all sin…..recognizing the steps that lead to the action can help the sinners to avoid committing it. (James 1:13-15) Wonderful advice!

Again meshing scripture….but yes, God loved the world of humanity so much that he sent his son to die for us….his “firstborn”…..the only one he could entrust with this difficult mission. And, only those who exercise faith in his sacrifice will benefit from it. Those who fail to put faith in the ransom sacrifice of God’s son will “perish” (apollymi) which means….

“to destroy
  1. to put out of the way entirely, abolish, put an end to ruin”
That means that they will no longer exist.…they have lost their right to life.

Finish the quote….
”And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.“

He was a glorious spirit before his human birth…the unique Son of the Father because he alone is the first and only direct creation of his Father. The rest of creation came through the Son.

And John stated just a few verses later……
“No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.”

“No one has seen God at any time”?…….how many people saw Jesus?……and God cannot be “begotten”….so how are we to understand this difficult verse? It’s only difficult for trinitarians.


Yet “faith without works is dead”…..faith and works are both necessary. (James 2:18) Does the Bible contradict itself? Or is human misinterpretation the problem?

Scripture alone cannot be understood without explanation…..something Jesus and his apostles did regularly. (Luke 24:27; Acts 17:2-3)
The Royal Law ~ by ReverendRV * November 8

James 2:8 KJV
; If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing well.

There was a time when Jesus commissioned several disciples and he was instructing them in the way of his ministry. During this time an Expert spoke up and asked Jesus how to inherit Eternal Life, this is what was said; “Behold, a Lawyer stood up to put Jesus to the test. ‘Teacher, what shall I do to inherit Eternal Life?’ Jesus said, ‘What is written in the Law? How does it say?’ The Lawyer answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your Heart and with all your Soul and with all your Strength and with all your Mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’ Jesus said ‘You have answered correctly; do it, and you will live.’ The lawyer desired to justify himself, ‘Who is my neighbor?"’ ~ Saint James taught about Loving your Neighbor, about not showing partiality; which the Expert had in spades! ~ How could you ever keep this Royal Law with all your Heart?

Jesus answered the Lawyer’s question with an example of a foreigner who helped an injured man on a road. A Priest and a Levite wouldn’t stop to help the man. The Lawyer knew that if this ever occurred, Jesus would be right; because those two wouldn’t touch anything unclean. Have you ever helped someone when they were in dire straits? Most people can answer Yes to this; but none can say that they kept the Law of God by doing this! You object, “Saint Paul said Loving your Neighbor as yourself fulfills the Law!” Yes he did; but only a Royal Prince from Heaven can fulfill this Royal Law of God. A Pauper only has a Commoners Law that was given to Sinners; the Ten Commandments. These ten Laws were given to show us that we are guilty as Sin, and that we’re outlaws who will be locked away in a devil’s Hell for all Eternity. ~ The Baptist Theologian John Gill said this of the Royal Law; ‘Which is the Law of love to Man, without distinction of rich and poor, high and low, bond and free; and is so called, because it’s the Law of the King of kings, it is the Law of Christ, who is King of Saints; and because it is a principal Law, the chief of Laws; as Love to God is the sum of the first and great commandment in the Law, and may be called the King of Laws; so Love to the Neighbor is the second and next unto it, and may very well bear the name of the Queen of Laws, and has Royalty in it; and indeed this last is said to be the fulfilling of the Law, and it is also submitted to, and obeyed by such who are made kings and priests to God; and to be done in a Royal manner, with a Princely Spirit, Willingly, and with all readiness:’

What we need is to be made Kings and Priests of God in order to be able to fulfill the Queen of Laws and live! There’s only one way to receive this Coronation and it’s by Grace through Faith in Jesus Christ the King of Kings; without Works lest we boast. His shed blood pays our Sin debt for us, but his Resurrection from the dead grants us our Royal title. Repent from Sin, Confess Jesus Christ as your Lord God; and you will be Forgiven. Gain your commission from him and you’ll be Saved from your Sins; you will be spiritually Born Again with a Prince’s birthright! Jesus will grant it that you rule and reign with him in his Kingdom forever in Eternity. You’re now able to keep the Royal Law of God since you’re under the jurisdiction of Heaven as a citizen who can exercise your new found rights. ~ Give up your life as a dying Pauper and exchange it for the Life of an everlasting Prince; an Heir of the one true King. Read the Bible and find your Kingdom Agenda…

Revelations 1:6 KJV; To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
 

St. SteVen

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We have often heard about these two aspects of God's character:
His love and His wrath.

The concept is acceptable to many, citing biblical sources to confirm.
But to others it is troubling, noting that the character of God
does not allow for such a contradiction.

