Rejection of God, results of

Rejecting God angers and grieves him. To reject God can be to reject all the benefits of the gospel, and can lead to judgment and punishment.

Rejection grieves God

God rejected as Creator

Genesis 6:6

And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

God rejected as a husband

Ezekiel 6:9 See also Jeremiah 2:2, Jeremiah 3:20, Jeremiah 31:32; Hosea 1:2

Then in the nations to which they have been carried captive, your survivors will remember Me — how I have been grieved by their adulterous hearts that turned away from Me, and by their eyes that lusted after idols. So they will loathe themselves for the evil they have done and for all their abominations.

God rejected as a father

Hosea 11:1–4 See also Deuteronomy 32:18; Jeremiah 3:19, Jeremiah 31:20

When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called My son. But the more I called Israel, the farther they departed from Me. They sacrificed to the Baals and burned incense to carved images. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms, but they never realized that it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of kindness, with ropes of love; I lifted the yoke from their necks and bent down to feed them.

God rejected by Israel, his vineyard

Isaiah 5:4 See also Jeremiah 2:21

What more could have been done for My vineyard than I have done for it? Why, when I expected sweet grapes, did it bring forth sour fruit?

Rejection angers God and brings his wrath

Ezra 8:22; John 3:36 See also Leviticus 26:27–28; 2 Chronicles 36:16; Zechariah 7:12; Romans 2:8

For I was ashamed to ask the king for an escort of soldiers and horsemen to protect us from our enemies on the road, since we had told him, “The hand of our God is gracious to all who seek Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.”

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

The results of rejecting God

Judgment

Jeremiah 1:16; John 12:48 See also Leviticus 26:14–17; Psalm 50:22; Proverbs 1:24–26; Isaiah 28:22; Jeremiah 6:19, Jeremiah 15:6, Jeremiah 26:4–6; Amos 2:4–5; John 3:18–19

I will pronounce My judgments against them for all their wickedness, because they have forsaken Me, and they have burned incense to other gods and worshiped the works of their own hands.

There is a judge for the one who rejects Me and does not receive My words: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.

God rejects his people

Deuteronomy 32:19; Psalm 78:59, Psalm 119:118; Jeremiah 6:30, Jeremiah 7:29; Hosea 9:7

God rejects those who reject him

Hosea 4:6; Matthew 10:33 parallel Luke 12:9 See also 1 Chronicles 28:9; 2 Chronicles 15:2; Luke 9:26

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as My priests. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.

But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven.

God hides his face

Deuteronomy 31:17–18, Deuteronomy 32:20; Psalm 88:14; Isaiah 1:15; Micah 3:4

God rejects the sanctuary and its worship

Leviticus 26:31; 1 Kings 9:6–7 parallel 2 Chronicles 7:19–20; Lamentations 2:7; Ezekiel 7:24, Ezekiel 10:18–19, Ezekiel 11:22–23

God's people are removed from his presence into exile

2 Kings 17:18–20, 2 Kings 17:23, 2 Kings 23:27, 2 Kings 24:3, 2 Kings 24:20 parallel Jeremiah 52:3; Jeremiah 7:15, Jeremiah 15:1

Examples of others rejected by God

Esau: Romans 9:13; Malachi 1:2–3; 1 Samuel 15:23, 1 Samuel 15:26, 1 Samuel 16:1, 1 Samuel 28:15–16; Jeremiah 22:24–25 Jehoiachin

God's rejection is not final

Leviticus 26:44; Romans 11:15 See also 1 Samuel 12:22; 2 Chronicles 7:14; Psalm 66:20; Isaiah 41:9, Isaiah 49:21, Isaiah 54:5–8; Jeremiah 31:37, Jeremiah 33:24–26; Zechariah 10:6; Romans 11:1, Romans 11:25–29

Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject or despise them so as to destroy them and break My covenant with them; for I am the LORD their God.

For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?