God Gave Them Up

This past Sunday, we spent time in Romans 1:18–2:11 wrestling with two words that carry a lot of weight for many of us: wrath and judgment. For some, those words immediately stir fear or memories of faith shaped by shame and punishment. But when we slow down and let Paul speak for himself, a very different picture begins to emerge—one that reframes both wrath and judgment as part of God’s work of healing rather than harm.

In Romans 1, Paul describes God’s wrath not as divine rage, but as God giving people up to the consequences of their actions. Three times, Paul uses the phrase: “God gave them up….” Each time Paul uses the phrase he offers a different example:

1. Misdirected Allegiance (1:24) – when we trust in things that cannot give life, eg. money, status, success, or reputation
2. Selfish Desire / Lust (1:26) – desire that quietly centers my needs first, slowly reshaping relationships around what they provide for me rather than mutual care and responsibility
3. Self-Centered Living (1:28) – failing to acknowledge God and others; not the same as selfish desire, rather a “me before we” attitude that leads to the list of vices in Romans 1:29-31 and breaks trust, compassion, and community

We often deny that we are doing these. But, the moment we stop asking, ‘What does my attitude or behavior do to the other?’, then we have already begun to turn inward towards selfish desire, self-centered living, misdirected allegiance. And when we turn inward to self and away from God and from care for one another, life begins to unravel. The created order of the world bears witness to our choices. Pain and hurt may come from the consequences of our actions, but not because God is inflicting them. And that, according to Paul, is God’s wrath.

This reframing matters. God’s wrath, as Paul presents it, is not about God attacking people from the outside. It is about God, at times, stepping back and allowing us to face the consequences of our actions. Like a wise parent who knows when to intervene and when to allow consequences to teach, God’s posture is not abandonment but discernment. Even in “giving us up,” God’s aim is not destruction, but awakening—making visible what is already breaking us so that healing can begin.

Paul then turns the argument in Romans 2 and directs it toward the reader. Judgment, he says, is not meant to function as condemnation or moral superiority. God’s kindness, Paul insists, is meant to lead us toward repentance—toward honest self-examination and real change. When judgment is understood this way, it no longer needs to be feared or weaponized. Instead, it becomes an invitation to turn around, to tell the truth about ourselves, and to step back into right relationship.

This is where humility becomes possible. If judgment is about restoration rather than punishment, then we no longer need to defend ourselves by judging others. We are freed from the exhausting work of proving we are right. Humility, in this sense, is not self-loathing or weakness; it is the courage to be honest about our lives because we trust that God’s intention is healing. When we stop using judgment to elevate ourselves, space opens for grace, growth, and reconciliation.

Paul’s vision challenges us to rethink not only how we imagine God, but how we live with one another. Wrath is not about rage. Judgment is not about condemnation. Both, rightly understood, are part of God’s long and patient work of restoring what is broken—beginning with us.

May this vision continue to reshape how we think, how we act, and how we treat one another, trusting that the God who judges is also the God who heals.

Key Scriptures

Romans 1:18-2:11

Key Takeaways

• Wrath is God permitting consequences – God’s wrath, in Paul’s language, is not a divine strike but a withholding of rescue that lets choices bear their fruit. This disciplinary stance aims to expose what is being trusted in place of God so that recognition and return become possible. It reframes suffering that follows sin as a natural consequence rather than divine punishment, and it calls people to honest assessment of their behaviors and allegiances. [12:59]
• Judgment aims for restoration and healing – Judgment is not about exclusion, but rater its purpose is repentance and restored relationships; God’s kindness intends to turn hearts. Seeing judgment as corrective frees people from defensive self-justification and makes confession possible without fear of arbitrary divine retribution. This points us away from moral browbeating toward patient restoration. [24:45]
• Desire disciplined by love matters – Desire is neither simply good nor evil; its moral shape depends on whether it is ordered by love and accountability. When desire is consumption without covenant, it collapses into lust that damages persons and communal life; disciplined desire, however, can be a force for flourishing. This insight invites careful formation of appetites rather than simple prohibition. [39:49]
• Choose humility over superiority – Humility, properly understood, is accurate self-assessment more than self-abasement; it prevents judgment from becoming hypocrisy. When people acknowledge their need for discipline and repentance, social categories of “us” versus “them” loosen and unity becomes possible. This practice is foundational for any community seeking genuine reconciliation. [27:48]

Questions for Reflection

God’s wrath is described not as God actively smiting people, but as God stepping back and allowing people to experience the natural consequences of their actions, much like a parent sometimes must do. [15:42] How does this parenting metaphor change or challenge your understanding of God’s wrath? How does this metaphor from Paul shape your understanding of God as Father/Mother, Son, and Holy Spirit?

God sometimes allows us to experience the consequences of our choices not to harm us, but to teach us. [30:21] Can you think of a time in your life where a difficult outcome from one of your own choices ultimately taught you something important and drew you closer to God?

If God’s judgment is ultimately restorative and His kindness is meant to lead us to repentance, how does that change the way we should view our own mistakes and shortcomings? [26:02] Does it make it easier or harder to be honest with ourselves and with God?

We are called to choose humility over superiority in our relationships. Humility isn’t thinking less of yourself, but thinking more honestly about yourself. [26:32] In what relationship or situation do you find it most difficult to let go of the need to be right and instead practice honest self-examination?

Paul flips the mirror on us, showing that when we judge others, we often condemn ourselves for doing the very same things. [24:13] When you see fault in others, how can you use that as a moment to practice humility and look inward first, asking what healing you might need in your own life?

Our culture can often be driven by outrage, where contempt and mocking replace listening and understanding. [22:09] What is one practical step you can take this week to build trust and foster healing in your conversations, especially with people you disagree with?