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Source: https://www.sermonindex.net/speakers/tim-burton/the-wrath-of-god/
Now, if you have a Bible, I'm going to ask you to turn to John's Gospel, please. John's Gospel, Chapter 3, for reading. We're going to take one reference here, and then go to the Book of Romans. John's Gospel, that's the fourth book in the New Testament.
After Matthew, Mark, Luke, comes John. John's Gospel, Chapter 3. And I want you to notice verse number 36. John Chapter 3 and verse number 36. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
I want you to notice that last expression. The wrath of God abideth. The wrath of God abideth on him. Over, please, to Romans, Chapter 2. The Book of Romans after John comes the Book of the Acts, and then after the Acts comes the Book of Romans.
Romans, Chapter 2. And perhaps for connection's sake, we'll read at verse number 1. Romans, Chapter 2 and verse number 1. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest. For wherein thou judgest another thou condemnest thyself.
For thou that judgest doest the same things. You see, that happens in the world today. There are people that look with condemnation on what others are doing, and yet they themselves are doing it. And really what Paul is saying here is that such people are inexcusable.
They're without an excuse. Read verse number 2 with me. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? I want you to notice verse number 5. But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath.
And revelation of the righteous judgment of God who will render to every man according to his deeds. One final reference, please. Chapter number 5 of the same book, Romans chapter 5. Romans chapter 5 and verse number 9.
This is really a lovely expression. In light of what Paul has been developing here, the great truth of salvation. And verse number 9 says this. Much more than being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
I want you to notice the last statement of that verse. We shall be saved from wrath through him. I want to ask you a very simple question. What do you think of God? You know, sometimes we think of God, and I suppose in a great way, in a great measure, we think of God who is love.
And thank God. God is love. Thank God for a God who looked down upon a world that was full of sinners, deserving of judgment, and God loved us. But sometimes we think God will love me and I can just live the way I want to live.
And God will just embrace me the way that I am. You remember, won't you, that the God who is love is the God who is light. And the God who is light has no darkness within him. The God who is light is a God who is just.
He is a God who is holy. He is a God who is righteous. He is a God who is inflexible, unbendable in his character. He is a God who hates sin. We read four different times that expression, wrath, that word wrath.
I want you to think about that tonight. Perhaps something that maybe escapes our thinking at times is, as we get so caught up with the busyness of life, that we don't think about the wrath of God. I want you to think about wrath that is abiding.
Wrath that is abiding. I want you to think about wrath that is accumulating. I want you to think about wrath that is administered. And I want you to think about wrath that is averted. Wrath that is averted.
I tell you tonight, I stand before you a saved man, saved by the grace of God. And my eyes will never see the wrath of God for my sin, because there was a moment in my experience when I was delivered from my sins, and when I was delivered from my sins, I was delivered from the wrath that my sins brought me to, that was taking me to.
I tell you tonight, it is a marvelous thing. It is a wonderful thing to be saved. Could I ask you tonight, have you ever been saved from your sins? Have you ever been delivered from your sins? I think of John's Gospel, chapter number 3, and to me this is a great text of discovery, because it is a text that really divides humanity.
Every single person in Stout Gospel Hall tonight is in one of two parts of that verse. In fact, we could go to the community of Stout, the state of Iowa, America, North America, the whole world. Everyone is in one of two parts of that text.
I remember well there was a man who was coming to Gospel meetings that Brody Thibodeau and I were having a number of years ago, and Edmund walked in on a Friday night, the first Gospel meeting Edmund ever came to in that series.
And I remember Edmund sat over here, about in the place where Brother Eric is sitting, and Edmund sat down in his seat. And I remember yet as we preached the Gospel, the facial appearance of Edmund as he heard the Gospel, as he was hearing truth for the first time.
And he was thinking about his sin. And after that Gospel meeting, we began to speak to Edmund. And here was a man who was brought up in a religious system where if you do the best you can, you go to church, you live the best life you can live, you'll get to heaven in the end.
A man who had some respect, a bit of a fear of God, but didn't have a right understanding of the Word of God. And Edmund started to ask questions after the meeting. And so my brother Brody and I, we sat down with him and we chatted with him a bit.
Then we opened up the Bible. And we just took him to John 3 and 36, and we just asked him a very simple question. The same question I'm going to ask you tonight. What part of that text are you in? He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.
It's a wonderful thing to be in that part of the text. It's a wonderful thing to have life that comes from God. Edmund read the text. He that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
And we put the question to Edmund. Edmund, what part of that verse are you in? And here was a man with all of his religious background. With all that he knew, he faced reality. And he made a great discovery that night.
A discovery, friend, that I hope you make in this Gospel meeting tonight. Edmund looked at that verse, and with honesty, he said, Tim, I'm in the last part of that verse. And the wrath of God abides on me.
The wrath of God abiding. My friend, that ought to cause you to tremble in the seat you're sitting in tonight. If that's the part of the text you're in tonight, the wrath of God abiding on me? And I remember Edmund, as he left that room, and there was nothing that we could do.
