Wrath to come.
I. The meaning wrapt up in John’s message.
1. Danger. Future retribution has become to many a kind of figment.
2. The importance of confession.
3. The necessity of a renewal of heart. “Behold the Lamb of God!”
II. The baptist’s astonishment at his own success. What was the secret of his power? Character of John’s life, and his hearers. A ministry of terror-different from Christ’s. Men felt he was real-secret of all success. The classes of men on whom his influence told (Luke 3:1-38.). Neither of these isms will satisfy the conscience. (F. W. Robertson.)
I. That there is wrath connected with the government, character, and dispensations of God. God has made all men. Hence they must be governed by His laws. Obedience must be enforced by sanctions. Man has broken the law. Reward therefore has become inapplicable to man. God is “ angry with the wicked every day.” The facts of history bear this out-war, famine, disease. Nature speaks the same truth.
II. That the wrath thus connected with the character and government of God is reserved especially. For the future.
III. That men ought most earnestly to seek for a refuge from this wrath. “Flee from the wrath to come.”
1. If it overtakes you, you are lost for ever.
2. You should do this because the means are given for avoiding it.
IV. That it devolves upon those who occupy public stations in the church, earnestly to beseech men to flee prom this wrath to come.
1. By warnings.
2. By encouragements. (J. Parsons.)
I. Whither are we to flee?
II. From what are we to flee?
III. How and when are we to flee,
1. Now. Opportunities pass away like clouds.
2. Earnestly. For Divine displeasure pursues us.
3. Looking to Jesus. Eager for relief (Psalms 123:1-4.). (Anon.)
Never did any preacher address to his hearers a more startling question than this
I. The objects from which we are warned to flee, and in what flight from it consists.
1. As sinners we are exposed to wrath. Wrath against sin required by Divine holiness. Manifold revelations of the wrath of God. Declarations of Scripture (Numbers 12:9; Psalms 7:11; Romans 1:18). In the cross we behold the clearest and most awful evidence of His determination to punish sin. Yet it is “wrath to come” (Ecclesiastes 12:14; 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9; 2 Peter 3:7; Revelation 20:11-12; Revelation 20:15). Is it surprising that we should be exhorted to escape?
2. The flight enjoined. There must be anxiety, hope and promptitude.
II. To “flee from the wrath to come” is supremely important. Its terrors. Shortness of the period allowed for our flight. If we perish, it will be aggravated by reason of the abundant provisions made for our escape.
1. Hear the voice of warning.
2. Flee to Christ the only refuge.
3. Be in earnest. Keep close to the place of shelter. (John Johnson, M. A.)
This wrath is
I. Divine;
II. Deserved;
III. Unmingled;
IV. Accumulated;
V. Eternal. (Bradley.)
A warning
In former days, when a military company was to be called out, the notice delivered to each of the members was called “ the warning.” An officer, who was a Christian, having given the warning to a young man, was playfully accosted by another young man, who was not a member of the company, with a question, “Have you not a warning for me too?” The officer replied, “Yes, I have a warning for you: I want you to flee from the wrath to come.” This unexpected reply proved an arrow from the Lord’s quiver, and to it the young man ascribes his conversion. (Anon.)