The Goodness of God
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?”
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,
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone 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,
“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,
“Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”
Finally, Paul concludes Romans chapter one by saying in verse 28 through 32,
“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; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 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. Soon they were involved in gross sex sins and doing things that were unseemly. Homosexuality and lesbianism were rampant. They degraded their bodies and sought to do evil rather than good. 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,
“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. Every sinner that goes into judgment and hell without Christ will go there against the will of God. I realize that some sinners use God's goodness as an opportunity to prolong their sinfulness but that is not what God intended. One theologian said, 'They (sinners) melt the mercies of God into bullets, and shoot them at the breast of the Almighty." Paul gives us three signs that mankind has been given over to a reprobate mind: First, man was given over to uncleanness. Mankind was dominated by passionate desires for forbidden sexual pleasure, so God gave them over to sexual pleasure that degraded their body. Secondly, God gave them over to shameful homosexual and lesbian passions. They lost the natural God-given use of sex. And finally, God gave them over to reprobate minds that seek to justify their unrighteous actions desiring evil rather than good.
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 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
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,
"Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually."
There should be an abiding comfort to know and understand that our God is good and His
Goodness continues or endures. The psalmist cautions those who would boast in mischief or sin that they are sustained by the goodness of God and not their own might. We are not cut off because God is good in His very nature. Even though, all have sinned and come short of His glorious standard, we are given additional opportunities because of his goodness. Read these words found in first Chronicles 16, verse 34,
“O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.”
This profound truth about the goodness of God is stated the same way nine times in the Scripture; 3 times in Chronicles, once in Ezra, and 5 times in Psalms. Even though God is a Judge, Creator, and Holy, His conduct toward us is determined by His good nature. God is good in his nature, but also good in his actions. This repeat phrase in the Scripture, “O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever” gives us assurance and confidence in the unfailing goodness of God. Every one of us has experienced the goodness of God in our own lives in tremendous ways. We all can remember times when we failed to do what was right and yet we experienced the goodness of God. There were times when we were guilty but escaped without harm. It was a direct result of the goodness of God. God is good in His actions toward us. He is ever merciful towards us. God sends his favor to comfort, bless us and cause us to walk in obedience. If His goodness fail to bring us to obedience, God does not give up on us instead he sends his rod of correction to bring us back to himself. His goodness should lead us to repentance and restoration. His acts toward us are always good actions to help us and bless us.
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”
How can we refuse to turn to God when we understand how good He has been? I pity the sinnerS today, who are still treading on the thin ice of judgment, enjoying sin for a season and ignoring the call of God. The wages of sin is still death. We all should seek the Lord while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near. The goodness of God should lead us to repentance. Every sinner should seize the opportunity to run to Jesus. Every saint should offer God a celebration of praise for his goodness toward us. How can we not celebrate God when we realize that we are standing only because of His goodness toward us? We have not always walked upright before God. All our righteousness is like filthy rags in the sight of a Holy God. Yet He declares us righteous through faith in Jesus Christ. God is good, does forbear and is longsuffering towards us. We should celebrate God for his goodness so clearly revealed in His word and in our lives.
The Goodness of God is Rich
Notice the following passages of Scripture found in the Psalms,
"Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.” Psalms 51:1
“Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee.” Psalms 63:3
“Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good: turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. Psalms 69:16
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 LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.” Psalms 145:9
God's Goodness is so rich that it is easy to mistake the goodness of God and patience of God for approval of our sinful ways. We must not think that God is pleased with sin. Nor must we think that sin is cheap or a light thing. The righteous of God demands righteous judgment. The rich goodness of God gives us an opportunity to examine ourselves. Self evaluation is difficult for all of us, and it is even more difficult to expose our conduct to God and allow Him to point out where we need to change. We tend to see the wrong in others easier than in ourselves. It is funny how easy we can be amazed at God's goodness on others who we feel are guilty and deserve to be punished and at the same time, we are not amazed and humbled by his mercy and patience on us. I thank God for the multitudes of his tender mercies. The goodness of God is rich towards each of us. As I look back, I realize that all those years I spent living in sin, God was patient with me. He was constantly calling me, shielding me and protecting me. I had some friends who were killed in Vietnam, others who succumbed to a fatal disease, several struggled with years of addiction, but by the Grace of God, He saved me. His goodness towards me was rich, very rich indeed. I deserved nothing better than that my friends received. I committed the very same sins, but God was good to me. He did not deal with me according to my sin. I received his rich grace on my life. To God be the glory!
