Tag: Repentance

  • Romans 6:1 

    “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” – Romans 6:1 

    Many people have twisted this Scripture and used it as an excuse to continue living in sin, as though Paul were giving them permission. They claim that the more they sin, the more grace they will receive (Romans 5:20). But before anyone makes such a conclusion, we must understand what sin truly is and how it affects our lives, and we must also understand what grace is and how the grace of God transforms and improves our lives.

    Isaiah wrote that,

    “But your iniquities have separated you from your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you.” – Isaiah 59:2

    Sin is a choice. This we must always remember. Sin is our decision to disobey the Word of God. It is not something forced upon us, it is something we choose. And every choice to sin is a choice to turn away from the God who created us.

    Sin separates us from God because sin is the enemy of God. Anything that is lawlessness (1 John 3:4) is a transgression against God, for every act of sin goes against His nature. God alone is the source of all goodness, righteousness, and justice, and when we sin, we rebel against who He is. The penalty for anyone who commits sin is death (Romans 6:23). When we die [speaking of physical death], which is the first death that separated from the eternal God. Physical death we knew is the result of sin, limiting us from living eternally with God in our mortal bodies. But beyond this, all who die without believing in and receiving the LORD Jesus Christ will face final judgment and be cast into the fire that never ends. This is eternal separation from God, the full and final consequence of sin the second death. Many believe that hell is only a place of fire and torment, but do we not see that living in sin is already a form of torment and suffering here on earth?

    Look at the outcome of sin in every human being life:

    When a person lies, the situation may seem temporarily covered, but the damage it creates is far greater. A lie may offer a quick escape, yet it plants seeds of distrust that can last a lifetime. What was meant as a “solution” becomes the very thing that breaks relationships, destroys credibility, and corrupts the heart. “A lying tongue is but for a moment” (Proverbs 12:19), but the wounds it causes endure.

    When the heart is filled with covetousness always longing for what belongs to another there is no peace, only emptiness, restlessness, and dissatisfaction. Covetousness is a thief of joy, a disease of the soul.

    When people chase wealth above all else, they may gather riches, but they remain hollow inside. Jesus Himself asked, “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?” (Mark 8:36). The love of money never satisfies, it devours them.

    Sexual sin bears bitter outcome. Sleeping with someone outside of marriage destroys purity, scars the heart, shatters families, and corrupts the foundation of society. What God created as holy becomes defiled when taken outside His design.

    Today, sin is not only practiced, it is celebrated! Lust is normalized. Pornography is accessible, affordable, and aggressively promoted. And the rise of sexual abuse is undeniable evidence of what happens when a society rejects the Word of God and embraces darkness. 

    Even same-sex relationships, though praised by the world, pull a person away from the identity God gave them. They rob purity, distort purpose, and turn hearts away from the truth of who the Creator designed them to be. The world may call it love, but the Word of God exposes it as deception that leads away from Him.

    So then, does sin bring us any good? The answer is unmistakably clear. Just look at the world around us, the chaos, the confusion, the brokenness. Sin brings no good thing. Sin slowly kills us, destroys us, corrupts us, blinds us, and separates us from the God who loves us with an everlasting love.

    If sin kills, then how can we continue in something that kills?

    If sin destroys, how can we remain in something that destroys?

    If sin corrupts, how can we cling to something that corrupts?

    If sin blinds, how can we walk in something that blinds?

    If sin separates, how can we stay in something that separates us from Jesus, the One who bled and died for us on the cross and rose again?

    What makes you think that God who is holy, righteous, and full of love would ever love the very thing that kills, destroys, corrupts, blinds, and separates us from Him?

    Now I am asking you just as Paul asked, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

    You know why some teachers do not like to teach on grace? Because many people have twisted grace into a license for sin, using it to excuse and justify their wrong choices. But what does grace truly mean? Grace means that God extends His mercy to every one of us who chose sin, who chose to turn away from Him, who were willing whether knowingly or unknowingly to live separated from Him. Grace means that even when we were walking in a lifetime of torment and suffering because of our own rebellion, God still desired us to be with Him once more.

    For us to be with Him, we must receive the truth that we cannot restore ourselves, nor we cannot save ourselves. Sin blinds us. Sin corrupts us. Sin cripples us. And because God is a righteous judge, He cannot simply ignore sin or erase it without justice for that He cannot deny His own holiness. Therefore, in His grace, God did what we could never do. He placed our sins upon the body of Jesus Christ. As it is written, “The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). Grace means that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Grace means that God loved us so deeply that, though we were undeserving, He granted us pardon for all our offenses and invited us to receive eternal salvation through Jesus Christ.

    Grace opens the door back into God’s presence.

    Grace brings reconciliation.

    Grace restores what sin has shattered.

