Romans 2:1-6, “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. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. 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? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 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; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:”
This powerful passage of Scripture applies to the unsaved person. The redeemed saint will not be judged according to their works for salvation; but rather, they are hidden in God's righteousness through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Will you be FOUND IN HIM dear friend? Revelation 14:13, “And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.”
There is a wonderful passage of Scripture in the Old Testament from Isaiah 6:10-11, “Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.” The Lord knew that the people wouldn't listen to Isaiah, but He still wanted Isaiah to preach the truth as a testimony against them, to fatten their calloused hearts. This is what it means in Romans 2:4-5, “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? 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;” This is a profound passage of Scripture. God has been so good to America. The Lord continues to bless us abundantly because He is a good God. By not repenting (thinking differently) toward God to believe the Gospel, sinners treasurest up God's coming wrath (John 3:36).
Also, most people do not understand what the Bible means by “THE GOODNESS OF GOD.” Most people who read the Bible think this refers to God being good. Well, God certainly is a very good God, but that is not what the Bible is saying in Romans 2:4. Without question, God has been extremely GOOD to America!!! Only an atheist or total ingrate would deny this fact. Despite our country's shortfalls and problems in comparison to other countries, the United States is still by far one of the most desirable place to live. The U.S. has one of the most amazingly diverse typographical landscapes. From the sandy beaches and hot deserts of California, and the breathtaking evergreen states, to the majestic Rocky Mountains and flat fertile farming plains of the Midwest, to the beautiful Appalachian Mountains and beautiful ocean toward the east—God has blessed America!!!
Yet, do people repent? Has God's goodness led men to repent? No, it hasn't. Proverb 1:29-32, “For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices. For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.” PROSPERITY has destroyed the United States! Proverb 30:8-9, “Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.” It is God's goodness which has caused most Americans to forget the Lord. Deuteronomy 6:12, “And houses full of all good things, which thou filledst not, and wells digged, which thou diggedst not, vineyards and olive trees, which thou plantedst not; when thou shalt have eaten and be full; Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”
Romans 2:4 is saying that God Himself is good, and that is what leads some men to repentance. It is not God being god to men that compels them to repent; but rather, it is God's goodness Himself. But the Bible gravely warns that if a person neglects such a GREAT SALVATION, there will be no escape!!! Hebrews 2:1-3, “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;” 2nd Timothy 2:13, “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”
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