An Escape from the Wrath of God

One of the key elements to having wholesome gratitude to God is reminding ourselves about how bad of a situation we were in, before we were saved. We were literally sons of disobedience, not respecting or willing to obey the truth, and definitely not believing in the Son of God.

Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Colossians 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience,  7 in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

Romans 2:8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness--indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek;

John 3:36 He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."

As we read from these references above, to someone in such a state, the deserving result is indeed the wrath of God. It is not even an unreasonable punishment, but a very well deserved consequence. This wrath of God is just, it is right, because it is exactly proportionate to our sins or wrong-doings. Because, He is a God who renders to each one, according to his deeds and actions.

Romans 2:5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who "will render to each one according to his deeds":

Proverbs 24: 11 Deliver those who are drawn toward death, And hold back those stumbling to the slaughter. 12 If you say, “Surely we did not know this,” Does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?

At the same time, this wrath of God, is to be feared! What will come of it is something so terrifying, that we see that people tremble just on that thought, and hide themselves.

Revelation 6:15 And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, 16 and said to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 6:17 For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?"

Now it gets interesting, that although everyone sinned and fell short of the glory of God, we see that God chooses to be patient, even with the vessels of wrath whose sins make them subject to god's wrath.

Romans 9:22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 

The reason why this longsuffering is so important is that, God's patience, longsuffering, His goodness, is what leads us to repentance. It paves the way for us. It gives us the space to repent for our sins.

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

If not for God, we would still be sons of disobedience, and therefore subject to God's wrath. If not for His Son, if not for His blood, we would have to beg to the mountains to hide us, and even that wouldn't help because the wrath of God is terrifying beyond that.

Let us thank God and worship Him. Let us remember His sacrifice, through which we are saved from the wrath.

Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

I Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

I Thessalonians 5:9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,