(Text Only)
Title: The Precision of God
v4 “Or…” This is a key transitional word from Paul. If we read v3 where Paul flatly asks, “Do you think you can escape the judgement of God?” and then read v4 in which Paul asks another question, “Do you despise the riches of God?”
In a rhetorical way, Paul is probing in an attempt to discover why these sinners do what they do. Have you ever had a moment when the reality of God was so pure, so real, so undiluted, that you looked upon those who didn’t know the Lord and just said, “How, how can they do these things?”
Paul then outlines three things that these people are not recognizing:
1. Goodness Greek=chrestotes {khray-stot’-ace}
This word means both moral goodness, kindness, and gentleness
How often do we, as believers, recognize and praise God for his greatness, his magnitude, his power, but fail to praise his goodness, his undeserved kindness to us.
(Gone with the Wind, Scarlett’s sister-in-law story)
Here’s the really amazing thing about God’s goodness, he doesn’t relegate it to only those who believe in him. You and I have seen firsthand in our lives the blessings that God has given, even to the Godless. Why he chooses to do so is a tricky question because it assumes that we, as believers, should have some entitlement to God’s blessing, but why? Are we any better than the unsaved? No. If we could claim that we were “better” then we’d have somehow earned our salvation.
God’s gifts fall where they may and they do so not arbitrarily, but with purpose. Consider that thought the next time you consider your salvation. Not only were you saved by the grace of His sovereign will, you were saved with a purpose in mind.
2. Forbearance Greek= anoche {an-okh-ay’}
definition: tolerance
The only other place this word occurs in the Bible in is Romans 3:25 in an absolutely fascinating verse:
“…because in his forbearance (tolerance) God passed over the sins which were previously committed.”
So Paul builds upon his description of God in outlining that not only is God good to the sinner, he is also tolerant of his sins! How many times have you heard that preached. First for you and me both, but I just read the text.
And this is among the most theologically accurate doctrines imaginable. Apply it to your life in this way. How many (show of hands) have managed to get to 11:30 this morning without sinning? Those of you with your hands up are sinning. Never, ever, ever forget to praise God in thankfulness for how tolerant we are with our foolish selves. This is applied to us as believers 100 fold because we know better. The spirit dwells in us.
3. Longsuffering Greek: makrothumia {mak-roth-oo-mee’-ah}
Definition: patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs
According to Paul, not only is God tolerant of our sins, but he is tolerant with our sins over hugely long periods of time. Why? Why is a perfectly righteous and just God good to us? Why is he tolerant of our disobedience? Why does he act so slowly in judging us but so quickly in loving us and forgiving us?
Because: The goodness of God leads you to repentance.
I think this statement means much more to a believer than to a non-believer. When you were a child, and you disobeyed your parents, what made you feel sorry for your action? The idea entered your heart that you should feel sorry because your parents were so unconditional. None of us said, “I better feel sorry of Mom and Dad might not love me anymore.” We said, “I feel sorry because they do love me, no matter what I do.”
No truer words have ever been spoken in regards to my relationship with God. The Holy Spirit breaks my heart when I sin not because of fear, but because of shame. God has never been anything but perfect and merciful to me, and I still have moments when I chose myself over him. God is righteous in all that he does, but the one thing that still makes little sense to my simply mind is his patience with me, his willingness to forgive me over and over and over for the same sin.
I want to please my God because I love him. I love him because he draws me unto himself, and all that I see when I am in that place is the perfection of his will and putrid evil of my heart and when I look upon myself I want to hide in shame, and he draws me then closer still, whispering by his spirit into my ear: “Be still Ben, it is my goodness that leads you to my mercy.”