Since God is love, His wrath also needs to be a manifestation of love.
But that's not the description given by many.
They describe an anger driven rage, which is obviously not love.

How do we resolve this contradiction?

The Wrath of God - How is it love?

[
 

Brakelite

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Why should we be blamed for not being like God?
Is it really our fault? The Fall set up His plan of redemption.
There would be no story without it. Designed the
Did God not anticipate this?
Don't you choose to sin? Please don't claim God designed the fall in order to reveal the gospel. Such an idea is as crazy as evolution, a design that has death being the producer and refiner of life. God intended there be sin, rebellion, war, suffering and death just so He could show His love? Anyone believing that has no idea Who God is. Except that despite their seeing the words written, God IS love, they don't believe it.
 
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Brakelite

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Your view contradicts what Scripture clearly teaches. It is not about what we prefer to believe, it is about what God has said. According to Sola Scriptura, the Bible alone is our authority, and it plainly states that Jesus bore the wrath of God on our behalf. Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.” Verse 10 goes even further: “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him, he hath put him to grief.” That is not a poetic metaphor, that is a statement of divine judgment. God’s wrath against sin was poured out on His Son, so that those who believe would not have to face it themselves.

Romans 3:25 says that God set forth Jesus “to be a propitiation through faith in his blood.” The Greek word for “propitiation” (hilastērion) means a wrath-satisfying sacrifice. That means God's wrath was directed at Christ in our place. Galatians 3:13 confirms this by saying, “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us.” And 2 Corinthians 5:21 declares, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

It is not up to us to redefine God's justice or His love to fit our opinions. The cross was not just a display of love, it was also a display of wrath satisfied. God’s holiness demanded payment for sin, and Jesus willingly took that penalty for His people. That is the gospel. Anything less is not the truth.
And after 4000 years of sacrificing animals one would think they would get the point. Substitutionary atonement of written across history in the blood of Goats and Calves and Lambs, all pointing to the future Saviour. Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves. He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. “With His stripes we are healed.”
 
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St. SteVen

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Don't you choose to sin?
As a violation of our God-given human conscience.
Certainly seems that God anticipated that we would sin.

Please don't claim God designed the fall in order to reveal the gospel.
The gospel appears in the consequences given after the Fall.
Therefore, the gospel WAS revealed in the Fall.

Such an idea is as crazy as evolution, a design that has death being the producer and refiner of life.
Jesus was the Logos of God before He became flesh.
He was sent to pay the death penalty for the sin of humankind.
All of this was anticipated in advance. All part of the plan.
The Logos/logic/reason/meaning.

God intended there be sin, rebellion, war, suffering and death just so He could show His love?
Seems so.

Anyone believing that has no idea Who God is.
There are different perceptions of God.
I prefer mine to yours.

Except that despite their seeing the words written, God IS love, they don't believe it.
So, what do you believe is the meaning of the Fall and God's plan for humankind?

[
 
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Eternally Grateful

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We have often heard about these two aspects of God's character:
His love and His wrath.

The concept is acceptable to many, citing biblical sources to confirm.
But to others it is troubling, noting that the character of God
does not allow for such a contradiction.

Since God is love, His wrath also needs to be a manifestation of love.
But that's not the description given by many.
They describe an anger driven rage, which is obviously not love.

How do we resolve this contradiction?

The Wrath of God - How is it love?

[
so I guess that a judge should just let a guy who murdered and raped 50 young ladies. because we should be like God as he commands us
 

St. SteVen

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so I guess that a judge should just let a guy who murdered and raped 50 young ladies. because we should be like God as he commands us
There is a difference between appropriate consequences and wrathful (unhinged) retribution.
Humans want a wrong to be avenged. Justice is more complex than that.

[
 

Eternally Grateful

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There is a difference between appropriate consequences and wrathful (unhinged) retribution.
Humans want a wrong to be avenged. Justice is more complex than that.

[
wrathful unhinged retribution would consist of unhinged punishment with no room for redemption.

Christ died for everyone, so no one has an excuse.

Its on them, Not God.

dude, I would fear the very God you keep mocking every day in this chatroom.
 

IndianaRob

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There is a difference between appropriate consequences and wrathful (unhinged) retribution.
Humans want a wrong to be avenged. Justice is more complex than that.

[
Gods wrath is his mercy. If God did not pour out his wrath throughout history to reset mankind, mankind would have self-annihilated to extinction.
 
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Behold

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So, you believe God is a tyrant?

Listen.

If you murder someone then you will be tried, convicted, and sentenced.

If a Person rejects God's Grace, then they they have rejected the pardon for their lifetie of sin, and there is a COST.

