Treasury of Wrath (Romans 2:1-11)
When I say the word “treasure” or “treasury” what is the image that comes to your mind? Do you picture a newly discovered ancient seaman’s chest filled with gold coins, priceless gems, and gaudy pearls? Maybe you think of a heavily protected national bank and its store house of untold wealth. There may be some of you that think very differently and instead of earthly treasures you conjure in your mind the treasure of heaven. Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures` upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: The treasures of earth shall pass and be burned up in the fires of judgment but the treasures of heaven are incorruptible, undefiled, and never to fade away.
But I will go so far as to say that none of you envisioned the treasury that the Apostle Paul is portraying in verse 5 of chapter 2: A heaping brooding, ever-growing, cauldron of righteous indignation and Holy fury teetering precariously over the head of every hard-hearted and prideful sinner. When trying to perceive and understand the words in Romans 2:5, I picture myself standing at the base of a towering dam (much like the Hoover Dam). While standing before this colossal structure, I contemplate the weight of the water just beyond these walls of concrete is enough to crust me in an instant. As I reflect these facts, to my horror, I notice, a series of cracks rapidly developing and through these cracks, moisture is beginning to seep out. I watch as the cracks become longer and more pronounced. Water begins to gush in. There is no doubt, this dam is about to break. I turn to run, but the high rocky wall cliffs near-by yield no way of passage. There is no escape. Such will be the scene of many in the appointed Day of Judgment. “Make your calling and election sure” says the scriptures. Let’s look deeply into this treasury of wrath and see the fate of the ungodly. Notice first of all…
The Source of God’s Wrath
The apostle Paul describes a great storehouse of wrath. Wrath upon wrath being stored up, piling up higher and higher. Yet this wrath is stored up and held back until the Day it is unleashed in fury. The following verses contain words like indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish to describe the flood of God’s wrath. In Isaiah 30:13 there is a similar picture seen: “Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.” This swelling wall of iniquity weakens and weakens until at last it crumbles bringing down an entire structure. What has caused this wall to swell? What has caused this wrath of God to be stored up in an ever increasing heap? Well first of all notice…
The Hardness of Man’s Heart
In verse 5, the scripture says “But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath…” This wrath is being built up, but where is it coming from what is its true source. Yes, this wrath will be unleashed by the Lord in the day of His righteous revealing. But according to our text, this outpour of wrath by God is reactionary. This wrath is God’s reaction to man’s attitude of hardness. This word hardness is defined as stubbornness, callousness, obstinacy. Proverbs 29:1 pictures this man’s heart attitude: “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.” He is resistant and pulling away from God. Moments before the great preaching deacon Stephen died, he unloaded a similar word on the Jewish leaders of the day. In Acts 7:51 he said, “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. This and the following few lines were the straws that broke the camels back so to speak. They were resistant, gnashing their teeth in rebellion. Notice not only The Hardness of Man’s Heart but also…
The Haughtiness of Man’s Heart
Also this text indicates a source of wrath being man’s attitude of haughtiness. The word impenitent means without repentance, without remorse. In one of my favorite movies, Indiana Jones is looking for the Holy Grail. He has certain clues that will take him through the deadly traps that lay ahead. The first clue is this: “The Breath of God. Only the penitent man will pass.” Jones begins to repeat the phrase under his breath searching for its meaning, “Penitent man, penitent man, penitent, penitent. The penitent man is humble before God, He kneels before God. Kneel!” At that moment, as Dr. Jones falls to his knees, a giant blade swoops through where his neck was just a second before. Because of haughtiness and pride the impenitent man refuses to bend a knee. Refuses humble himself before the mighty hand of God. Proverbs 16:18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. Does this not sound like man in our world today, that shake their insignificant fist in the face of an all powerful God: A world that mocks and laughs at the testimony of scripture; that blasphemes Jehovah, and spits upon the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ? They are unrepentant in their violation of God’s law. God’s Response is a treasury of wrath. Notice not only the Source of God’s Wrath but the…
The Staying of God’s Wrath
Although there are piles upon piles of God’s righteous wrath, yet they are held back, they are pooled, treasured as our text says. Why? Why is God’s wrath stayed? One of the essentials that our country is built on is the Bill of Rights in which the six amendment guarantees a citizen the right to a speedy and public trial. If we, the subjects of God by creation, violate God’s Law, should we not incur a speedy trial and punishment? Why shouldn’t the wicked incur the immediate justice of God? Well first of all notice…
The Absolute Guilt of Man
I often preach in jails and an inmate will ask me to pray for their case. Sometimes they will say, “Bro. Ronnie, my lawyers working on my case. I think we have found an argument, some reasonable doubt. I may be able to get out of here.” Friend, as we live our lives before the fiery eyes of God, all things lay open and naked before Him. All the evidence of sin and iniquity is absolutely clear. God not only knows where every child molester, every rapist, and every murderer is and will most assuredly bring them to justice. He also has recorded evidence of every lie, white, red, blue, or purple. He has seen every stolen item from the change taken from mamma’s purse to the tithe check that was insufficient. Every blasphemous word said under our breath; every adulterous, lustful glance; idolatrous hobby; every moment of dishonor toward our parents; every covetous desire, every hateful, murderous thought, every Lord’s Day that wasn’t His, and every instance where the Lord God was crowded out of our lives by the god’s of this world. All violations of God’s Holy Law are clearly seen. There will be no deliberation or debate. There will be no weighing out of the evil with the good. Every case in the court room of God is an open and shut case. If God is not willing to stay his hand of judgment, then there would be none left. This the thought of the Psalmist in Psalms 130:3 If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? Why then is the wrath of God abated, halted, and held back. Notice not only The Absolute Guilt of Man but secondly…
