“…Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.”
(1 Thessalonians 1:10)
Sin is an affront to God’s holiness and must justly be punished by His wrath. But in His infinite love and mercy, God offers deliverance from His wrath to all those who believe and obey His Word.
In Noah’s day, God’s wrath was poured out on the earth in the form of a great flood. None were spared, save those who were in the ark (a type of Christ). Genesis 6:6-8 records the narrative: “The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart. The Lord said, ‘I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them.’”
But the very next verse states: “But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.” Why? Because “Noah walked with God,” (Gen. 6:9). God delivered Noah and his family because Noah believed God and obeyed His commands.
A Day of Wrath is coming that will be much more destructive than the great flood. Once God’s wrath is complete on this day – once it has been poured out on the earth in full – the planet we now live on will be unrecognizable (Isa. 24:1-6). However, in much the same way as God provided deliverance in Noah’s day, He offers deliverance through Christ, our Savior and Deliverer. For a time, this deliverance is available to all those who believe on His name, who have their sins washed in the blood, and who obey His Word.
John 3:36 states: “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” Those who reject God’s way are already condemned. Those who refuse Christ as Savior and Lord already live with the wrath of God against their account, to be executed in God’s perfect time. We can only escape His wrath by throwing ourselves on the mercy of God through saving faith in Christ Jesus!
God’s deliverance through Christ is so much more than just an absence of His wrath, however. Immeasurable benefits await those who are redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb of God. Some of those benefits include…
- Everlasting freedom from bondage to sin and Satan (Heb. 9:12; Gal. 4:4; 1 Thess. 1:10; Gal. 3:13-14).
- Reconciliation to a holy and righteous God (Rom. 5:10).
- Full pardon of all sin debt and complete justification by grace (Rom. 3:24-25; Eph. 1:7; 2 Cor. 5:19-21).
- Adoption into God’s family as an heir to God’s kingdom and joint-heirs with Christ for all eternity (Gal. 4:4-6; Eph. 2:19; Rom. 8:15-17).
- Direct access to God the Father through His Spirit, with the invitation to come before Him boldly and confidently (Eph. 2:18; Rom. 8:15).
- The opportunity to enjoy sweet communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1 John 1:3; 2 Cor. 13:14).
- A continual source of comfort in the person and work of the Holy Spirit, “the Comforter,” who dwells in your heart (2 Cor. 1:3-5; John 14:16).
- Title to all good things of this present life (1 Tim. 4:8; Matt. 6:33; 1 Cor. 3:20-21).
- Assurance that everything in your life, even the worst of afflictions and persecutions, will work together for your good and God’s glory (Rom. 8:28).
- A sure hope of eternal happiness in heaven when your life on earth is done (1 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Cor. 5:1-2, etc.; Rom. 5:1-2; John 17:24; Phil. 1:23).
Considering all these blessings, how can we believers live unworthy of the household of faith? Rather, we should be continually in a spirit of prayer and thanksgiving. We should have no association with sin and Satan (Eph. 5:11; Ps. 1:1, 26:4-5, 119:115). We should exhibit a holy reverence for the Lord and enjoy the comfort of His Spirit (Acts 9:31). We should be content with all of God’s providences in our life, because God promises that good will come from even the worst afflictions and challenges. We should keep our interests focused heavenward, so that when our time on earth is complete, we can lift our head knowing that deliverance, triumph, and celestial coronation with Christ awaits!
- Lord, I know I am delivered from Your wrath in hell because You chose to justify me by Your grace. I am delivered from bondage to sin through Christ my Savior, without whom I am doomed to death and destruction. Apart from Your deliverance, my fate was sealed. Help me consider this as I ponder the liberty expressed by the redemption that is in the blood of Jesus.
- What is the cause of my deliverance, Lord? It is the Anointed Savior Jesus Christ. It is as Scripture shows me, through faith in His blood. By faith my redemption is purchased by His blood, and I am declared righteousness before You because of all He did for me.
- Lord, thank You for delivering me from the wrath to come through Christ. I have been freed from the captivity of sin by the price He paid on the cross, and by His resurrection I am freed from the very fear of death itself! Who will lay any charge against me? Who will condemn me? Who can? It is God that justifies me and delivers me. It is by the death of Christ that I have been given this redemption.
- Lord, the power of Satan, the power of sin, the power of the world have all been defeated by the death and resurrection of my Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you, Jesus, for delivering me from the power of darkness and translating me into the kingdom of God!
Further References for 1 Thess. 1:10
1 Cor. 1:7; 1 Thess. 5:9; Acts 2:24; Rom. 5:9; Matt. 3:7; Job 19:25
