If you are looking to understand what the Bible says about God’s judgment and punishment of the wicked, then this article is for you. Today I will be sharing impactful Bible verses that discuss the consequences faced by evildoers, sins that incur God’s wrath, examples of the unrighteous being punished, reasons for their punishment, and hope for those who repent. These passages will help you gain clarity into this topic according to biblical principles.
Table of Contents
Introductions
The Bible has much to say about God’s righteous judgment of the wicked. As divine revelations, the scriptures provide deeper spiritual insight into this weighty topic that impacts all of humanity. Though God is infinitely merciful and slow to anger, He cannot tolerate evil or allow it to go unpunished forever. There are serious consequences for those who defiantly rebel against His moral law and do not repent.
Throughout history, we see numerous examples of evildoers facing punishment for their transgressions, often after multiple warnings. Their pride, greed and rejection of truth inevitably incur divine wrath. Yet even in His justice, the Lord remembers mercy and is eager to pardon all who humbly seek reconciliation through His grace.
The passages below discuss the reasons behind God’s judgment of sin, serve as sobering cautions about the fate of the unrepentant, show how entire nations lost favor due to endemic corruption, provide specific incidents showing the downfall of notorious villains, and reveal the hope held out to even the worst sinners if they forsake their ways and return to the Shepherd of their souls.
Dear friends, now let’s look at the Bible verses below that talk about the wicked being punished.
God’s Judgment on the Wicked
Psalm 145:20
“The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy”
2 Thessalonians 1:9
“Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, from the glory of his power”
Nahum 1:15
“Behold upon the mountains the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace! O Judah, keep thy solemn feasts, perform thy vows: for the wicked shall no more pass through thee; he is utterly cut off”
Romans 12:19
“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord”
Ezekiel 18:20
“The soul that sinneth, it shall die. The son shall not bear the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear the iniquity of the son: the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him, the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon him”
Consequences for Evil Deeds
Galatians 6:7-8
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting”
Proverbs 11:19
“As righteousness tendeth to life: so he that pursueth evil pursueth it to his own death”
Jeremiah 17:10
“I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings”
Romans 2:6-8
“Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory honour immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation wrath”
Psalm 28:4
“Give them according to their deeds, according to the wickedness of their endeavours: give them after the work of their hands; render to them their desert”
Sins that Incur God’s Wrath
Colossians 3:5-6
“Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience”
Ephesians 5:6
“Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience”
Proverbs 6:16-19
“These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, he that soweth discord among brethren”
Romans 1:18
“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness”
1 Corinthians 6:9-10
“Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? 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”
Reasons for Punishing the Wicked
Isaiah 5:20
“Woe unto them that call evil good, good evil; that put darkness for light, light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, sweet for bitter”
Jeremiah 21:14
“But I will punish you according to the fruit of your doings, saith the Lord : I will kindle a fire in the forest thereof, it shall devour all things round about it”
Ezekiel 33:20
“Yet ye say, The way of the Lord is not equal. O ye house of Israel, I will judge you every one after his ways”
Romans 1:24-25
“Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, worshipped served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen”
Hope for the Wicked Who Repent
1 John 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful just to forgive us our sins, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”
Ezekiel 18:21-23
“But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, keep all my statutes, do that which is lawful right, he shall surely live, he shall not die. All his transgressions that he hath committed, they shall not be mentioned unto him: in his righteousness that he hath done he shall live. Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God : not that he should return from his ways, live?”
Luke 15:10
“Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth”
Acts 3:19
“Repent ye therefore, be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord”
Isaiah 55:7
“Let the wicked forsake his way, the unrighteous man his thoughts: let him return unto the Lord , he will have mercy upon him; to our God, for he will abundantly pardon”
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