You Can Know You Have Eternal Life
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673 – Man's Search for Inner Peace (87)
Honorable Citizenship in Jesus’ Kingdom (9)
by Jim Mettenbrink

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     In addition to turning away from sins of the flesh as defined by God in the New Testament, Jesus has also commanded citizens of His kingdom to adopt His attitudes as their own (1 Corinthians 2:16, 11:1; Philippians 2:5).  This is called Christlikeness.

     We have considered several traits of Christlikeness which the apostle Paul called fruit of the Spirit — love (agape), joy, peace and longsuffering (eg. endurance in trials of opposition).  The next in the list of Christlikeness is kindness (Galatians 5:22, 23).  Some versions translate the NT Greek word as goodness, but kindness is the better rendering.

     Kindness has the quality of gentleness and sweet disposition of temper, which puts people at ease.  It is never harsh, rude or bitter.  If a man is kind, he will never be a tyrant or slave master, but rather will have the gentleness of a shepherd tending to the fragile newborn lamb.  Jesus displayed this attitude toward the penitent woman (Luke 7:37-50).  Kindness is the tenderhearted quality that causes the citizen to be forgiving toward another citizen (Ephesians 4:32).

     Frequently we must look to the character of God Himself to grasp the depth of meaning of Christlike traits.  Regarding God’s righteousness in exercising judgment of sin, the apostle Paul reminds, the Roman Christians about God’s attitude toward mankind until that day of judgment — “
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?” (Romans 2:4, ESV).

     Kindness is the trait of God’s character connected to His forbearance of man’s sin with the intent that all would repent i.e., become Christians and live faithfully according to the New Testament.  Later the apostle Peter wrote, “
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” (2 Peter 3:9).  God’s kindness is how He exercises His patience waiting for man to repent.  He has no desire that anyone would be condemned to hell eternally.

     Although His righteousness demands justice, He does not exercise it immediately.  Rather, He waits with the desire that folks would come to their senses and repent from a fasle faith and all which God calls sin, becoming citizens of Jesus kingdom.  Citizenship begins with complete trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior (Ephesians 1:12, 13), having the change of heart to turn away from all which God calls sin (Acts 2:36-38; 17:30).  And doing so with genuine faith submitting to God in a grave of water emulating Jesus death burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4, 17) for the remission of sins (Acts 22:16).  Since Jesus knows who responds in baptism with genuine faith, He adds the new citizen to His kingdom (Acts 2:47).  In addition to longsuffering (patience), Jesus wants the citizen to have the same kindness, as Jesus exemplified.

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      © Jim Mettenbrink; used by permission. rev.151213
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