Brody and I, we couldn't save him. And Edmund left that room distraught as he left that building. And he got in his car, and he began to drive home. His wife, Faye, she was a saved woman. She had been away from God, but she began to pour the Gospel into her husband's ear.
She sought to tell him the story of the cross. About a Savior who died for him. And Edmund told us later on that every word that Faye was saying was going in one ear and out the other. Because all Edmund was thinking about was this.
The wrath of God abideth on him. The wrath of God abideth on him. I don't think I need to tell you the end of that story, but I'm going to do. I'm going to do, because you likely know the end of it. Edmund on his way home, three words came to his mind.
It is finished. The work is done. And a man who understood that the wrath of God is abiding on me was a man who received salvation that day when he received Christ. Now let me ask you tonight. If you were to die tonight, where would you be?
You remember now whenever we come to the Word of God, there's only two places. The Bible speaks about the bliss of heaven, or the joy of being there with Christ, redeemed, cleansed by his precious blood.
The Bible speaks about a real place called heaven. I'm not going to tell you something tonight. The Bible speaks about a real place called hell. And those who die in their sins, with the wrath of God abiding upon them, will experience the wrath of God forever.
The wrath of God forever. Could I tell you tonight about wrath not only abiding, but wrath that is accumulating? That's really what Paul is talking about in Romans 2. In verse 5, people are treasuring up wrath unto the day of wrath.
At every moment you spend in your sins, wrath is accumulating. Wrath is growing. Wrath is increasing. You know, the wrath of God is coming because of our sin. And there's not a person under the sound of our voice tonight who is exempt from sin.
Sin has affected every one of us. In fact, the Bible makes it clear, all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. We have all fallen short of God's divine standard. And every moment that we spend in our sins, we are treasuring up wrath.
Wrath is accumulating. You say, but Tim, I'm living the best I can. I'm not sinning. Could I tell you tonight, that in the very seat you're sitting in tonight, if you're not saved, you're accumulating wrath against the day of wrath.
You know what the book of Proverbs tells us? Even the sowing of the wicked is sin. Do you know why? That's really talking about a proverbial saying that Solomon is using there. It's the plowing of the wicked.
You know, the farmers on the field. And they're plowing their field. And while they're plowing their field, if they've never been saved, even that plowing is sin against God. You say, why is that? You mean every moment that I spend outside of Christ, every moment I spend not saved, I'm treasuring up wrath?
That's it. Because every moment you reject Christ, you're being marked by unbelief. You are really saying to God, I don't believe what you're saying. And in that way you are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath.
Wrath that is accumulating. I want you to think for a minute of wrath that is administered. And the question comes, what will you do in that great day? The day of His wrath. I want you to think for a minute of this great white throne.
Because the Bible says, the Bible makes it clear, God has appointed a day in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom He has ordained, and that He has given assurance unto all men and that He has raised them from the dead.
Do you know who the great throne sitter is going to be? It will be Christ Himself. The one who bears the marks of the cross. Do you know why the throne is great? It's great because of His majesty. Do you know why the throne is white?
It's white because of His purity. Do you know why He'll be seated upon a throne? Because He's a man of authority. And the majesty, the authority, and the purity of Christ will be displayed as He sits on that great white throne.
And there will be those, the dead small and great, that will stand before Him. And according to Revelation chapter 20, the books will be opened. Could I tell you of at least three books that will be there?
Three books that will be there in that day. There will be the record of your sin because you'll be judged according to the things that are written in that book. God has a record of every thought, of every word, of every deed.
Every sin that you've ever committed has been written in that book. A book, my friend, that can be, sin that can be remitted and forgiven tonight. But in that day, it's too late. In that day, salvation is passed.
The day of opportunity is over. The door is shut. And that book will be there, the record of sin. I'll tell you another book that will be there. It's the Word of God. I could prove that to you in John chapter 12.
The Lord Jesus said, My words will judge you in that day. This is the Word of Christ. This is the Word of God. And the Bible will be there. I think of the Bible, it's not now the record of sin. It's really the revelation of the Savior.
We were considering this morning, who hath believed the report? Could I ask you, friend, have you believed the report of the Savior? Have you trusted Him? Every person who has acknowledged their sin before God, I'm guilty, I'm lost, I'm perishing, and I need to be saved.
And every person who calls upon the name of the Lord, according to the Bible now, they will be saved. They shall be saved. But in that day, there will be people that will stand before the great white throne.
And the record of sin will be there. And the report of the Savior will be there. And the registry of heaven will be there. It's the book of life. Ah, it's a wonderful thing to have your name inscribed in the Lamb's book of life.
Could I tell you tonight, if your name is not written there, you could be saved tonight by trusting the Savior. That's the great truth that is found in the Word of God. And those that have their names written in heaven are those who rejoice.
That's what the Lord Jesus said. Rejoice that your name is written in heaven. A marvelous thing to be saved and to be saved from your sins. But in that day, the registry of heaven will be there. And God, the Lord Jesus, He won't be flipping through the book looking for your name.
