The Real Problem

"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." 

John 3:36

Few people want to talk about the wrath of God.  It’s just not a very popular subject.  Even in our pulpits today there are preachers who steer away from it in their sermons.  Not wanting to offend people, they leave out the judgment aspect of God’s character.  But if there is no wrath of God to be reckoned with, then Jesus Christ did not need to come to earth and give His life.  Jesus said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” (John 3:16-17)  Saved from what? From condemnation (Romans 8:1-3).  The world is already under condemnation for its rebellion against God. But God out of His great love for the rebellious sent the Son He also loves to save the world from what it deserves -- hell. Are we so self-centered and prideful that we believe God sent His beloved son to suffer a torturous and horrifying death on a cross because we’re so good we deserve it? Heaven forbid!  We're so bad we would die without it!

"I would pay any price to be able to say truthfully ‘All will be saved’. But my reason retorts, ‘Without their will, or with it’? In fact, God has paid the price, and herein lies the real problem: so much mercy, yet still there is hell." -- C.S. Lewis