Author	Thread: The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God
dljrn04 View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 20 Dec, 2012 02:12 AM Far Less Has Been Written on the patience of God than on the other excellencies of divine character. Not a few of those who have expatiated at length upon the divine attributes have passed over the patience of God without any comment. It is not easy to suggest a reason for this, for surely the longsuffering of God is as much one of the divine perfections as is His wisdom, power, or holiness�as much to be admired and revered by us. True, the actual term will not be found in a concordance so frequently as the others, but the glory of this grace shines on almost every page of Scripture. Certainly we lose much if we do not frequently meditate upon the patience of God and earnestly pray that our hearts and ways may be more completely conformed thereto. Probably the principal reason why so many writers have failed to give us anything, separately, upon the patience of God is because of the difficulty of distinguishing this attribute from divine goodness and mercy, particularly the latter. God�s longsuffering is mentioned in conjunction with His grace and mercy again and again (see Exodus 34:6; Numbers 14:18; Psalm 86:15). That the patience of God is really a display of His mercy is one way it is frequently manifested. But that they are one and the same excellency, and are not to be separated, we cannot concede. It may not be easy to discriminate between them. Nevertheless, Scripture fully warrants us in predicating some things of the one which we cannot of the other. Stephen Charnock, the Puritan, defines God�s patience, in part: It is a part of the Divine goodness and mercy, yet differs from both. God being the greatest goodness, hath the greatest mildness; mildness is always the companion of true goodness, and the greater the goodness, the greater the mildness. Who so holy as Christ, and who so meek? God�s slowness to anger is a branch of His mercy: "the LORD is full of compassion, slow to anger" (Ps. 145:8). It differs from mercy in the formal consideration of the subject: mercy respects the creature as miserable, patience respects the creature as criminal; mercy pities him in his misery, patience bears with the sin which engendered the misery, and giving birth to more. Personally we define the divine patience as that power of control which God exercises over Himself, causing Him to bear with the wicked and forebear so long in punishing them. Nahum 1:3 reads, "The LORD is slow to anger and great in power," upon which Mr. Charnock said: Men that are great in the world are quick in passion, and are not so ready to forgive an injury, or bear with an offender, as one of a meaner rank. It is a want of power over that man�s self that makes him do unbecoming things upon a provocation. A prince that can bridle his passions is a king over himself as well as over his subjects. God is slow to anger because great in power. He has no less power over Himself than over His creatures. At the above point, we think, God�s patience is most clearly distinguished from His mercy. Though the creature is benefitted, the patience of God chiefly respects Himself, a restraint placed upon His acts by His will; whereas His mercy terminates wholly upon the creature. The patience of God is that excellency which causes Him to sustain great injuries without immediately avenging Himself. Thus the Hebrew word for the divine longsuffering is rendered "slow to anger" in Nehemiah 9:17, Psalm 103:8. Not that there are any passions in the divine nature, but God�s wisdom and will is pleased to act with a stateliness and sobriety which becomes His exalted majesty. In support of our definition we point out that it was to this excellency in the divine character that Moses appealed, when Israel sinned so grievously at Kadesh-Barnea, and there provoked Jehovah so sorely. Unto His servant the Lord said, "I will smite them with the pestilence and disinherit them." Then the typical mediator pleaded, "I beseech thee let the power of my LORD be great according as thou hast spoken, saying, The LORD is longsuffering" (Num. 14:17). Thus, His longsuffering, is His power of self-restraint. Again, in Romans 9:22 we read, "What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction." Were God to immediately break these reprobate vessels into pieces, His power of self-control would not so eminently appear; by bearing with their wickedness and forebearing punishment so long, the power of His patience is gloriously demonstrated. True, the wicked interpret His longsuffering quite differently�"Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil" (Eccl. 8:11)�but the anointed eye adores what they abuse. "The God of patience" (Rom. 15:5) is one of the divine titles. Deity is thus denominated, First, because God is both the author and object of the grace of patience in the creature. Second, because this is what He is in Himself: patience is one of His perfections. Third, as a pattern for us: "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering" (Col. 3:12). And again, "Be ye therefore followers [emulators] of God, as dear children" (Eph. 5:1). When tempted to be disgusted at the dullness of another, or to revenge one who has wronged you, remember God�s infinite patience with you. The patience of God is manifested in His dealings with sinners. How strikingly it was displayed toward the antideluvians. When mankind was universally degenerate, and all flesh had corrupted his way, God did not destroy them till He had forewarned them. He "waited" (1 Pet. 3:20) probably no less than one hundred and twenty years (Gen. 6:3), during which time Noah was a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Pet. 2:5). Later, when the Gentiles not only worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, but also committed the vilest abominations contrary to even the dictates of nature (Rom. 1:19-26), and hereby filled up the measure of their iniquity; yet, instead of drawing His sword to exterminate such rebels, God "suffered all nations to walk in their own ways" and gave them "rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons" (Acts 14:16-17). Marvelously God�s patience was exercised and manifested toward Israel. First, He "suffered their manners" for forty years in the wilderness (Acts 13:18). Later, they entered Canaan, but followed the evil customs of the nations around them, and turned to idolatry; though God chastened them sorely, He did not utterly destroy them, but in their distress, raised up deliverers for them. When their iniquity rose to such a height that none but a God of infinite patience could have borne them, He, notwithstanding, spared them many years before He allowed them to be carried into Babylon. Finally, when their rebellion against Him reached its max by crucifying His Son, He waited forty years before He sent the Romans against them; and that only after they had judged themselves "unworthy of eternal life" (Acts 13:46). How wondrous God�s patience is with the world today. On every side people are sinning with a high hand. The divine law is trampled under foot and God Himself openly despised. It is truly amazing that He does not instantly strike dead those who so brazenly defy Him. Why does He not suddenly cut off the haughty infidel and blatant blasphemer, as He did Ananias and Sapphira? Why does He not cause the earth to open and devour the persecutors of His people, so that, like Dathan and Abiran, they shall go down alive into the pit? And what of apostate Christendom, where every possible form of sin is now tolerated and practiced under cover of the holy name of Christ? Why does not the righteous wrath of heaven make an end of such abominations? Only one answer is possible: because God bears with" much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction." What of the writer and the reader? Let us review our own lives. It is not long since we followed a multitude to do evil, had no concern for God�s glory, and lived only to gratify self. How patiently He bore with our vile conduct! Now that grace has snatched us as brands from the burning, and given us a place in God�s family, and begotten us unto an eternal inheritance in glory; how miserably we requite Him. How shallow our gratitude, how tardy our obedience, how frequent our backslidings! One reason why God suffers the flesh to remain in the believer is that He may exhibit His "longsuffering to us-ward" (2 Pet. 3:9). Since this divine attribute is manifested only in this world, God takes advantage to display it toward "His own." May your meditation upon this divine excellency soften our hearts, make our consciences tender; and may we learn in the school of experience the "patience of saints," namely, submission to the divine will and continuance in well doing. Let us seek grace to emulate this divine excellency. "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). In the immediate context Christ exhorts us to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us. God bears long with the wicked notwithstanding the multitude of their sin. Shall we desire to be revenged because of a single injury? by A.W. Pink Post Reply
View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 23 Dec, 2012 09:37 PM And that was about what I expected. Denial doesn't look good on you brother. Post Reply
View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 23 Dec, 2012 09:39 PM I broke down the entire argument we were having and you decide to post "swoosh". Again making my point that there is a lack of substance in your posts. Lots of blame, not much substance. Tell me where I was wrong in my post to which you only replied "whoosh" or whatever. Just tell me where I was wrong :) Post Reply