That's not why that book will be there. That book will be there to show where your name could have been. Your name could have been. But you missed it. Could I tell you, friend, whatever you do, don't miss salvation.
Don't miss Christ. There are people, and they have put off God's salvation. I think of a story. There was someone who was recently asking me for the details. And so I sent it off. Mr. Bingham, Bill Bingham.
I don't know if Bill Bingham was ever in these parts. I see some heads nodding. So Mr. Bingham was here. I remember Bill Bingham. He spent some time in our home. You're living on the East Coast. A lot of people like lobster.
Well, Mr. Bingham, he loved lobster. But Mr. Bingham also loved souls. And you could tell by the way he preached. There was a story that I remember Mr. Bingham used to tell whenever I was a boy. Davy Craig was saved, I think it was the age of 12.
When Davy Craig was saved, it was during gospel meetings. And a gospel series came to Scotland where Davy Craig lived. And him and another friend, they used to play soccer. And they loved soccer. They played the game well.
These meetings came, and both of them were troubled. Both of them thought about being saved. Both of them had conviction of sin, recognized they were sinners before God. Davy Craig, by the grace of God, was saved.
You know, Davy asked his friend, what about salvation? He said, Davy, I'll become an international soccer star. And then I'll get God's salvation. That dear man, he climbed the ladder, as it were, in the soccer world.
And he became a star. And he got the invitation to an international soccer game. Scotland versus England. It was a few months or so before the game. And this young man, brought up in a Christian home, he got sick.
He ended up in a hospital. And he made some recovery. And the doctor said a few weeks before the game, he said, I guess you're all right. You can go to the game. Just take it easy. And he went to the game.
His father had never been to a game before. But he went to this game, luckily because of the condition surrounding his son. And his father stood there by the fence and watched his son play this game. Thousands of people entered the stadium.
The flags were flying, the whistles blowing, and the people cheering. And the game started, and it continued all the way until five minutes to go. There was no goal that was scored. And this young man, he got a hold of that soccer ball.
And he moved up the soccer pitch, passing the opponents. And he kicked the ball. One shot and the ball went in. A goal for Scotland. And only five minutes to go. And as that young man kicked that soccer ball, he dropped down to one knee on that soccer pitch.
And a father who loved his son, a father who prayed for his son, ran to his son to hear his son's last words. Dad, I won the game, but I lost my soul. And wrath that was abiding and wrath that was accumulating became wrath that was administered.
And a young man went out into eternity without Christ. I think of souls in this gospel meeting tonight, and I don't know you. Many of you I don't know. But Mr. McCandless and I are here, and out of love for your soul, and out of love for Christ, we're telling you the gospel.
Because you don't want to experience the wrath of God forever. The greatest tragedy of a soul leaving time and entering eternity without Christ is this. It didn't have to be. It didn't have to be. And Paul says, thinking about the wrath of God, he says, much more than being justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.
Could I tell you, folks, this evening, that there is a sacrifice, a sacrifice that has been made for Christ shed His blood. Oh, the precious blood of Jesus, shed on Calvary, shed for rebels, shed for sinners, shed for me.
Could you say that tonight, friend? On the cross, the Lord Jesus was there. Who was He there for? I can tell you tonight, He was there for me. He was there for me. I go back to a night in my experience as a boy when I came to appreciate the truth of Luke 19 and 10.
The Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost. And I'm the lost sinner that Christ came to save. Oh, I think of the sufficiency, the sufficiency of that sacrifice. Those who receive Christ, trust in Him with an acknowledgement that I have sinned.
Those who trust the Savior are those who are saved from wrath through Him. Ah, it's a marvelous thing. Proven. I tell you, the truth of being saved from wrath through Him, the truth of justification through His blood, it's proven in an empty tomb.
Hope you know that. The Christ that we preach is a Christ who is alive. If the Christ who had died had stayed on the cross, His work would have been incomplete. If the Christ who was buried had stayed in the tomb, He would have only known defeat.
But the way of the cross never stops at the cross. And the way of the tomb leads on to victorious grace in that heavenly place where the risen Lord has gone. And the Christ that we preach is a Christ who said this, I am He that liveth and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.
We preach tonight a risen Christ who has power to save you from your sins. Power to deliver you from wrath that is coming. I think not only of the effectiveness of the sacrifice and the empty sepulcher.
I think of God's enduring word, the enduring scriptures. Do you know how you can know for sure tonight that you're saved from wrath through Him? Do you know how you can know tonight that the wrath that is abiding, the wrath that is accumulating, and the wrath that will be administered can be averted?
That is God's word. Because God's word says this, much more than being justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. I was talking in the basement. He's not here tonight. A young man who was saved last summer through the text of Romans 5 and 9.
Could I tell you tonight, you could be saved tonight. You could have the reality of hell, the reality of the lake of fire, all the result caused by your sin, you could have it averted tonight. You could be saved from it if you but trust Christ as your Savior.