Dr Paul Allen

Romans 12:16–20, specifically verse 19, where Paul writes, “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’” So how does faith in the future, vindicating justice of God settle us and stabilize us and make it possible for us to live with sanity in a world that will cut us deeply? “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for” — this is the ground, the basis; this is the way you’re able to do it — “it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay’” (Romans 12:19). Now, here’s what that implies : that little word for implies that one of the motivations in our hearts for why we can’t return good for evil ; one of the motivations for why it’s so hard not to strike back, not to plan vengeance; one of the reasons it’s so hard is because deep down in our souls, there’s this warranted, justified desire that justice be done. And it doesn’t look like it’s going to be done ...

It took me almost eight months of my dissertation time to exegete and catalog all the passages referencing the wrath of God , the topic of my work. During that same time, I continued to help on the weekends with an evangelistic children’s Bible club in which I’d served for many years. One Saturday morning, about two-thirds of the way through my cataloging project, I was working in Ezekiel. I’d made it to something like line 380 in my Excel spreadsheet on divine wrath language before wrapping up my study and heading off to the Bible study club. During song time we sang, “My Hope is in the Lord .” The song leader drew the kids’ attention to the line, “No merit of my own, His anger to suppress.” He asked the kids, “Do you think God ever gets angry?” I still remember sitting behind the kids observing in dismay their response: with an unusual level of confident participation, they all answered, “NO!” I just sat there in shock thinking, Oh yes, yes he does… I reflect on that experie...

Our smallest offense deserves the full wrath of God. That’s hard to hear if we forget that God has not only covered our sin in Christ but also allows us to approach Him continually to receive that grace anew. We also know that God is holy—set apart in His perfection, glory, and majesty. We are sinners who sin every day. Our sin should grieve us but not condemn, because we serve a God who is good and gracious but also holy and just. So, what are we to do with this enigma of our sinfulness and God’s holiness that clings so close to us? Repent and receive God’s amazing grace.

Old Synagogue in Korazim Israel. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Corazim_synagogue (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Luke 11:20-24 Then He began to reproach the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent. “Woe to you, Chorazin ! Woe to you, Bethsaida ! For if the miracles had occurred in Tyre and Sidon which occurred in you, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes . Nevertheless I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. And you, Capernaum , will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You shall descend to Hades; for if the miracles had occurred in Sodom which occurred in you, it would have remained to this day. Nevertheless I say to you that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for you.” Jesus ’ harsh reproach against the cities in which most of His miracles were done seems on the surface to be less justified than His comparatively mild rebuke of...