    God’s grace restores life. (John 10:10)

    God’s grace restores identity and gives all of us a new beginning. (2 Corinthians 5:17)

    God’s grace restores marriages and families. (Malachi 4:6)

    God’s grace heals broken relationships. (1 Peter 4:8)

    God’s grace gives freely with no expectation of repayment. (Matthew 10:8)

    God’s grace transforms the heart. (Ezekiel 36:26)

    God’s grace breaks chains and bondage. (John 8:36)

    God’s grace empowers forgiveness for those who don’t deserve it (Ephesians 4:32)

    God’s grace is not earned by good works. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

    God’s grace teaches us to reject sin. (Titus 2:11–12)

    God’s grace strengthens us in weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

    God’s grace keeps us until the end. (Philippians 1:6)

    The grace of God is something far beyond human comprehension. God is love, and His love stretches higher, deeper, wider, and longer than our minds can ever fathom. As it is written:

    “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians‬ ‭3:17-19‬ ‭

    No one who truly understands the greater love of Jesus will continue living in sin. As it is written,“He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” Anyone who claims to know Jesus while refusing to obey Him is speaking lies.

  • Romans 2:4

    Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?” — Romans 2:4

    Paul is addressing those who believe themselves righteous and look down on others for their sins. They think they are exempt from the condemnation described in Romans 1, because of their ethnic background, traditions or moral way of life. Yet, Paul speak the truth that no one is innocent before God. All are accountable for sin, and all stand in need of His mercy.

    Many Christians today twist the Scriptures for their own gain, using the Word of God to justify selfish desires or to build their own image instead of glorifying Him. But this is not a new tactic. If we look back to Scripture, we see the very first one who twisted God’s Word was Satan himself. In the garden, he twisted what God said to ensnare Eve, and ever since, his strategy has been the same, distorting truth to bring confusion and separation from God. The reason many people fall for these deceptions is a lack of knowledge about the nature of God. When we don’t truly know who God is, we become vulnerable to lies that sound spiritual but are far from the truth. That’s why Scripture tells us, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).

    As children of God, we are called not just to know His Word, but to reflect His character. The Scripture says, “Be imitators of God, as dear children” (Ephesians 5:1). Our lives show to the world who we belong to. The way we speak, the way we walk, the way we respond in love and truth, all of it declares our true identity.

    When Paul says, do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering. Let’s break each one down carefully, like breaking bread, so that we can fully digest the Word of God. Just as Jesus said, “Eat My flesh,” His words remind us that The Word of God is not meant only to be read or heard, it must be received, chewed on, and allowed to nourish our spirit. The Word of God is food for the soul. When we meditate on it, we are feeding our inner being. Just as physical food gives strength to the body, the Word gives life and health to our entire being. If food is not eaten, it cannot nourish; in the same way, if God’s Word is not absorbed, it cannot transform us. 

    The first word Paul mentions is goodness. In Greek, it is chrēstotēs, which means moral goodness, integrity, benignity, and kindness. Paul calls it “the riches of His goodness,” because God’s goodness is not poor or limited, it is overflowing and abundant. The goodness of God is not just about His righteousness; it is an expression of His great love that draws us closer to Him. God said to Jeremiah, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with lovingkindness I have drawn you” (Jeremiah 31:3). His goodness is not just about doing good things, but about a love so faithful and steadfast that it reaches even those who turn away. His goodness gives rain to both the righteous and the wicked. It reveals a God whose mercy extends beyond what we deserve.

    God’s goodness also shows in His foreknowledge and mercy. He knew that Adam would transgress, yet He still gave him the freedom to choose. He knew David would fall into adultery, yet He still called him a man after His own heart. He knew Samson would be overcome by pride and deceived by Delilah, yet He still anointed him with strength and purpose. God sees our failures long before they happen, yet He keeps giving grace and making a way back.

    Even more, God knew that every one of us would fall short, deserving the penalty of sin and death. Yet in His rich goodness, He stepped down from His throne, took on human flesh as the Son of God, and died on the cross for our redemption. Then He rose again to bring us back to Himself. That is the true measure of His goodness, a love so great that it keeps reaching out even when we turn away. This is what Paul meant when he spoke of the riches of His goodness. God never stops making a way for us. Even when our hearts wander, His Spirit continues to tug, gently calling us back home. His goodness is not just something He does, it is who He is!. God love never fails, His mercy never runs dry, and His goodness calling us to return to Him.

    The next word Paul uses is forbearance, which comes from the Greek word anochē. It means toleration, restraint, a holding back, or delaying. Forbearance is the act of refraining from taking action against someone, choosing mercy when justice could be enforced, withholding what is deserved in order to give room for grace.


    This character of God has been retold throughout Scripture. From the very beginning, we see a God who patiently holds back judgment and extends mercy instead. In Genesis, when humanity became filled with wickedness and violence, God said He regretted creating man. Yet He did not bring judgment immediately. Instead, He waited many years, allowing Noah to preach righteousness and warn people before the flood came.