The Abundant Grace of God
The answer it seems is in the preceding verse: Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? The treasury, the dam of the wrath of God is made up of the goodness, forbearance and longsuffering of God. Without this structure of God’s merciful and gracious love and kindness toward man, we would have all been swept away by the justice of God long ago. How many times could God have rightfully unleashed His wrath upon our lives? But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us (Ephesians 2:4) How many times has tragedy been averted and in a moment of time the God who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9) spared your life from an eternity of torment and darkness. We see this goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering in one of the seven statements of Jesus on the cross: Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do… This word “forgive” means to relent, to forsake, to lay aside. I believe had not Jesus prayed this prayer, the righteous anger would have wiped clean this entire plant. Could you, a loving parent, stand aside and a watch while your child was abused and tortured unjustly without welling up in you an unquenchable anger toward those handing out such abuse. But Jesus prays: Hold back the winds of wrath, postpone the judgment, stay thine hand for they know not what they are doing. So for over two thousand years, God has been answering the prayer of Jesus, holding back the judgment. But why all this waiting? Is God finding some pleasure in storing up greater and greater amounts judgment so that in the Day of His revealing, He may pour out as much indignation as possible upon the Law-breaker? No! Thirdly we see the staying of God’s hand in…
The Amazing Gospel of Christ
Review the proceeding verse again with me: Romans 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? God is revealing goodness, forbearance and longsuffering so that men, women, boys, and girls, may come to repentance. God is holding back the flood tide of His wrath so that men may know the good news of the gospel of Christ. Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? God, who should immediately judge every sin, is holding back his wrath in answer to Jesus prayer Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do…(Luke 23:34) Father, stay your hand, for they do not know what they are doing. So for some nearly 2000 years, God has been answering Jesus’ prayer. Do you remember that day on Pentecost, where 3000 people were cut to the heart by the preaching of the gospel by Peter? That was an answer to Jesus prayer. All down through the ages, by the thousands in mighty sweeping revival or one by one, they have responded to the preaching of this gospel. A gospel that promises, that if a sinful, condemned man, woman, boy or girl will see the goodness of God manifest in the cross of Jesus Christ and repent, forsaking their sins and place their faith and trust in Jesus’ payment for their sins on the cross, they will be spared from the treasury of wrath. The righteousness of Christ will be placed to their account. Oh how glorious the gospel of Jesus Christ is to those who repent and trust, but yet to hardened and haughty heart the wrath of God is ever growing. Because of their hardened and unrepentant heart they trade the riches of God’s grace for the treasury of God’s wrath. Finally we not only the Source of God’s Wrath and the Staying of God’s Wrath but the…
The Surety of God’s Wrath
Look at the latter part in verse 5&6: Despite the goodness of God in holding back His wrath, this verse speaks of a day when the holding back will be over. This text speaks of… A Real Day
The day of wrath a`nd revelation of the righteous judgment of God… This day is sure to come. I remember a song that was sung often when I was a child about a glorious day: There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come; no more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye; all is peace forever more on that happy golden shore, what a day glorious day that will be. But for a majority, this day will never come. For many of our acquaintances this day will never come. For many of our co-workers this day will never come. For many of our family members this day will never come. For many of our children this day will never come. For many of our parents this day will never come. For many of our husbands and wives this day will never come. For many in this room I fear this day many never come. No, a very different day will be coming for many. A day of great and eternal heartaches will come. A day where the thunder clouds of God’s wrath will clap violently. A day of cries and screams and of tears that will fill the eyes; a day of panic, fear, and pain along the charred walls of hell. What a day, what an awful day that will be. Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: This is a very real day. While we stand in our pretty little churches, and sing our songs of the sweet by and by, there is a world within reach march that is marching unknowingly, to the treasury of wrath. Finally this day…
A Revealing Day
Romans 2:5-6 …and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: Ecclesiastes 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. In that Day of Judgment, God’s Holy and righteous nature will be revealed. All sin will become glaringly obvious. The wicked child molester, the vile rapist, the hateful murder will be brought to justice. But because of God’s righteousness, He must not only bring to justice the child molester, the rapist, and the murderer, but He must judge the liar, the thief, and the blasphemer. Revelation 21:8 all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 …Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Every secret sin will be revealed in that day.
Conclusion
What are you lying up in store? What are you treasuring up? Treasures in heaven as Jesus spoke of? Or a treasury of wrath? Men, even in the Apostle Peter’s day scoffed at a day of judgment by saying: 2 Peter 3:4 …Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. Peter then goes on to say in Vs. 9-10 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Make for sure that a treasury of wrath is not growing right along side your 401K or your IRA. Oh hardened and unrepentant sinner, God has been so gracious to you in holding back His wrath, see His goodness in the Cross where Jesus bled and died for your sins. Turn, repent, forsake your sins, come to the Cross in saving faith.
