His Divine Nature

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Therefore, God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts. (Romans 1:24.1:18–21, 24, NIV 1984).

My Musings – The “wrath of God” is not a popular topic. That’s not my God, some will exclaim, if they claim to believe in God at all. They do not want to believe that about someone with “eternal power and divine nature.” But it is there, because of His “divine nature.” And what else is there for them? For their futile thinking that they can turn to wickedness, suppressed truth, and foolish darkened hearts? What else but giving “them over in their sinful desires of the hearts?” This should have been “plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.”

What else is there for them? From a God who “is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion,” (Numbers 14:18a, NIV 1984)? One thing, and one thing only. Grace. Bought and paid for by the blood of His son. By Jesus, who despite His own “eternal power” “endured the cross, scorning it shame.” (Hebrews 12:2, NIV 1984). Why? Because that too is part of His “divine nature.“

My Advice – Yet there are still those with “foolish hearts [that remain] darkened.” Those who “suppress the truth” by their denial of Him. But this truth too has “been clearly seen, being understood from what has been [revealed in the Gospels], so that men are without excuse.” For those who reject forgiveness of sins through His grace, “He [will] not leave the guilty unpunished,” Numbers 14:18b, NIV 1984). He will “[give] them over in the sinful desires of their hearts” to “the wrath of God.”

His “divine nature” offers grace in place of wrath. The burning question is why submit to punishment for the guilt that Jesus took to the cross when we don’t have to? Just know that we “are without excuse” if we do not choose grace.