1. The Focus of God’s Anger
Lesson Seven

2. The “story of the Bible” has been redefined…“The focus of God’s wrath, or anger, is not an essential of the Christian faith.”

3. Dodging God’s anger The focus is upon the sin
God is enraged because sin ruined His perfect world
The fault is a long list of social injustices
God’s anger is not an “essential of the Christian faith”

4. Misconceiving God’s “anger”
Misconceptions of the wrath of God have led to a false picture of God. One such is reading into the phrase “wrath of God” the idea of a “wrathful” or “angry” God…Yet, could this wrath (or anger) of God be focused more on the effects of sin than on the sinner (Caruso).

5. Changing the FOCUS
So, the “new, improved” understanding is that God’s anger is not God’s emotional response to mankind’s selfishness, spiritual anarchy and disrespect of the holy commands BUT to the ruin that sin brings.

6. The Biblical Focus Romans 1:18
God had been known(verse 19).
Power and deity were understood (verse 20).
They have “no excuses” (verse 20).
God’s rules were ignored (verse 21).
God’s honor was disrespected and His holiness was insulted (verse 21-22).
God’s position was refused (verse 23).

7. Inspiration…
DOES NOT communicate…anger of God as a positive enticement…anger of God is focused on the sin and not the sinner.
DOES communicate that God’s anger is focused on people who disrespect, dishonor, and disobey God’s revealed commands.

8. Actions that Focus God’s Anger
Accepting religious doctrines that are different from the New Testament (2 Cor 11:4; Gal 1:6-9)

9. A Different Gospel (Gal 1:6-9)
They cause “trouble” and are “disturbing” God’s congregation (verse 7).
They “perverted” and “distort” God’s Word (verse 7).
They are “accursed” and condemned (verse 9).

10. Actions that Focus God’s Anger
Accepting religious doctrines that are different from the New Testament (2 Cor 11:4; Gal 1:6-9)
Not knowing the gospel and not obeying the gospel (2 Ths 1:6-9)

11. Two Groups Specified (2 Thes 1:6-9)
Those “who do not know God”
“Those who do not obey the gospel”
The anger of God is focused upon these two groups. God’s anger will not be turned away! God’s anger cannot be evaded! (Rev 6:12-17).

12. The Folly of rejecting God
2 Thessalonians 1:6-9
Engulfed in “flaming fire”
Dealt “retribution”
“Pay the penalty of eternal destruction”
Worship as they wish; they conceptualize God as they think He should be; they live as they wish; their morality is dictated by their own feelings.

13. Actions that Focus God’s Anger
Accepting religious doctrines that are different from the New Testament (2 Cor 11:4; Gal 1:6-9)
Not knowing the gospel and not obeying the gospel (2 Ths 1:6-9)
Accepting God’s blessings but refuse to obey (Heb 3:10-17)
Not uniting faith in daily living (Hebrews 4:2-3)
Not “abiding” (2 John 9-11)

14. A Compromised Christian
Causes one to accept another not following the Bible
The “doctrine of Christ” is NOT the “doctrine about Christ”
Ignores the doctrine that God has communicated
“Greeting one who does not abide”

15. A Compromised Christian
God’s anger is fueled to a raging wrath by those who ignore lifestyles and belief systems that do not “abide in the doctrine of Christ.”
How tragic that the Postmodern Period has been so successful in infecting our culture with a “tolerance” that refuses to acknowledge some as not abiding in the doctrine of Christ and all act as if there is nothing wrong!

16. People who are the Focus of God’s Anger
The person who “hinders the gospel”

17. Tragic defection (Philippians 3:18, 19)
These are “enemies of the cross of Christ”
These now have their “end is destruction”
These now their “god is their appetite”
These now “glory in their shame”
These now they think of “earthly”
These now bring “weeping”

18. The object of God’s anger (1 Ths 2:15, 16)
They are not pleasing to God
They are hostile to men
They hinder the speaking of the gospel
They live lives that are “filled up” with sin
They face “wrath to the utmost”

19. People who are the Focus of God’s Anger
The person who “hinders the gospel” (Philippians 3:18, 19)
The person who is involved in “the activity of Satan” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)

20. 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12…three things
God’s anger is so intense that He “slays” the disobedient
There is absolute truth that people will not receive
People hate that truth

21. People who are the Focus of God’s Anger
The person who “hinders the gospel” (Philippians 3:18, 19)
The person who is involved in “the activity of Satan” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)
The person who does not keep the “traditions” (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6)

22. The doctrine of Christ (2 John 9-11)
These fail to keep the “traditions”
These act “unruly”
These are not to be in our association—“keep away”
Why would the Christian not “keep away” and “not associate” with the person who is the focus of God’s anger? WHY?

23. People who are the Focus of God’s Anger
The person who “hinders the gospel” (Philippians 3:18, 19)
The person who is involved in “the activity of Satan” (2 Thessalonians 2:7-12)
The person who does not keep the “traditions” (2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6)
The person who is wicked (Psalm 7:11)

24. Absolute Take Aways
First, God’s anger is focused on individuals who are contrary to what God has commanded.
Second, God’s anger is focused because they are partners with Satan and seek to destroy God’s work.
Third, God’s anger must be avoided by making a choice to accept and obey and remain loyal to the commands of God.

25. God has not destined us for wrath. He offers us an escape
God has not destined us for wrath. He offers us an escape! “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ…Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-11)