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Sermon #5270

The Anger of the Lord

A Sermon on Isaiah 5:25

Originally preached March 22, 1964

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Scripture

Isaiah 5:25 ESV KJV
Therefore the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people, and he stretched out his hand against them and struck them, and the mountains quaked; and their corpses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand …

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Sermon Description

Saying “God is love” is not controversial and likely receives nods of affirmation and hearty amens. It is a universal doctrine that receives little backlash. While many elevate the love of God above all other attributes, any mention of discipline or wrath is violently objected and attacked. In this sermon on Isaiah 5:25 titled “The Anger of the Lord,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones invites the listener to question this reaction with a few questions: Is it the sum of God’s character to describe Him as loving? Does Scripture attribute love as the highest and greatest attribute of God? Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphatically says no. He urges considering the whole counsel of God’s word, not merely picking out what is most appealing. He chastises those within the church who have rejected this doctrine in favor of a more palatable God. To embrace God’s love while rejecting His anger and wrath is a dishonest and inconsistent representation of God and the Bible. It also weakens the necessity of the incarnation of Christ and the understanding of the grace, mercy, and love demonstrated by Christ’s death on the cross. Dr. Lloyd-Jones presents a strong case for the embrace of God’s love and God’s wrath in balance as he turns to the revelation of God found in Scripture. Listen as he addresses the essential nature of the doctrine of wrath in this sermon.

Sermon Breakdown

  1. The prophet Isaiah is announcing God's verdict and punishment on the sinful people of Israel.
  2. God's anger and wrath are kindled against his people because of their sins and transgressions.
  3. God has stretched out his hand against them and struck them, but his anger is not turned away.
  4. The hills trembled and dead bodies were torn in the streets, but still God's anger remains.
  5. The prophet has been outlining the sins of the people, and now gives the verdict - God's anger and punishment.
  6. Many today object to the idea of God's wrath and anger, especially those who call themselves Christians.
  7. But rejecting God's wrath means rejecting God's revelation in Scripture and the wholeness of the biblical message.
  8. God's wrath is essential to understanding God Himself, human history, and the grace of God shown in the cross.
  9. God revealed Himself in Scripture as a holy, just and righteous God who hates and punishes sin. We can't know God except through His revelation.
  10. Human history shows the consequences of sin and God's punishment - suffering, pain, injustice. God warned of punishment but people rebelled.
  11. The future will not get better because people reject God. There will be no peace for the wicked. History is moving toward judgment.
  12. If God's love means He forgives no matter what, why was the incarnation and cross necessary? They show God's love in saving us from His wrath.
  13. God's justice demands punishment of sin. But in love He sent Jesus to bear our punishment so we can be forgiven while God remains just.
  14. The cross shows God's love in Jesus bearing our sins and God's wrath, so we can be spared and God remains just. This is our only hope.

Old Testament

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.