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At Huikala we preach through books of the Bible, one passage at a time.
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Romans: The Power of the Gospel Message 25 of 150
Romans: The Forbearance and Longsuffering of God
Pastor Anthony King· October 16, 2022
Romans 2:1-6
“Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.”
Romans 2:1
The series
Verse by verse through Paul’s letter to the church at Rome: the Gospel of God’s righteousness, from our ruin in sin to life lived as a living sacrifice.
God is love.
Love is not something God does, it is who He is.
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.1 John 4:7-8
God’s love is lived out in his grace and lovingkindness.
O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.Psalm 36:10
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.Psalm 36:7
God is extravagantly generous with his lovingkindness.
For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.Romans 10:12
We are saved by the riches of His grace.
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;Ephesians 1:7
God is temporarily withholding his judgment through his forbearance.
Forbearance: patient self-control; restraint and tolerance; the action of refraining from exercising a legal right, especially enforcing the payment of a debt.
This is an act of mercy and grace.
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;Romans 3:25
God is longsuffering.
God doesn’t delight in wrath or judgment.
For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.Lamentations 3:33
In that day sing ye unto her, A vineyard of red wine. I the LORD do keep it; I will water it every moment: lest any hurt it, I will keep it night and day.Isaiah 27:2-3
I will not execute the fierceness of mine anger, I will not return to destroy Ephraim: for I am God, and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee: and I will not enter into the city.Hosea 11:9
God’s lovingkindness, forbearance and longsuffering are meant to drive us to repentance.
Goodness refers to the benefits God gives, forbearance refers to the judgment He withholds, and longsuffering to the duration of both.
Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;Psalm 103:4
To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bath-sheba. Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.Psalm 51:1
If we rebel against the grace of God, we despise the riches of His goodness.
“There is in every willful sin a contempt for the goodness of God.”
Matthew Henry
It is too simplistic to reduce God to only one attribute or characteristic.
God is love, but He is also justice.
Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.Job 37:23
God is merciful, but He is also holy.
And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.Isaiah 6:3
Is God wrath?
God’s Wrath Defined
Wrath of God: An expression of divine displeasure with human sin. The free, subjective and holy response of God to sin and to the evil and wickedness exhibited by creatures in opposition to God.
God’s wrath is His calculated and intentional action against sin and his desire for justice.
God’s wrath flows from His love for justice.
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.Psalm 89:14
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.Proverbs 21:3
God is not wrath. If there were no sin, there would be no wrath.
Just as a loan under forbearance continues to accrue interest, so the wrath of God continues to build up while God waits for repentance.
You do not want what you deserve, you want the grace of God.
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:Hebrews 9:27
According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence.Isaiah 59:18
God’s wrath is balanced by his kindness, forbearance, longsuffering and willingness to forgive immediately.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.1 John 1:9
1Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. 2But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 3And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6Who will render to every man according to his deeds: Romans 2:1-6
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