Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Grrrrreetings in the morning, dear ones.

Becki and I just returned from our little walk/jog routine. It’s a nice overcast morning. I think I should get out soon and make a bunch of sawdust. Of course that is only a by-product of my primary objective of making 2x6 boards from round logs. But be assured that when you set godly objectives, you too will be stirring up dust…a kind of by-product consequence. Sorry…I seldom know where my thoughts and typing fingers will take me.

Just had a call from Becki announcing that some breakfast is on the table. Interesting how we have come to use our cell phones as an intercom system. Anyway, wish you could join us…do a little personal catching up. For some of us, that may have to wait till heaven…which may be closer/sooner than we think. Main objective: BE READY! And here’s a wonderful promise—if you are always READY you will never be UNPREPARED! Duh!

Blessings on your day.

Love, Dad/Ray.

Do you happen to have a Roth IRA account? Do you know you have, or have had, a WRATH IRA account? If you pronounce “wrath” like many English speakers in the world, it sounds like “Roth.” A Roth IRA (Investment Retirement Account) is a good thing to have and keep active as it holds the promise of paying very good benefits as the account matures with interest over time. But you don’t want to have an active WRATH IRA (I Remain Arrogant) account, even though everyone has inherited one—but this one urgently needs to be cancelled by the blood of “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). That account needs to be closed forever! And Christ’s sacrifice joined with REPENTANCE is the ONLY means of cancellation.

We normally don’t think of inherited sin in these terms. But that’s exactly how Paul is presenting the matter here. We normally don’t equate sin with God’s wrath and anger. But that’s exactly what it is. That’s right!—the Sovereign God is capable of Sovereign Anger! And all mankind is painted into the same corner—there is no escaping this absolute fact—“for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

Warning: Let’s not be snookered by the over-emphasis of many on God’s absolute grace and “unconditional love.” So let’s balance it out by reviewing verses 5 through 11. It’s just too important to pass over casually:

“But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up (as with an investment account) wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will give to each person according to what he has done.”To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life (That’s incredibly good interest!). But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger (With compounded interest). There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism.”