“The Goodness of God Leads You to Repentance”

by Heath Rogers

The apostle Paul wrote, “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).

How can God’s goodness influence sinful men to repent? This question is answered in the Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24).

The younger son was tired of living in his father’s house, following his father’s rules, waiting on his father to die to receive his inheritance. He demanded his inheritance, and upon receiving it, he journeyed as far away from his father as he could to live as his wished.

Soon the money ran out, the land fell into a famine, and he found himself in a desperate situation. He ended up doing something no self-respecting Jew would do – he was feeding a Gentile’s swine. The friends who helped him spend his inheritance were nowhere to be found. “No one gave him anything” (Luke 15:16).

The son had an awakening. “But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants”’” (Luke 15:17-19).

This man remembered there was a place where people were treated better. He recalled how good his father was to his servants. They always had more food than they needed. He knew where he could receive mercy. Despite the way he had dishonored his father, he was led back home because of his father’s goodness.

Having Peace

By Jeff Curtis

In the book of Leviticus, chapter 3 speaks of the peace offering that the Israelites in the Old Testament were to offer. It should serve to remind Christians today of the need for peace. We live in a world that is constantly at war. And the question is, can we find peace?

We want peace with God. When we sin, we alienate ourselves from God and become His enemies (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 5:10); but God desires that we be reconciled to Him. The message of the new covenant is “Be reconciled to God” (2Corinthians 5:18-21). Reconciliation was made possible by the grace of God, who gave His Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross to remove our sins – or to be a propitiation for our sins (Romans 3:23-25; 1John 2:2). Because of His death, we, who once were enemies of God, can become His friends (Ephesians 2:12-14). We can be at peace with Him (Romans 5:1).

We want peace within. The cares of the world bring us down. Depression and discouragement weigh heavily upon our souls. However, because we are at peace with God, we can have peace with within ourselves. Knowing that we have been forgiven our sins and we are on the way to heaven gives us “peace…which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7; NKJV). We believe that when Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you” (John 14:27). He was talking to us as well as His apostles. The peace we receive from Jesus does not consist of a life lived without problems. It is not the same kind of peace worldly people enjoy; because Jesus said, “My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give you” (John 14:27). Even though we may tribulation, in Christ we can have peace (John 16:33). The peace that Christ gives is the truest peace, the most sublime peace, anyone can enjoy in this world.

We want peace with others. Too many of us have problems with other people. Because we are at peace with God, we can also live at peace with others. Problems may arise because we live among worldly people, but we are to do our best always to live in peace with our neighbors (Romans 12:18). Also, if we live as we should – if we do to others as we would have them do to us – it is unlikely that we would have much conflict with others. It is in the church that enjoy real peace with others. Bound to others by our common love for God and our common salvation in Christ, we can comfort others and be comforted. Brotherly love produces peace in our relationships with other human beings.

For the Christian, the prospects for peace are good! We are at peace with God; we can experience peace within; and we can live in peace with others. What should we do in response to the great blessing of peace? [1] We should make sure that we ourselves are enjoying the peace that is available to us. [2] We must take the message of peace – of reconciliation with God – to others.