Wednesday, June 07, 2006

God's Goodness Leads To Repentance

I love Romans 2:4. "...Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repent ([a]to change your mind and inner man to accept God's will)?"

Taken in context with the section of Scripture (Romans 2:1-4 though the point moves forward through the chapter, verses 1-4 will suffice for my thought here today) we see that it is not ours to "condemn" others. I need to deal with this before I can get to my point today. The English word being used is "judge", but it means condemn. The Greek word (Strong's # G2919 krinō pronounced "kree'-no" means "Properly to distinguish, that is, decide (mentally or judicially); by implication to try, condemn, punish: - avenge, conclude, condemn,
punish: - avenge, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think."
As you can see for yourself it is not to 'size up', 'estimate', 'view closely', or even 'give council' which are things that the word "judge" might imply to us today. Dictionary.com shows the informal meaning of the word to be "To have as an opinion or assumption; suppose: I judge you're right" This is how people often apply verses 1-4 today which is clearly wrong.

OK so now that I've shown how Judge means to condemn, not to "judge" lets go on.

Paul was writing to those who were condemning others for being Sinful. That's God's job, and He'll surely do it. It's not our job to pass sentence on someone. For doing so has us trying to limit God's mercy and goodness for these people.

The whole point was to be (but I've run out of time and will be late for work) is that God uses His goodness to sinners to bring about repentance.

Glory to be to the God Most High! Thank You for Your mercies which are new every day!

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