You dont like the idea of a Cost for your lifetime of sinning.....so, you found a false gospel that you have converged with that you believe gets you off the hook.

And the sad part is.......The Cross of Christ was always available to do that for anyone as a Gift., while they are alive.

Perhaps one day soon, you'll get the Revelation that Universalism, denies The Cross of Christ, by teaching that its not needed when you are alive. @St. SteVen
 

IndianaRob

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How could mercy be delivered with unbridled and furious wrath?

On the other topic you speak of a great deception.
And here you are trying to convince me that wrath is merciful.

[
It’s not mercy on the wicked it’s mercy on the good people the wicked people abuse.

Look at what’s going on in the world right now. Wicked people have made some normal people think a man can cut his …. off and now he’s a woman.

Not only that, they want to force me to believe it and since they are psychopathic evil people, they will by default be in the positions of power.

Free will, that’s just how it is. You have to be free to wicked or good or else you’re a biological robot.
 
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Wick Stick

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We have often heard about these two aspects of God's character, His love and His wrath.

The concept is acceptable to many, citing biblical sources to confirm.
But to others it is troubling, noting that the character of God does not allow for such a contradiction.

Since God is love, His wrath also needs to be a manifestation of love.
But that's not the description given by many. They describe an anger driven rage, which is obviously not love.

How do we resolve this contradiction?

The Wrath of God - How is it love?

[
Wrath is ὀργή in Greek. I can think of how that could be "love" but I don't think that's what the Bible intended. o_O
 
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Aunty Jane

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So, what do you believe is the meaning of the Fall and God's plan for humankind?
God’s original plan for the human race was stated in Genesis, as was his warning about the consequences of abusing their free will, and partaking of something that belonged exclusively to their Creator. The death penalty was clearly stated....so there were no excuses.

Free will was not entirely “free” but conditional, because unless God set limits, the personal will of one could be imposed on another.....every sin committed by man or angel, is an abuse of free will because we are not at liberty to encroach on the free will of someone else. The consequences of selfish choices, show us why we are better off simply following the reasonable limits imposed by our Maker, for our own good.....his actions are justified if it acts as a deterrent to others.

What was the reason for the death penalty in the first place?....to demonstrate the seriousness of a crime and to act as a deterrent to others.....and also to demonstrate the consequences of abuse, as well as to stress the importance of obedience, and how disobedience can adversely affect others, not just yourself.
There is a difference between appropriate consequences and wrathful (unhinged) retribution.
Humans want a wrong to be avenged. Justice is more complex than that.
Since when has God demonstrated “unhinged wrathful retribution”?
His actions are his to exercise as he sees fit....we are not in a position to judge the judge. His vision and knowledge are way more far reaching that anything we could imagine, and he is accountable to no one.
Wrongs, in God’s eyes, deserve vengeance, justly administered, and with fair warning......whereas human justice is easily perverted. God extends mercy only where it is warranted but it is never applied sentimentally. Sentiment has no place in justice. Justice demands accountability.
God knows better than we do what justice demands from his standpoint...ours is limited....and stunted.
How could mercy be delivered with unbridled and furious wrath?
Since we are “made in God’s image”, logically we reflect his responses to injustice and foul play.
Remember that he desired to keep the “knowledge” of evil away from us, so that it would never infiltrate our lives to cause any harm or ruin. (Gen 3:22-24)

Why does evil exist?.....it is like all other ‘equal opposites’ in God’s creation......it exists only as an equal opposite of good. It is the only knowledge that God wanted to keep from his children.....he placed it exclusively in his own jurisdiction......but satan made the fruit of that tree, representing God’s Sovereignty, look very attractive and suggested that knowing good and bad for themselves would be beneficial.....the woman fell for the deception...but Adam did not. He ate of the fruit for a totally different reason, but still selfish......once that ‘genie was out of the bottle’, there was no putting it back without an education as to why it should not have been summoned in the first place.

Unless we have a firm handle on the big picture, not much will make sense.
 
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pandaflower

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If we humans who are made in the image of God are complicated, why would we think God is less complicated than ourselves?
If God is all we in our limited human consciousness is what we think God to be why ,how,could we ever incur God's wrath?

We are what he created us to be.Beginning to end. Alpha and Omega.

How many actual believers are afraid of God?

A bit like an ant being scared of making a human angry.

Or a human demanding an ant meet our expectations.


If you read the Bible just as literature,you may come to realize God is just like us.Warts and all.


Now what?

Jesus said, have I not told you,ye are God's?

We can take that in any of two ways.

We are God's=We belong to God

We are God's=We are in(wardly) In-powered as creator to be what we will.