The psalmist describes the rich goodness of God as multitudes of tender mercies. We must be mindful that the tender mercies of God are not forever. One day justice will demand a reckoning, the day of grace will be over and we must give an accounting to God. I am thankful that the goodness of God is rich. Somehow we tend to enjoy it when we experience his rich goodness, but frown with disapproval when our enemies receive the same rich grace. We, from time to time, judge ourselves by what we intended to do, while judging others by what they do. When we suffer abuse at the hand of an enemy, we normally cry out for God’s judgment. We may even wonder why God has not judged them yet. God allows his goodness to rain on both the just and the unjust. God is not trying to save us and lose them. He wants all of His children saved. The story in Luke 15, that we call “The Prodigal Son,” clearly shows the equal concern the father had for both of his sons. Just as he ran out to meet the younger son when he returned home and He runs out to the older son when he refused to come in to the party. He loved both sons. I am glad that the goodness of God is rich! It is the goodness of God that we are not consumed. God is concerned about every one of his children, the good, the bad and the ugly. We should be thankful for his rich goodness. It is easy to take the goodness for granted, but we must be careful to serve the Lord with gladness and be thankful unto him. We are debtors to God for his rich goodness. The goodness of God not only endures, it comes on our lives for a reason.
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
In Jeremiah 31, Israel under heavy persecution of Babylon was experiencing great tribulations. They felt completely deserted and forsaken. They failed to realize the presence of the steadfast love of God. They complained that God had deserted them and was against them. They acknowledged that God had been with their forefathers but that He was no longer with them. They confessed to Jeremiah that they knew God had miraculously delivered their forefathers from Egyptians oppression, opened the Red Sea, fed them with manna from above, water from a rock and drove out their enemies before them. But now God had forsaken them and abandoned them in a strange land. God comes to Jeremiah and give him a word for the Jewish captives. God assures Jeremiah that He loved Israel with an everlasting love and that he had extended his lovingkindness for their sake. The expression, "with lovingkindness have I drawn thee" means that they should have long ago been carried away, but God extended his mercy because of his love! Although Israel could not see and did not know it, they were surviving only by the grace of God. They deserved to have been cut off long before, but God extended his mercy. Many of us have received numerous extensions of God’s grace. God has allowed his judgment to pass by us many times as He passed over Israel. God reminds his people, “with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” They were sustained because of His kindness. They should have been cut off and would have been cut off, but God extended his cords of mercy. They should have been thankful. They should have been praisers instead of complainers. The goodness of God has a purpose, it leads us to repentance. We have all experienced the lovingkindness of God that we might repent and turn from our wicked ways. We were not exposed in our sin because of his mercy. We slipped by, not because we were slick or cunning, not because we were so smart, but because of his lovingkindness. He is ever merciful. God has been good to us. That’s how we made it, God is good! I don’t care how holy we act or appear to be, we are standing by the grace of God. It was grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me on! The purpose of his goodness was to lead us to repentance. Don’t allow arrogance and pride to deceive you, we are saved only by the grace and mercy of a loving God. Our God loves us with a perfect love and he draws us with cords of mercy.
“Sinner, how long will you resist?” “Backslider, How long will not turn from your wicked ways?” His lovingkindness is better than life. Won’t you turn to him today? Don’t assume that you are just lucky, or wise or untouchable; you are a recipient of His mercy and love. Don’t take it for granted.
