The Kindness of God, the Kindness of Man

We are asked in Romans 2:4, "Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you towards repentance?"

How, we may ask, does God's kindness lead us toward repentance? After all, are we not taught from childhood that we come to know Jesus because we are afraid of going to hell? Are we not taught that if we mess up, we had better repent or we will experience the wrath of God? But here Paul is throwing a curve ball, so to speak. He tells us that it is because of God's kindness that we repent.

What is God's kindness? Romans 5:8-11 tells us, "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have not been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! For if, when were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Man was seeped in sin. God could very easily just have wiped everyone from the face of the earth. But instead, He chose to become human and make Himself a sacrifice for mankind's sin. This was the only way to satisfy the wrath God felt for the sin that had spread throughout His creation. That is kindness. That is chrestotes!

How, then, does this apply to man today? If God chose to show kindness rather than wrath, how should His followers respond in turn? Unfortunately, His followers today often do not show the same kindness - the same chrestotes. And this lack of chrestotes does affect the fellowship, the koinonia. Instead of showing the same kindness God showed, we, as His followers, often skip right to the wrath of God. I do not believe this is what God has in mind. It is still God's kindness that leads to repentance. And He still shows mercy and grace every day. It is when we realize that grace and undeserved kindness that we will choose to repent and live for Him.

What It's About

It has been a while since I have blogged. I am looking forward to getting back into it. The title of this blog says it all. Chrestotes is the Greek word for kindness. Koinonia means fellowship. These are the two ares of ministry that I am passionate about. I look forward to getting more of my thoughts out.

God bless.

Kandy