Themes from Romans - Don't presume on the Kindness of GOD

[George]

"Do you suppose, O man--you who judge those who practice such things
and yet do them yourself--that you will escape the judgment of God?
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? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are
storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God's righteous
judgment will be revealed." - Romans 2:3-5

There are religious people that stand in judgement of others, yet
practice hypocracy. We see this very thing in Romans chapter 2. It was
common for first century Jews to look down upon others with a
judgmental eye, because others don't keep an outward piety that
pharisees practiced. Jesus spoke regarding this matter in the
following parable.

"Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other
a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God,
I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust,
adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I
give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far
off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast,
saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went
down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who
exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will
be exalted." -Luke 18:10-14

This parable is exactly what Paul is pointing toward in the Romans
passage. We see the pharisee exhalting himself, and acting as if God
should be grateful that this pharisee is entering the temple. The
problem is we have these types of people in the church today. They
pretend to love God and God's people yet the heart ois far from God.
This is presuming on the riches of God's kindness, forbearance and
patience, which is meant to bring people to repentance. This is a very
dangerous place to be, since without repentance, the person's heart
will be hardened.

Once again the scripture reminds us that God's care more about the
state of our heart rather than the things that are in our brains. The
rituals that we practice are only good if offered as a sacrifice of
worship, carried out by a repentant and contrite heart. Let us never
presume on God's grace.

[art]

I believe our God is a gracious God.but just because we live a good
christian live doesnt mean that everything is going to be peaches and
cream throught out our life. We will have many trials and
tribulations.But god does promise to be there to help us carry the
burden. The following are some verses that I feel helped me
understand. Psalms 36:7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God!
therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy
wings. Psalms 69:16 Hear me, O LORD; for thy lovingkindness is good:
turn unto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies. Romans
2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and
tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you
to repentance? Ephesians 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show
the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ
Jesus.