According to 1 Corinthians 13:4, not only is Love (God) long suffering, but He is kind at the same time. The word “kind” in this verse is from the Greek word, “chresteuomai,” which carries the idea of benevolence, the same root as the word “benefit.” Psalms 103:2 says, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits.” Verse 3 continues, “Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good [things,] [So that] your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” Notice what He does. He forgives iniquities. Rather than destroying the sinner, He prefers to heal, bless and satisfy With good. I didn’t say He rewards sin, but He forgives it if the sinner will remember, verse 8, “The LORD [is] merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.” Verse 2 tells us to remember His benefits. It does not tell us to remember His anger and judgement. God believes Romans 2:4, “…the goodness of God leads you to repentance.”
However, it seems as though we don’t believe that God’s goodness could ever lead inayone to repent. Most Christians never associate goodness with repentance. Whenever they preach repentance, it is always connected to a message of impending doom and destruction if you don’t. They preach how angry God is, then give the charge to repent. Not only do they not believe, “the goodness of God leads you to repentance,” they don’t believe God believes it either.
Yes, there is judgement, but the impending judgement is for only ONE sin, and that is the sin of rejecting the one who was judged in your place, JESUS. If you accept Him, judgement is finished. If you reject Him, the judgement remains for you. God, however, believes if you understand how good He is, you will change your mind about Him… you will repent. And if you repent and believe how good He is, you will want to emulate Him. 1 John 3:2-3 says, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”
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