4 Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?
Romans 2:4-6, ESV
5 But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.
6 He will render to each one according to his works:
I recently asked a group of students to answer this question:
What do you do when someone wrongs you?
Here are some of their responses:
frustration
plan revenge
disown them
call them a name
avoid them
snitch
talk behind their back
cry and run away
We can clearly see in this Romans passage that God’s ways are higher than our ways. God’s mercy is revealed here, even towards a person who’s still a slave to sin. God is not in short supply of kindness, forbearance, and patience towards men, even sinful men.
For my own clarity, here are a few words defined:
Kindness: meaning goodness of heart, wanting good for others
Forbearance: a term used in law as an action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt; not a truce or peace but a temporary pause
Patience: literally means something like “long-tempered” as opposed to “short-tempered”
Repentance: a complete change of mind and direction; coming into agreement with God that you are going the wrong way, which is your own sinful way; leaving the old way behind to go God’s way; it is a whole new way of life; (massively different from a forced “I’m sorry” when a person got caught)
I am so thankful that when man wrongs God (sins), he does not respond the way we would. He gives us time here on earth to repent and turn to Him. What a miracle this second birth is! But it is imperative to mention that in the end (on the Day of Judgment), if there is no repentance, judgment will come. The time of forbearance will be over. Payment for our debts will be collected. Many will have no means to repay, but those who are Christ-followers will have their debts paid by Jesus. Amen!