DontHitThatMark View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 24 Dec, 2012 08:40 AM " The reason I didn't answer to begin with is because you have remained adamant that you understand Calvinism and yet over and over you post cliche arguments that have been refuted over and over again and can easily be viewed online." Unfortunately, there are many teachers out there that don't teach the truth. I'm sure that in the middle ages, I could find all kinds of teachers that taught lighting candles could pop people out of purgatory. Scripture would be harder to find, but I'm also sure lots of people find it very easy to twist some scripture, as everybody accuses everyone else of doing. I just wish we'd apply the same measure to ourselves, then maybe we can have nicer discussions. I accept that I may be twisting scripture, but if I am it is not on purpose, and I will not sacrifice my beliefs that God has led me to because of someones "interpretation" of scripture. I'm sorry if I need to be "convinced", but I'm sure you understand where I'm coming from. :peace::peace: Post Reply
View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 24 Dec, 2012 11:19 AM This was not my point. I was successfully making the case that He does not understand my religion(as he calls it) like he says he does. One phrase that is used to much is when people talk about the beliefs God has led them too. Everyone claims this, yet everyone believes different truths. There are those who believe vastly different and say(and believe) God led them to that. So what makes you right? God convicted your spirit? Well apparently He's done so for many others too. I don't think God would do teach one way to some and another for others. I have successfully made the case that you add to verses what is not there. Scripture when giving a command does not at the same time teach man's ability. Post Reply
DontHitThatMark View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 24 Dec, 2012 01:43 PM " So what makes you right? God convicted your spirit? Well apparently He's done so for many others too. I don't think God would do teach one way to some and another for others. I have successfully made the case that you add to verses what is not there." Well, that was kind of my point. God convicted your spirit? What makes you right and me wrong? Because you "say" you've successfully proven me wrong? That doesn't help anyone except those who agree with you. I could say that I have successfully made the case that you remove from verses what is clearly there, and carry just as much weight in my own mind as your are in yours. :peace::peace: Post Reply
View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 24 Dec, 2012 03:37 PM We go back to the word...that's how I argue those who say they've been convicted...the word Post Reply
DontHitThatMark View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 24 Dec, 2012 08:44 PM Ok, lets see some word. :peace::peace: Post Reply
View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 25 Dec, 2012 02:06 AM That's been done over and over again. You give verses where men are commanded to believe. Then you say "See men can believe". It's been pointed out to you that this is adding to scripture, but you continue to do it anyway. There was a thread where you and I went back and forth with scripture and you conveniently ignored most of the scriptures that opposed your view, so why would I participate in that again? Post Reply
DontHitThatMark View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 25 Dec, 2012 09:12 AM Ok, well, I would like to see where the scripture is that says men cannot believe, or cannot follow a command of God? All someone has to do for God to save them is look to Christ as their savior, and as Christ was lifted up, so was the serpent in the wilderness. People looked to the serpent, at the command of God, and lived. And in the same way, people can look to Jesus and live. Also, notice at which point "life" comes into the equation. After they look. No man would believe if God did not draw them, but he draws them through his word or truth, and his word is spread everywhere. Now, whether or not He lets them hear the word, the bible is kind of unclear on the mechanics behind that. The bible does say that Jesus spoke in parables so that some would not believe, but the bible also implies that it was because of the hardness of their own hearts, and their own sin that separated them from God and they did not want to hear the word. They resisted the holy spirit. But either way, it appears to be almost the reverse of what you believe. Men CAN believe, but God didn't allow it, because of the hardness of their hearts, because they didn't respond to his invitation, because they didn't show mercy after receiving mercy, etc. That is contrasted to "Men CAN'T believe, but God picks a few to regenerate." :peace::peace: Post Reply
View Profile History	The Attributes of God~~~~The Patience of God Posted : 25 Dec, 2012 12:31 PM You've asked this before and you just ignore. Then later you ask the same thing again as if the conversation never took place. Then you post more scripture and say they are new ones, when they are the same ones that have been answered before. Now my question is, is this done on purpose or do you really forget? Post Reply

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