The 20th century neo-orthodox ethicist, H. Richard Niebuhr, famously assessed the emptiness of liberal theology in America by describing it as teaching that
"A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross."
Niebuhr's description of liberalism's teaching is completely accurate:
A God without wrath brought men without sin into a Kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a Cross.
This is why the early 20th century theologian, J. Gresham Machen, rightly called liberalism not merely another version of Christianity, but a completely different religion altogether.
If you reject what the Bible teaches about wrath, sin, judgment, and the cross, you are rejecting true Christianity and you have renounced the true gospel—the only message of salvation that can do poor sinners like you and me any good.
The Apostle Paul knew this and that explains why he went to such lengths to explain and defend the gospel. He gave his life to see people become reconciled to God by having their sins forgiven as they turned from their rebellion and trusted Jesus Christ, whose life and death on the cross saves sinners from sin.
In our previous studies of 5:1-11, I pointed out 6 blessings of that justified life. We have already looked at the first four:
1. Peace with God, 1
2. A standing in grace, 2a
3. Joy in the hope of the glory of God, 2b
4. Joy in sufferings, 3-5a
Today we are going to focus on the last two, which are found in vv. 9-11; specifically:
5. Salvation from wrath, 9-10
6. Joy in God, 11 |
