“Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
– Romans 2:4
What a beautiful picture of how God’s kindness is intended to lead us to repentance, that His patience with us. The riches of His kindness lead us to run from sin. When you think about temptation and sin your life, you think of maybe sin you have indulged in, sin you are guilty of, things you have done, things you’ve not done that God has called you to do. So why repent?
Romans 2:4 Praises God for His Kindness
The riches of His kindness toward us are intended to lead us to run from sin.
The answer Romans Two, Four gives is because God is kind, because his kindness is rich, because he’s patience. His kindness leads you toward repentance. When you think about sin that you are struggling with in your life, maybe you are resisting repentance in some way, maybe now, maybe in the past, maybe in the future, to realize what. What leads you to repentance? It’s the kindness of God.
Yes. Certainly we see in scripture, and even here in Romans Chapter Two, we see the judgment of God and the wrath of God. Yes, we need to realize the seriousness of our sin, but here in Verse Four we see a picture about God draws us to repentance through his kindness, through his love for us. We pray, “God, forgive us for our sin, and lead us to repentance by your kindness.” God, may it not be said that we presumed upon the riches of your kindness. God, we don’t deserve your kindness, your Love, your mercy, your grace toward us.
Romans 2:4 Reminds Us of God’s Grace
It’s grace because it’s totally undeserved. God, we don’t deserve it. We are sinful people. I am a sinful person. I am so prone to wander from you. I’m so prone to run after sin in all kinds of ways and praise you that you are kind toward me. I praise you that your kindness is rich toward me, that you’re patient with me. God, may the kindness you have shown, that you show me even now, lead me to a life of repentance.
Let’s Pray…
God, help me not to keep running towards sin. I’m going to run away from sin all day today, driven by your kindness, motivated by the riches of your love. God, thank you. Thank you. Thank you, God, for kindness that leads to repentance. May that be its effect in my life, in the lives of those I’m praying for, with right now. God, may your kindness lead us to repentance today.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
David Platt serves as a pastor in metro Washington, D.C. He is the founder of Radical.
David received his Ph.D. from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and is the author of Don’t Hold Back, Radical, Follow Me, Counter Culture, Something Needs to Change, Before You Vote, as well as the multiple volumes of the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series.
Along with his wife and children, he lives in the Washington, D.C. metro area.
