Rescues from Wrath

We know that the "sons of disobedience" (Eph 2:1) "were by nature children of wrath" (:3). "He who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (Jn 3:36). However, "because of His great love with which He loved us" (Eph 2:4) he delivers us from wrath. "God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth" (2Th 2:13). "The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men" (Titus 2:11). Christ has been "offered once to bear the sins of many" (Heb 9:28). He "gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed" (Titus 2:14). "By grace you have been saved" (Eph 2:5). Salvation is an ongoing process. We are "those who are being saved" (2Co 2:15). We participate and "keep the commandment without stain or reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Ti 6:14). However, in the course of time he will "appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin" (:28). "For now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed" (Ro 13:11). "You are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time" (1Pe 1:5). Therefore, he will "confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1Co 1:8). We know the day of the Lord is synonymous with his coming. Jesus directs us to "'straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near'" (Lk 21:28).

This fits into a larger perspective. If you have an "unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God" (Rom 2:5). "It is on account of these things that the wrath of God will come" (Col 3:6). There will be "'a time of tribulation'" (Mk 13:19). "Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved'" (:20). In John's revelation he saw that "'the Root of David, has overcome to open the book and its seven seals'" (Rev 5:5). John heard a loud voice saying, "'Go and pour out on the earth the seven bowls of the wrath of God'" (16:1). They contain "'the wrath of the Lamb; for the great day of their wrath has come'" (6:16-17). Fortunately, we are "to wait for His Son from heaven . . . who delivers us from the wrath to come" (1Th 1:10). "God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation" (5:9). Therefore, put on "as a helmet, the hope of salvation" (:9).