    We see the same heart of forbearance in God’s dealings with Israel. Time after time, they turned away from Him to follow idols, yet He continued to send prophets to call them back. God spoke through Ezekiel revealing His heart, saying, “I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live.” His patience was not passive, it was an active expression of love, giving people opportunity after opportunity to repent.

    Even Jonah was familiar with this nature of God, and it was the very thing that made him angry and caused him to run away. He wanted God to judge the Assyrians, not forgive them. When the Lord sent him to warn the people of Nineveh, Jonah resisted because he already knew the nature of God he served. He understood that if the people repented, God would show them mercy. After Nineveh turned from its wickedness and God withheld His judgment, Jonah said to the Lord, “I knew that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm.” Jonah wasn’t surprised by God’s mercy, he expected it. He knew that God would rather forgive than destroy, that His compassion always makes room for repentance. Even though Jonah struggled to accept it, God’s heart remained the same full of grace, ready to pardon, and eager to show mercy to all who turn back to Him.

    In the New Testament, Peter reminds believers who were growing impatient for Christ’s return that God’s timing is not like ours. He wrote, “Beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” What we often see as delay is actually God’s mercy in action, His loving patience giving humanity time to come home. We grow impatient easily, but praise God that He is not like us. His forbearance reveals a love beyond measure. A love that waits, that restrains, and that keeps the door of grace open just a little longer, hoping that hearts will finally return to Him.

    But this gracious forbearance of God has a purpose—it is never meant to be taken advantage of. God’s patience is not permission to continue in sin; it is an opportunity to repent. What makes this truth terrifying is when people know that God is gracious, yet continue to live the same way. They presume upon His mercy, thinking they still have time because God is waiting.

    Remember the parable of the ten virgins. All of them fell asleep while waiting for the bridegroom, but only five were wise enough to bring extra oil. The other five were foolish, they were unprepared when the bridegroom arrived. The waiting period was given to all, but only half used it wisely. In the same way, God’s forbearance is the time He gives us to return to Him, not to indulge in our own pleasures. His patience is not weakness; it is grace extended for a season. One day, the door will close, and those who wasted their time will realize too late that His waiting was mercy calling them home

    God’s forbearance is a reflection of His deep mercy and His desire for relationship, not judgment. He restrains His anger, gives space for repentance, and shows a patience beyond human comprehension. His forbearance is His love holding back justice so that grace can have its chance. It is the love of a Father waiting with open arms for His children to come home.

    The third word Paul uses is longsuffering, from the Greek word makrothymia, which means patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness, and perseverance. Longsuffering is the ability to endure difficulties, offenses, or suffering for a long time without giving up or growing angry. We know how deeply God hates sin, not because He hates people, but because sin corrupts us that He created in His image and separates us from His presence.

    Throughout the Scriptures, God continually reveals this longsuffering nature. From the very beginning, we see hearts turning away from God who created us in love. Adam chose to transgress God’s command rather than face separation from Eve. That one decision opened the door for sin to enter the world, and since then, mankind has continued to choose creation over the Creator.

    Israel, God’s chosen people, reflected this same rebellion. Though He delivered them from Egypt with mighty power, parted the Red Sea before their eyes, and fed them in the wilderness, they continually turned to idols. They exchanged the glory of the living God for lifeless images made by their own hands.

    During the time of Samuel, when the people of Israel rejected God as their King and demanded a man to rule over them, Samuel was grieved. But how much more must God have been grieved? He who created us fearfully and wonderfully, only to see them choose human leadership over Him?

    God Himself expressed this pain through the prophets. He said through Ezekiel, “I was crushed by their adulterous heart which has departed from Me.” Through Hosea, we hear Him cry, “My heart churns within Me; My sympathy is stirred.” And through Micah, His broken heart pleads with His people, “O My people, what have I done to you? And how have I wearied you? Testify against Me. For I brought you up from the land of Egypt, I redeemed you from the house of bondage.” (Micah 6:3–4).

    Even today, humanity continues to grieve God’s heart. Yet in His longsuffering love, He still chose to leave His throne, take on human flesh as the Son of God, and die for the very sins that wounded Him. Then He rose again, offering forgiveness and calling us back into His loving arms.

    And yet Paul says, “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering?” How could we despise a God who has done nothing but love us? who reaches out to us again and again, even when we turn away? What greater sin could there be than to ignore such love? We are commanded not to grieve or quench the Holy Spirit, for He is the very presence of God dwelling within us.

    Now we truly understand Paul’s words: “not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance.” The goodness of God’s character draws us near and satisfies our souls. His goodness is not an approval of sin but a revelation of His desire to see our lives transformed. When we grasp the depth of His patience, mercy, and love, the only response worthy of Him is worship, repentance, and gratitude. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.