Gospel Tract #

The Ungodly

In the scriptures, "the ungodly" are frequently defined as "disobedient children of God", as opposed to those who have never been converted. Of course, the unconverted are unlike God, but God also has children who are very unlike Him. In 1Peter 4:18, we find three categories of men: the righteous (obedient believers), the ungodly (disobedient believers), and the sinner (the unconverted). In that verse, Peter asks, "And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?"

The ungodly are those children of God who teach wrong things concerning their heavenly Father. "Blessed is the man", the Psalmist says, "who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly" (Ps. 1:1). This concern for the saints was echoed by Paul when he wrote (2Tim. 2:16-18), "Shun profane and vain babblings [false teachings], for they will increase unto more ungodliness . . . among whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus, who concerning the truth have erred." How sad it is when a child of God turns from righteousness and falls victim to false teaching – to be numbered among the ungodly, destined to be destroyed!

The Psalmist described the godly believer in these memorable words: "His delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season. His leaf also will not wither, and whatsoever he does will prosper." He goes on to say, "The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish."

Only the godly will be able to stand when "the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men." There is a sure reward of eternal life for the righteous, but the ungodly and the sinner shall be swallowed up together by the wrath of Almighty God.