Seriously....have you ever stopped to ask yourself what it might look like for someone to have the ‘wrath of God...abiding on them’ as John points out the condition in which any and all who do not ‘believe in the Son of God’ find themselves in? (John 3:36)

That really is one of those verses that we can just fly on by because it’s the ‘end of the chapter’ and we got better things to do than to pause and contemplate what that might even mean to anyone who reads it.

In case you were not aware, when people talk about ‘getting saved’ or ‘Jesus Saves’...it is the ‘wrath of God’ that Jesus came to ‘save’ us from (Romans 5:9; John 3:18).

So this would be a good time to ask: What is...the wrath of God and how exactly does Jesus ‘save’ us from it?...because whatever it is...it is ‘on us’ until we are ‘saved’ from it. And this is important to look at and understand because this is the ‘condition’ in which we all were born into and find ourselves in/under until we do get... ‘saved’.

Now, once we do have more understanding to what God’s wrath is, then more of these scriptures we have always skirted around will begin to make more sense and the picture becomes more clear... as you begin to walk in more freedom and peace as the Holy Spirit begins to lead and guide you. So let’s dive in and start out with a verse that will give some of you whiplash- Psalm 78:49, which reveals that the ‘wrath’ of God consist of or is made up of ‘destroying angels’. Yep, you read that correctly, and as challenging as that might be to process and embrace...I cannot apologize for nor dilute what we just read there.

Turning to Ephesians 2:1-3, we read what Paul wrote to the believers in Ephesus as he explains what our condition was prior to anyone surrendering their life to Christ:

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work IN... the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. ALL of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger (wrath), just like everyone else.”(NLT)

This is such a revealing passage as it details exactly how one USE to live (past tense) prior to coming to Jesus; and it also enlightens us as to what/who was working IN/THROUGH us, which was/is the ‘devil’ or the ‘prince of the power of the air’ (depending on what translation you read. Now, do yourself a favor and go read 1 John 5:19 and Acts 26:18 and there should be no room left for any doubt as to what or whose control/power/grip we all were under prior to turning to Jesus with all our hearts.

And just how did this ‘spirit’ work through us and control us? It was through our carnal-sinful desires that we also refer to as the ‘flesh’. This old carnal nature (old man) in which we were all born with...was a ‘feeding ground’ for the powers of darkness that had free reign over us because of sin entering the world. So now...does it make more sense as to why this ‘old man’ MUST...be ‘put to death’...once and for all? And the only way this will ever take place and be done right...is if/when a person turns (repents) and comes to Jesus with their whole heart...ready to surrender to His Lordship in order that you might be truly set free. (Luke 4:18; John 8:32,36)

When Jesus arrived on the scene and began to preach the gospel of His kingdom...it came with a clear message of ‘repentance’. We are to ‘turn’ (from that old nature and way of living) and then ‘follow Him’. (John 10:27). He did not come admonishing us to ‘accept Him as our personal Savior’ and then ‘go join a local church and get busy doing good things for His kingdom’. And to those who do receive Him (John 1:12)...Jesus begins right then and there to ’lead us to put to death all the deeds of the flesh’ (Rom. 8:13-14). And guess what happens if we don’t follow and obey? We will surely ‘die’...and have ‘no inheritance in the kingdom of heaven’ (Gal. 5:19-21). Says so right there in your Bible. (Matt. 7:21-23)

That graphic I used today and have used repeatedly in the past...is a picture of what a person who is not following Jesus looks and acts like; by their ‘fruit’ you will know them. But those who are ‘walking in the Spirit....no longer fulfill those lusts and desires of the flesh nature’ (Gal. 5:16). If someone tries to tell you otherwise...they are spinning ‘empty words’ in order to deceive you, just like the serpent did in the garden with Eve. (Eph. 5:3-6; Gen. 3:1-4). Because those who actually ‘belong to Christ’...have done what, according to Galatians 5:24? Yeah...another one of those verses we should spend more time giving serious consideration to...especially when it comes to ‘examining ourselves’ as we are admonished to do in 2 Corinthians 13:5.

Paul did warn us that we would see a time when many ‘other gospels’ and ‘spirits’ would arrive on the scene and steer us away to following ‘another Jesus’ (2 Cor. 11:3-4) and he even tells us who is behind this in vs. 14-15. You might also note Matt. 7:15. You’ve probably heard such lies that sound something like this: “Well your spirit is saved but you will always have this flesh nature to contend with until you die which means you will always remain a sinner who sins”. Funny...but that’s not what the Bible teaches if you are abiding in Jesus- 1 John 3:6,9; 5:18. Please also read John 8:34-35.

You see...everything about this ‘sinful flesh nature’ is just the opposite of God’s nature, in whose image we are supposedly being conformed to (Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 5:17). And before this new nature of loving others as Christ loved us can take full control, something has to first be done with this old nature- it has to die (John 12:24). But trust me...flesh doesn’t want to die and so it will offer up all kinds of options or negotiations to avoid going to the cross. Take a moment and familiarize yourself with the first three verses in 1 Corinthians 13...before reading the next 5 verses. And how did Jesus say ‘all men would know we are following Him (John 13:34-35)?

So this whole bit about ‘being led by the Spirit’ (which is what true children of God do- Rom. 8:14; John 10:27)...how might you know if you are being ‘led’ by Him? Great question! And Lord willing...we will take a look at that ...tomorrow.