The Goodness of God Requires a Response
There should be a response of repentance, faith and thanksgiving towards God's goodness. But there can be a response of contempt, unbelief, and disregard of God's goodness. Some believe that they are self-made men and they can do it by themselves. God's primary motive for His goodness is to bring men to repentance. Sometimes men mistake the kindness of God for weakness. Instead of appreciating the goodness of God, they despise his goodness. They despise his goodness by delaying their repentance or completely ignoring the call of God. They are too consumed with this present age. They are too busy enjoying sin for a season. They fail to realize they are treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath: As sinners have treasures of sin, so God has treasures of wrath for sinners. To whom much is given much is required. I am so thankful that I responded to the call of God. Yes, I made a thousand mistakes, went to all the wrong places, did so much wrong, but I responded to the call of God. My mother and others were praying for me. And one day, I heard the voice of Jesus saying, “Come unto me and rest, lay down your heavy burden, come and be blest. And I came to Jesus as I was, weary, worn and sad, I found in Him a resting place and He has made me glad.” Now, I sing because I’m happy and I shout because I’m free. I heard His voice for myself. My parents had a relationship with God. My sisters and brothers knew God, but I have to receive him for myself. I thank God for his mercy and his grace. There is no place for arrogance or pride in my life. Everything I have, I owe to God. The songwriter, says, “all to him I owe, sin had left a crimson stain, He washed me whiter than snow.” So I praise God for his goodness and mercy. I praise him for the wonderful privilege that He extends to all. All can come, whosoever will may come and receive of his mercy and grace. All may seek the Lord while he may be found and call upon Him while he is near. There is always a response to the mercy of God. Sometimes it’s “yes”, sometimes it’s “no” and other times it’s “not now”. There is always a response.
The Jews had been given many privileges. They had experienced a greater measure of God's goodness, but they persisted in their sins. They refuse to follow God's law, they profane His Sabbath, and they made no difference between clean and unclean. Instead of the goodness of God leading them to repentance it made them arrogant and more disobedient. There is always a response to the God's goodness. Sometimes, people who experience the greatest mercy and pardon go out and commit an even greater sin! But God has a day planned when truth and righteousness will prevail.
Paul helps us to see that the Day of Judgment will be a day of revelation, a day in which the righteousness of God's proceedings shall be universally manifested and magnified. Right now, some may complain about the justice of God as Job complained about his situation. Sometimes life does not seem fair! It looks like some people get away with murder, while others seemed to be troubled on every side. In that day, all the divine attributes of God will be glorified. His wonderful righteousness will be displayed. His exact justice will be demonstrated. His perfect wisdom will be clearly revealed. Old Folks said it this way, "farther along we will know all about it, farther along we will understand why. Cheer up, my brother, live in the sun shine, we understand it all by and by!" The apostle calls it a day of the revelation of the righteous judgment of God!
Both the Jews and Gentiles needed salvation and they both were experiencing the goodness of God. The Jews were not cut off for the same reason the Gentiles were not cut: but for the goodness of God. In the midst of their sins, God sent them the gospel of Jesus Christ saying "whosoever believeth on him should perish but have everlasting life." The gospel is preached for a verdict. The goodness of God requires a response. If you are saved, you should celebrate the goodness of God toward you. If you are unsaved and guilty before God, you can celebrate the fact that God has given you another chance, another opportunity. His goodness is extended toward you. You ought to turn to him because he did not expose you publicly, nor condemn you privately. He wants to gently lead you. You can come to him today! Remember, Hebrews 3:15 which says,
“While it is said, Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation.”
During the days of provocation, Israel refused to be drawn by the goodness of God. God had led, provided and protected them through the wilderness, yet they constantly complained. They complained about the leadership of Moses and the provisions of God. When God gave them manna, they cried out for meat. They provoked the Lord to angry and harden their hearts against his word. The word of God requires a verdict. Many refused to hear His word and died in the wilderness. Today, many complained about the message, the church service, the length of the church service, the preacher and the list goes on and on. When you reject the message, remember it’s not the preacher’s message. It is God’s Message. There must be a response to the goodness of God. Has God been good to you? How do you respond?
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,
It means “Walk by new rules, towards new ends, from new principles. Make a new choice of the way. Choose new paths to walk in, new leaders to walk after, and new companions to walk with. Old things should pass away, and all things become new. The man is what he was not, does what he did not.” - Henry
Conversion is but the first step in the divine life. -As long as we live we should more and more be turning from all that is evil, and to 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. all that is good. - Edwards
