One Nation, Under Wrath
Opening Up Romans—11
Exploring the riches of God’s grace, one passage at a time.
The gospel reveals God’s gift of righteousness, which we receive by faith to enter a right relationship with Him. Why do we need this gift? Apart from Jesus Christ, we stand in a wrong relationship with God under His wrath. Jesus said, if we don’t believe in Him, we “stand… condemned already” (John 3:18) and “the wrath of God remains on” us (John 3:36). In 1:18–23, Paul contrasts God’s righteousness (v. 17) with His wrath, explaining humanity’s need for salvation. Ungodly idolatry toward God leads to unrighteous immorality toward neighbors. As an ancient Jewish writer observed, “the worshipping of idols…is the beginning, cause, and end of all evil” (Wisdom of Solomon 14:27).
God is Revealing His Wrath
Look around you. The beach, the sunsets, the smiles—life seems beautiful. It’s nothing but “shiny, happy people laughing.” But Paul reminds us that “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men” (v. 18). Some recoil at this “wrath,” remembering human anger or assuming God is only love. But God’s wrath is holy displeasure with sin, His punitive justice. Without wrath, there is no true love. One author captured this: “A God without wrath brought men without sin into a kingdom without judgment through a Christ without a cross.” Paul writes that this wrath is revealed—presently and not only in the future. Our Heidelberg Catechism confirms: God punishes sin both now and in eternity (Q&A 10).
Against Human Societies
God’s wrath is not only against individual sinners but also societies. Paul speaks of the plural “ungodliness and unrighteousness of men,” encompassing all humanity apart from Christ. The Bible repeatedly shows collective wrath against societies: the Flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, Egypt, Nineveh, Babylon.
We must be able to hold two truths together as citizens of the USA: God’s goodness and blessings to us, but also and our status as “one nation, under wrath.”
That Suppress Him in Idolatry
Humanity suppresses the truth through idolatry (v. 18). Like trying to keep jacuzzi bubbles under water, people cannot fully hide the knowledge of God. Creation declares His existence: “For His invisible attributes…have been clearly perceived…in the things that have been made” (vv. 19–20). But this general revelation shows God as Judge, not Savior.
Idolatry is substituting God with pleasure, power, possessions—all which are manifestations of Self. Paul writes, “Although they knew God, they did not honor him…their foolish hearts were darkened” (vv. 21–22). Even claiming wisdom, they exchanged the glory of God for images of mortal man, birds, animals, and creeping things (v. 23). We were made to worship, but in our “selfie culture,” we worship ourselves. Luther said unbelievers “change and adjust [God’s] divinity to their desires and needs.”
Coming Out from Under Wrath
America: you are one nation, under wrath. God reveals His displeasure by leaving us to ourselves in ungodly idolatry. Pleasure, power, possessions, or self-rule—all leave us under His judgment.
There is only one way out: receiving the righteousness of Jesus Christ in place of our unrighteousness.
Accept His gift, enter a transformative relationship with your Creator rescued from wrath and reconciled to His righteousness.