- God is Longsuffering to Us-ward - Isa 59:2 reveals our true spiritual condition, our separation from God, that has been caused by our sin: “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear”. It is important to remember that God has obligated Himself to punish sin, and that man is completely accountable to God for his sin because he was created in the image of God. As a just Ruler, or Judge, God must punish “sin”, which the Bible defines as “transgression of the law” in 1 John 3:4: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law”. Because God is extremely patient with mankind does not in any way diminish the fact that He hates sin and hates sinners: “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psa 7:11). He absolutely will judge and punish all who are not His children: “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished” (2 Pet 2:9). Unbelievable as it sounds, forgiveness first originated with God Himself although we have rebelled against him: “To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him” (Dan 9:9). The Greek word for “suffereth long” in 1 Cor 13:4 “Charity(Love) suffereth long, and is kind” is also translated as “patience” and is closely related to God’s forgiveness. The “longsuffering”, or patience, of God can be readily seen throughout the Bible. The fact that God “went with” the rebellious Israelites, as He led them for 40 years through the wilderness, is indeed a picture of the longsuffering nature and lovingkindness of such a magnanimous God! 1 Pet 3:20-21 speaking of the ark, representing God’s salvation program, demonstrates God’s longsuffering. Actually, it is astounding that God is so patient with rebellious man, He is patiently putting up with mankind and their sin in order to save His people, His elect people.
Num 14:18 “The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.”
1 Pet 3:20-21 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure [water = the Gospel] whereunto even baptism [the washing away of our sins] doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:”
Rom 9:20-23 “…O man, who art thou that repliest [disputes] against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath [non-elect or unbelievers] fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy [elect of God or believers], which he had afore prepared unto glory.”
2 Pet 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all [of the elect] should come to repentance.”
- Put on therefore, as the Elect of God, Longsuffering - We learn in Rom 2:4 that God’s “goodness” and “longsuffering” leads His elect to repentance: “Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?”. As we look to the Bible to learn about this wonderful forgiveness that God has provided, may we be compelled to examine our own hearts to see how we stand before God. Have we received His incomprehensible forgiveness? If we have, are we sharing the Gospel of Christ with others so they, too, may also come to know His marvelous forgiveness? “And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:18-20). God admonishes believers in Col 3:12-15 and Eph 4:2 “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;”, to pattern their life after their Master, as in the parable of the wicked servant in Mat 18. With the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, God admonishes us to be patient, likewise, towards one another by reproving, rebuking, exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Gal 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”
Col 1:11 “Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.”
2 Tim 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”
Matt 18:21-35 “Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. 23Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. 24And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. 25But
forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and
his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. 26The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 27Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. 28But
the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which
owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the
throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. 29And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. 30And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. 31So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. 32Then
his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked
servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: 33Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? 34And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. 35So
likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your
hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”
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