God's Kindness Leads Us to Repentance

Romans 2:1–6 (NKJV) ¹Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. ²But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. ³And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? ⁵But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, ⁶who “will render to each one according to his deeds”:

When an individual recognizes how sinful they are and the consequences of that sin they are driven to recognize God’s graciousness in their life.  God’s goodness or kindness on our behalf, when we in reality were rebelling against Him, was totally unwarranted.  His forbearance or putting up with our rebellion, when He could have responded immediately, is unparalleled.  And God’s longsuffering or remaining calm in the face of our provocation, is virtually unimaginable.   Therefore Paul asks, “Do you despise the riches of His goodness…not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”  Indeed when one recognizes they are a sinner and refuses to repent and turn to God from sin believing that the blood of Jesus Christ is the only sufficient payment for that sin they are despising God’s kindness or grace. 

The consequences or “wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).  Yet, if you are reading or hearing this today you are not yet dead.  Why not? Because God has been gracious to you; He has revealed His forbearance and long-suffering in the face of your rebellion.  This revelation alone should bring you to the point of repentance.

For those who refuse to repent Paul says, “you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and the revelation of the righteous judgment of God.”  In other words, just because you do not recognize the consequences of sin today does not mean that God did not know, that God did not care, or that God will not follow through with that judgment.

I hope that you will recognize the grace of God in even allowing you to continue on in life in light of your sin and that you will be convicted of your sin and brought to obedience and repentance.  So that you might be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.