The Unsaved Despise
God's Goodness
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering;
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Romans 2:4
Sorry folks - tonight you just get the outline - you will have to look up the verses yourselves - and I hope you do - it is essential for God to work in you that believe!  The audio, as always is the case, has much more than this outline puts forth.  Tonights sermon is only 52 minutes long - almost a record for shortness for me, eh!  Almost!
Definitions:
Goodness:
The state of being good; the physical qualities which constitute value, excellence or perfection; as the goodness of timber; the goodness of a soil.
1. The moral qualities which constitute christian excellence; moral virtue; religion.
2. Kindness; benevolence; benignity of heart; but more generally, acts of kindness; charity; humanity exercised.
3. Kindness; benevolence of nature; mercy.
4. Kindness; favor shown; acts of benevolence, compassion or mercy.

Forbearance:
1.  The act of avoiding, shunning or omitting; either the cessation or intermission of an act commenced, or a withholding from beginning an act.
2.  Command of temper; restraint of passions.
3.  The exercise of patience; long suffering; indulgence towards those who injure us; delay of punishment.

Longsuffering:
Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked.

God's Goodness in this verse in Romans 2 is about lost folks who actually despise what God is trying to do for them - lead them to repentance!  He is giving them time - even though He doesn't have to!

Goodness:
Psalm 31:19
Psalm 23:6
Psalm 33:5
Psalm 107:8,15,21,31

He is my goodness - Psalm 144:2

His riches are a witness - Psalm 145:7
not our own goodness - Proverbs 20:6

Forbearance:
Romans 3:25 (because of Jesus Christ)

Longsuffering:
II Peter 3:9
Psalm 86:15
Romans 9:22
I Peter 3:20 (Noah)

While God HOLDS BACK what the lost have coming to them,
and should have it right then and there - on the spot...
but He gives them more opportunity to be saved...

...then why do we Christians tend to want what 'they' have and do what they are doing?

Their wicked go unpunished?  Job 24:1-16
They appear to prosper?  Job 21:7-15
They have it coming!!!  Job 20:5-29

More God's riches:
In the meanwhile, WE all too often ignore God's riches, as well!

Ephesians 3:8
I Timothy 6:17

Psalms 104:24: O LORD, how manifold are thy works!  in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Proverbs 8:18: Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Proverbs 13:7: There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.
Proverbs 22:1: A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Psalms 37:16: A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.
Psalms 119:14: I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

1. His glory - by Christ Jesus - Philippians 4:19; Ephesians 3:16

2. His wisdom - Romans 11:33

3. His knowledge - Romans 11:33

4. His grace - Ephesians 1:7; 2:7

5. His inheritance - Ephesians 1:18

6. Glory of the mystery of indwelling spirit - Colossians 1:27

7. Assurance of understanding - Colossians 2:2

8. Us - Romans 9:23,24


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