October 7 - God's Anger

        Psalm 7:11 - "The righteous God judges; he is angry every day [with the wicked]."

        A thorough study of the Psalms shows a balance between God's love for mankind, for the righteous person, and for Israel; and his anger for sin and wicked, evil persons. There are many instances related to God's righteous judgments and his anger. In the context of the Psalm above, God is angry every day with the wicked, those are living in a state of wickedness. Paul, in the New Testament describes in detail in Romans chapters 3-7, how the sinful nature causes our evil state. Then, in Romans 7:24, 25 and in 1 Corinthians, 1:30, he gives us the remedy for being the objects of God's anger. Jesus Christ has become our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. If it weren't for our acceptance (reception) of Jesus being our scapegoat to take the punishment of God's anger in our place, we would still be in the place of incurring God's (impending) anger. In other words, Jesus has become our firewall, keeping the heat of God's anger from reaching us.

       This is not the same as incurring the consequences of our individual actions, while living as believers. That is another topic in itself. As John states in his Gospel and in his first letter, when we receive Jesus, he gives us the right to become children of God and the assurance of eternal life with God, not separated from him in eternal punishment. See John 1:12 and 1 John 5:11-13.