Saved from what?

“Therefore, since we have now been justified [declared free of the guilt of sin] by His blood, [how much more certain is it that] we will be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].” (Romans 5:9-10)

What does it mean to be SAVED? Several Christians can answer this question without hesitation. They may say something along the lines of “Jesus, the One and Only Begotten Son of God, suffered and died on a cross to pay the price for my sins. He then rose from the grave conquering sin and death. Through Him I am a new creature and I have the promise of eternal life with Him.” And all of that is ABSOLUTELY GREAT!

But I am willing to venture that few Christians will say “This same Jesus has saved me from facing the wrath of God.” I will even go as far to say that many proclaiming Christians do not even realize what it is they are really being saved from when they accept Jesus into their hearts and lives.

Please understand that I am not downing anyone. You see, when I accepted the salvation of Jesus Messiah, I didn’t realize, at first, what I had really done. It took a few weeks for me to realize I was saved, only after speaking to someone about what happened to me. And when I realized that the name for my life-changing experience was called SALVATION, I still had no clue what BEING SAVED really meant. I just knew that suddenly I was different.

Because of this, I want to go deeper into this topic of “Saved from what?” because it is dear to my heart. And as a follower of Jesus, it should be close to your heart as well.

So what is this WRATH OF GOD that Jesus saves us from?

The Greek word for WRATH used in the opening scripture Romans 5:9 is ORGE and it means anger, wrath, indignation; anger exhibited in punishment, hence used for punishment itself. In this case, the wrath of God is the punishment for sin. Some may wonder why is there is punishment for sin?

The Bible makes it very clear that there is a price for sin. Well, first off, what is sin?

1 John 3:4 says “Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness [ignoring God’s law by action or neglect or by tolerating wrongdoing—being unrestrained by His commands and His will].”

And what is the price of committing sin?

Romans 6:23 informs us that “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God [that is, His remarkable, overwhelming gift of grace to believers] is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Let us just take a moment to PRAISE LORD JESUS for saving us!!!! HALLELUJAH, thank you LORD!

So what does sin have to do with the wrath of God?

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” (Romans 1:18-32)

“But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 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, who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil,…” (Romans 2:2-9)

The WRATH of God that Jesus saves us from, as His believers and followers, is a future judgement of the sins of mankind against God. God’s wrath against sin is justified because He is HOLY. His plan for mankind is holy. In His perfect and holy plan, He has provided mankind with THE WAY to avoid His just and divine wrath. Jesus is THE WAY by which we are saved. He calls us to REPENTANCE and RECONCILIATION, and by His blood the wrath of God is turned away from us. Anyone who rejects Jesus, chooses God’s wrath. To reject Jesus and His salvation is to reject God’s kindness, mercy, grace, and love.

The Apostle Peter tells us that it is not God’s desire that any should perish, but for all to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).

The Apostle Paul tells us of God’s rich mercy towards us who were formally children of wrath:

“And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others. But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:1-7).

So let’s get back to this question: What exactly is the WRATH OF GOD that we are saved from?

“The great [judgment] day of the Lord is near, near and coming very quickly. Listen! The [voice of the] day of the Lord! The warrior cries out bitterly [unable to fight or to flee]. That day is a day of [the outpouring of the] wrath [of God], a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and devastation, a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and the battle cry [of invaders] against the fortified cities and against the high corner towers (battlements). I will bring distress on men so that they will walk like the blind [unable to find a way of escape], because they have sinned against the Lord; Their blood will be poured out like dust [and trampled underfoot], and their flesh like dung. Neither their silver nor their gold will be able to rescue them on the day of the Lord’s indignation and wrath. And the whole earth will be consumed in the fire of His jealous wrath, for He shall make a full and complete end, indeed a terrifying one, of all the inhabitants of the earth.” (Zephaniah 1:14-18)

“I looked when He (the Lamb) broke open the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth [made] of hair, and the whole moon became like blood; and the stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree shedding its late [summer] figs when shaken by a strong wind. The sky was split [separated from the land] and rolled up like a scroll, and every mountain and island were dislodged and moved out of their places. Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the military commanders and the wealthy and the strong and everyone, [whether] slave or free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains; and they called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the [righteous] wrath and indignation of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath and vengeance and retribution has come, and who is able to [face God and] stand [before the wrath of the Lamb]?” (Revelation 6:12-17)

Who would want to face this? Who can face the wrath of God and not be destroyed? Indeed, it is something that no created being can withstand.

All of this reminds me of a dream I had several years ago, shortly after I received salvation. In the dream I watched as people and society degenerated to complete and total lawlessness and immorality. It reminded me a bit of what you see at Mardi Gras in New Orleans, only 100 times worse. People were acting wild like animals, doing whatever they wanted to do out in the streets without regard for anyone or anything. I remembered walking to the ocean as night began to fall and the moon was so big and bright in front of me. All of a sudden it turned completely crimson, and everything had a red tint to it. I could hear people screaming and crying as this happened. I turned to see people falling on the ground, doubled over as they screamed. Everything happened so suddenly. One moment the moon was white, the next it was blood red. And almost as soon as it turned red, it began to melt out of the sky like wax. There was total darkness. All I could hear was the screaming and crying of people, like I have never heard before in my life. It was absolutely terrible……

My heart breaks at remembering this dream. My heart breaks as I look and see the lost in this world. And so should your heart break, because you were once in their same shoes. The only difference between you (the believer and follower of Jesus Christ) is that you have received His free gift of salvation and they have not.

And yes, that salvation keeps you from the wrath to come, but what are you doing with the new life Jesus has given you here on earth? Think about it, would you want anyone to have to go through this wrath? As a born-again Christian, your answer should be “NO!” Because even God does not wish that anyone should perish. That should be our heart too.

Let us, as lights in a dark world, shine the light of Jesus boldly to the lost that they may see Him in us and be drawn to His salvation, thus being saved from the wrath to come.

Jesus said “You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16)

We too were once sinners, but we have been saved by grace. This same grace is available to WHOEVER, ANYONE, EVERYONE!!!

Paul preached from the book of Joel on the Day of Pentecost saying:

“…but this is [the beginning of] what was spoken of through the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ says God, ‘that I will pour out My Spirit upon all mankind; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see [divinely prompted] visions, and your old men shall dream [divinely prompted] dreams; Even on My bond-servants, both men and women, I will in those days pour out My Spirit and they shall prophesy. And I will bring about wonders in the sky above and signs (attesting miracles) on the earth below, blood and fire and smoking vapor. The sun shall be turned into darkness and the moon into blood, before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes. And it shall be that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord [invoking, adoring, and worshiping the Lord Jesus] shall be saved (rescued spiritually).’” (Acts 2:16-21)

In case you did not know, I am here to tell you that we are in the last of the LAST DAYS. I urge you my brethren in the faith, to not just talk the talk of Jesus, but walk the walk of Jesus. Because when you live, move, and have your being in Him people will take notice. You may be the one Jesus uses to shine through to that unbeliever you come across. You may be the one He uses to draw in the lost in your family, your community, your school, your job, wherever you are. I urge you to never lose sight of the significance of salvation through Jesus Messiah, both for yourself and for people all over this world.

God bless you and keep you my brothers and sisters. 💗