Monday, March 21, 2011

Have You Considered God’s Patience?

A few observations on a neglected divine attribute:
1. God is slow to anger.
Exodus 34:6, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. . . .”
Numbers 14:18, “The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. . . .”
Nehemiah 9:17, “They refused to obey and were not mindful of the wonders that you performed among them, but they stiffened their neck and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.”
Psalm 86:15, “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”
Psalm 103:8, “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
2. God’s patient kindness is meant to lead to repentance.
Romans 2:4, “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?”
2 Peter 3:9, 15, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. . . .”
3. Even those bound for eternal punishment are the recipients of much patience from God.
Romans 9:22, “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction. . . .”
4. Paul was saved in order to demonstrate Jesus’ perfect patience as an example.
1 Timothy 1:16, “I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.”
5. The delay of the second coming and final consummation is because of God’s patience, and is designed for salvation.
2 Peter 3:15, “[C]ount the patience of our Lord as salvation. . . .” 
Justin Taylor

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