Goodness of God (Romans)
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Goodness of God (Romans)
Goodness of God (Romans)
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? 4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: 8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, 9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
Introduction:
Introduction:
In the book of Romans, Paul introduces the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the only means for an unrighteous man to be made righteous in the sight of God. Romans 1:16 states,
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Faith in Jesus Christ and his finished work is God's only remedy for lost humanity.
Then Paul moves to his doctrine of Man. He shows that the whole human race had a desperate need of righteousness.
The Gentiles who had no written law were sinners by nature and stood guilty before an absolute Holy God because they refused to obey the natural law written in their hearts and minds. They willfully violated their conscience and preferred darkness rather than light. Paul goes on to say in Romans 1:21
21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Then in Romans 1:25
25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Finally, Paul concludes Romans chapter one by saying in verse 28 through 32,
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
With full knowledge, mankind willfully walked in disobedience. Besides that, the Jews judged and condemned the Gentiles while they themselves were guilty of the same sin.
The Jews were given the divine Law of God, and clearly understood the standard of God, but still they willfully disobeyed God’s Laws. So God gave them up to their own sinful desires. Their foolish hearts were darkened and their minds were reprobate. God left them to their own ideas & wrongs
They worshiped and served the creation more than the creator. Their thoughts were evil continually.
It is amazing how willfully they sinned against God, His goodness and His mercy towards them.
The Gentiles sinned against their God-given conscience and the light God had placed in their hearts, while the Jews sinned against the written Law of God, the voice of the prophets and their own conscience.
They were both equally guilty before a Holy God. God allowed and tolerated their sin for a season that their sin might appear to be exceedingly sinful, so that the Jews and Gentile alike might see their need for God’s forgiveness and grace.
Without God’s grace and mercy, both were hopelessly lost and without remedy.
In Romans chapter two, Paul presents his argument in a question and answer style. He simply asks, “Do you think that you will escape the judgment of God?” “Despisest thou the riches of His goodness, forbearance and longsuffering?” “Don't you realize that the goodness of God leadeth to repentance?”
Today, I want us to consider the goodness of God. The goodness of God is designed to appeal to our better nature and cause us to respond favorably to God. The purpose of God's goodness and forbearance is not to encourage sin, but to appeal to man's better nature, to give him further opportunity that might lead him to repentance. The Bible states in 2 Peter 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
God is not willing that a single sinner should perish. He is patient and kind, hoping that his goodness will draw them unto himself.
God had a purpose in abandoning the unrighteous to sin.
First, it allows sin and its consequences to accelerate as part of his judgment upon them. In other words, prolonged sin leads to misery and dissatisfaction.
Secondly, it allows the unrighteous to realize their condition and need for salvation.
Paul’s Plan to Reveal all need a Good God!
Paul knew that the Jews would have little trouble seeing how exceedingly sinful the Gentiles were. The Gentiles did not have nor keep the Law of Moses. They observed no ceremony nor practiced any rituals. They were lost without hope.
In Chapter two, Paul sets out to prove that the Jews were equally as guilty as the Gentiles. More than that they were guiltier and needed salvation just as badly.
The Jews had been given the Written Law of God, the Feasts, Rituals, and Jesus Christ with all the evidence that He is the Son of God.
In spite of these advantages, the Jews persisted in disobedience.
Even though all mankind, Jews and Gentiles were sinful, God is still good. God is good in his nature and his actions. The goodness of God is clearly seen. It is revealed throughout the word of God.
The Goodness of God Revealed
The Goodness of God Revealed
There are several points I want mention concerning the Goodness of God, first the goodness of God is clearly revealed throughout the word of God. Read Psalms 52:1
1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? The goodness of God endureth continually.
34 O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; For his mercy endureth for ever.
68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.
8 Good and upright is the Lord: Therefore will he teach sinners in the way.
9 The Lord is good to all: And his tender mercies are over all his works.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
8 O taste and see that the Lord is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him.
8 Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, And for his wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, And filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
Paul list in detail what it means to experience the goodness of God. We have received the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering.
In other words, we have received an abundance of his goodness. God gives us what we cannot earn or receive apart from His grace.
Then God has withheld punishment that we deserved and would have been fair payment for our deeds. More than that, God has shown incredible patience with us as we lingered in sin. God is truly good! We can join in with the psalmist and say, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever”
The Goodness of God is Rich
The Goodness of God is Rich
Notice the following passages of Scripture found in the Psalms,
1 Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: According unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
3 Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise thee.
16 Hear me, O Lord; for thy lovingkindness is good: Turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies.
God has multitudes of tender mercies. God is kind toward us.
God's kindness is shown in creation. God's kindness is shown in His providential care.
Saints of old, would say, “He woke me up this morning and started me on my way.”
God's kindness is shown by the proclamation of the gospel to us. No matter how far we stray away from God, He sends a word to call us back.
God is also forbearing or tolerant with us. God is patient with us.
The Goodness of God has Purpose
The Goodness of God has Purpose
Romans 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
Paul amplifies the goodness and great patience of God towards us. We could have been cut off and probably should have been cut off, but He was good to us. He gave us an opportunity to repent and be restored to his favor and grace. The songwriter said, “God is good all the time and all the time God is good.” What a truth statement that really is? God is good. Paul lifts up the purpose in the goodness of God. In other words, there is a reason for the goodness of God, it “leads us to repentance.” Notice Paul uses the word “leadeth” instead of the word, “drives.” God is Almighty and could have forced us to repent. He could have beaten us into submission, but he chooses to lead us. He could have exposed our sins openly and shamed us into repentance. He could have judged us guilty and sentenced us to instant death. He chooses to lead us. He leads us as a farmer does his livestock, sometimes with just a little grain in his hand. A farmer leads his livestock where he needs them. At other times, the farmer may gently call their name that he might lead them to the right or left. God the Father chooses to lead his children in the same matter. His goodness toward them causes them to turn and come to him. He leads us that we might walk in the way of life. He is good to us and spares us because He takes no delight in wrath. His only desire is to lead us to repentance. Even when God must to chasten us, we are chastened with a hand from a heart filled with goodness and love. Our God is a kind, loving heavenly father.
As a pastor, many times I have felt like driving people instead of leading them. I have wanted God to use great force on certain people, but God chooses to lead them. He chooses to draw them with lovingkindness. God could have forced us into submission, exposed to the world, embarrassed with shame but he chooses to lead with goodness. Read the following verses,
“If He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” Proverbs 13:24
“For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?” Hebrews 12:6, 7
“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah 31:3
The Goodness of God Requires a Response
The Goodness of God Requires a Response
37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!
Romans 2:4 “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”
The goodness of God is clearly revealed in Scripture; the goodness of God is rich in lovingkindness and tender mercies; the goodness of God leads to repentance; and the goodness of God requires a response.
There is always a response to the goodness of God. Today, you are making a decision for Christ or against Christ. There is no middle ground. Repentance means to change direction. One writer said it this way,