God’s Kindness Leads to Repentance
God’s Kindness Invites a Changed Heart
SCRIPTURE:
Romans 2:4 CSB - Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
OBSERVATION:
In Romans 1, Paul pointed out the sin of the most notoriously guilty. Now he turns his attention to those who are generally moral in their conduct. Paul assumes they are congratulating themselves, believing they are not like the people described in Romans 1.
You can compare the first three verses of this chapter with the illustration Jesus gave in Luke 18:10–14 of the Pharisee and the Publican. One came with the attitude, “Thank You that I am not like this sinner,” while the other came with the humble plea, “Lord, forgive me, a wretched sinner.”
Luke 18:10-14 NKJV - "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Romans 2:4 CSB - Or do you despise the riches of his kindness, restraint, and patience, not recognizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
OBSERVATION:
In Romans 1, Paul pointed out the sin of the most notoriously guilty. Now he turns his attention to those who are generally moral in their conduct. Paul assumes they are congratulating themselves, believing they are not like the people described in Romans 1.
You can compare the first three verses of this chapter with the illustration Jesus gave in Luke 18:10–14 of the Pharisee and the Publican. One came with the attitude, “Thank You that I am not like this sinner,” while the other came with the humble plea, “Lord, forgive me, a wretched sinner.”
Luke 18:10-14 NKJV - "Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, 'God, I thank You that I am not like other men--extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. 'I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.' And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Paul’s object is far greater than merely to convict also them of unrighteousness. He robs them, absolutely must rob them, of their moralism and their moralizing because they regard this as the way of escape from God’s wrath. – R.C.H. Lenski.
APPLICATION:
In our attempt to emulate the moralists of Paul’s day, are we guilty of “despising the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience”?
The question is: why would we want to do this? What advantage would it offer? I would rather experience the kindness of God than the wrath of God. Didn’t you and I receive this kindness when we were saved? Why would we think it should be any different for the lost today?
Notice the phrase “the riches of”—this indicates there is an abundance of it, and we will never reach its end. This is not merely something we receive at salvation but something we rely on daily.
Kindness can be seen as the goodness of God regarding our past sin—He has been kind and good to us despite it.
Restraint reflects God’s kindness and goodness toward our present sin. Day by day and hour by hour, we fall short, yet God withholds His judgment.
Patience can be understood as His longsuffering—His kindness toward our future sins. He knows we will sin today, tomorrow, and the next day, yet He does not hold it against us.
All of this is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. When we truly realize His goodness, grace, mercy, and longsuffering toward us, we are transformed.
If we desire God's kindness toward us, let us show the same kindness to others. Let us point them to Jesus, not merely point out their sin. The penalty has been paid, and His kindness is available to all who will receive it.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Jesus, for Your kindness that has led—and continues to lead—me to salvation. Thank You that this kindness is continuous, flowing from the riches of Your grace and mercy.
In our attempt to emulate the moralists of Paul’s day, are we guilty of “despising the riches of His kindness, restraint, and patience”?
The question is: why would we want to do this? What advantage would it offer? I would rather experience the kindness of God than the wrath of God. Didn’t you and I receive this kindness when we were saved? Why would we think it should be any different for the lost today?
Notice the phrase “the riches of”—this indicates there is an abundance of it, and we will never reach its end. This is not merely something we receive at salvation but something we rely on daily.
Kindness can be seen as the goodness of God regarding our past sin—He has been kind and good to us despite it.
Restraint reflects God’s kindness and goodness toward our present sin. Day by day and hour by hour, we fall short, yet God withholds His judgment.
Patience can be understood as His longsuffering—His kindness toward our future sins. He knows we will sin today, tomorrow, and the next day, yet He does not hold it against us.
All of this is God's kindness that leads us to repentance. When we truly realize His goodness, grace, mercy, and longsuffering toward us, we are transformed.
If we desire God's kindness toward us, let us show the same kindness to others. Let us point them to Jesus, not merely point out their sin. The penalty has been paid, and His kindness is available to all who will receive it.
PRAYER:
Thank You, Jesus, for Your kindness that has led—and continues to lead—me to salvation. Thank You that this kindness is continuous, flowing from the riches of Your grace and mercy.
God’s abundant kindness, patience, and love are not merely for comfort—they are meant to lead us and others to true repentance and transformation.
Posted in 06 - Romans
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