Spurgeon draws our attention to the fact that Paul does not say "The goodness of God calls thee to repentance," but "leads thee." I have spared thee; I have spared thy wife and children to thee; I have raised thee up from the bed of sickness; I have loaded thy board; I have filled thy wardrobe; I have done thee a thousand good turns; wherefore dost thou disobey me? Do you not see that? Makrothumia  is God's long suffering, as if His the pouring out of His wrath was on a long fuse, burning slowly but giving time to escape. Hodge comments that to "despise" means "to hold a low opinion. He is not deceived by our indulging in self-righteous delusion by renaming a sin such as lying, by saying we are simply stretching the truth (aka "a little, white lie"). Surely it can't be that you think you are going to escape! Kindness (5543)(chrestos from chráomai = furnish what is needed) is not the identical word used for "kindness" (chrestotes) earlier but is obviously closely related. To repentance Oh Lord 4 “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? If we become serious-minded about this, we would soon discover that all of the gifts of God come along with the knowledge and the presence of God Himself. Version. Henry Smith - 'If thou hast fallen into sin through violent temptations, seek speedily for repentance for it, recovery out of it, and reformation from it. But the important thing to notice about this word is that it points to a truce, not a peace. Ephesians 1:18 (note) I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints. 1986. No excuse no one to blame 29:12, 28; 2 Chr. There is no escape. 16:14; 24:8; 29:2, 5, 7f; 30:6; 32:14, 18; 60:5, 16; 61:6; Jer. NIV 1 What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision? Beware of procrastinating regarding repentance for as J C Ryle said "There is one case of death-bed repentance recorded—the penitent thief—that no one should despair; and only one, that no one should presume." 37:3, 16; 49:6, 10; 52:7; 62:10; 73:12; 76:5; 112:3; 119:14; Prov. If, say they, God existed, He would not endure the wicked. Not drags but draws! Intimating a process of reasoning. If one is sick the other cannot be well, for they live but one life. (Ref), THOUGHT - Do you presume upon His patience? Kataphroneo is used in Mt 6:24 (note) of despising the master one is not devoted to. Anoche implies something temporary which may pass away (cp Ge 6:3) under new conditions. God's goodness, tolerance, and patience are exhibited in His giving you a chance to change, a chance to acknowledge your sins and to be forgiven. Use God to obtain success in business! Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. He knows that we often struggle at recognizing what is wrong in our life, and so He gives us these opportunities to repent and change. •  of God's forbearance (anochē): His refraining, holding back, abstaining and controlling His justice. It implies a limit. The "slowness" in avenging wrongs  demonstrates His goodness and forbearance—for long periods of time (cf. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. Instead of recognizing His gracious provision, patience, and His mercy, they accuse Him of being insensitive and unloving for letting certain things happen. God is longsuffering, putting up with provoking people or circumstances without retaliating. The truth is that a man may not have committed adultery physically, but it has happened in his heart if they have looked at a woman with lust (Mt 5:27-28) They may not have committed murder, but numerous times their "knife of anger" has plunged into another person's heart (so to speak) (Mt 5:21-22). All the words in this group can bear this double meaning: plouteo, be or become rich; ploutizo, make rich; ploutos, possession of many goods, super-abundance of something, riches; and plousios, as an adj, wealthy, rich and as a noun a rich man. In spite of the axiomatic truth that God judges righteously, there are always those who think they can escape the inescapable. Moule - Specially the goodness of kindness. 3. Why is it important to understand that one day there will be an actual judgment of God? In Proverbs we see a contrast in two lifestyles and associated destinies declaring that, An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips, but the righteous will escape from trouble. (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. The burnt child has run to the fire again; the singed moth has plunged again into the flame of the candle; who can pity such self-inflicted miseries? And while other people are prejudiced, we have "convictions.". Only when he tried to fly away did he grasp the dreadful thing that had happened to him.” The wasp and people without Christ have much in common. Possibly it may have passed even that time, and a half-century of provocation may have gone into eternity to bear witness against you. ROM 2:2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. To repress these impious thoughts, the Apostle holds forth this manner of God’s procedure as the riches of goodness and patience, in order that the impunity which it appears that sinners enjoy, might not be attributed to any wrong principle. The title, which comes from one of George Orwell’s essays, offers a graphic image of human lostness. THAT YOU WILL ESCAPE JUDGMENT: hoti su ekpheuxe (2SFMI) to krima tou theou: Do you think that God will judge and condemn others for doing them and not judge you when you do them, too? Ps 119:68; 145:9). The word-group associated with ploutos is related to polys, much, and means initially abundance of earthly possessions of every kind. 1986. In this I will not praise you. The Stoics considered that the chief danger of riches lay in their creation of a feeling of false security, but they also recognized their value because of the opportunities of developing the personality which they offered (Seneca, De Vita Beata 22, 1; cf. He laid them low so that they were sore sick, but at the voice of their moaning he restored them. To their horror, the thief turned out to be the chief’s aged mother, and speculation immediately began as to whether or not he would actually sentence her to the announced punishment. You think that you are safe because God’s judgment has not yet descended upon you. 1 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. Second, Divine goodness being despised by him, God’s "forbearance" is exercised, -God does not smite instantly the proud ingrate, but goes on in goodness toward him, withholding wrath even at times when disease, danger, or death threaten all about him. said about wealth - If a rich man is proud of his wealth, he should not be praised until it is known how he employs it. The nature must be changed, and repentance must be implanted by the Holy Spirit, or it will never flourish in our hearts. New International Dictionary of NT Theology. The eyes of God have found my failures 4:32+; 1 Pet. Rom 14:1 ¶ Rom 14:1 - Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. In other words assert the dignity of your office even though men may think you young to hold it) and Christian masters of slaves (1Ti 6:2 -Christian slaves are exhorted not to despise their Christian masters, because they (the masters) are brethren). Romans 11:12 (note) Now if their transgression be riches for the world and their failure be riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!