April 3
Saved from God’s Wrath
There is yet one more aspect of salvation we should explore…
Scripture speaks of salvation in the present – but it also speaks of a significant portion that is yet to come. There is an aspect of salvation that we will experience in the future. Peter, the apostle, was inspired to speak of this when he wrote these words: “…You, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:4-5) The apostle Paul reminded the Thessalonian church that this coming salvation is from the wrath of God: “(You) wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead – Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
Scripture tells us that there is an impending judgment for all those who refuse to accept God’s provision of salvation through The Christ. That time of judgment will fall heavily upon those who have trusted in everything but Jesus to save them.
The Revelation of John reveals a vivid picture of this coming judgment: “Then I saw a great white throne and Him who was seated on it. Earth and sky fled from His presence, and there was no place for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. The sea gave up the dead that were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead that were in them, and each person was judged according to what he had done. Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. If anyone’s name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:11-15)
It is from this terrible Day of wrath and judgment that believers in The Christ are saved. Scripture is clear: only those whose names are written in the Book of Life will escape this most horrific judgment – and the only way to have one’s name written in that Book, and escape judgment, is to receive God’s provision of salvation through Jesus.
The Great Missed Understanding 