Kindness and Repentance

Throughout the Gospels, men would ask Jesus to perform miraculous signs to prove that He was from God and that He was the Messiah. Jesus always refused to perform miracles on demand (Matthew 12:39). Jesus knew men’s hearts would not be changed by seeing miracles. Instead He showed them God’s kindness.

God’s kindness was not shown by compromising with the sin that so easily besets us (Hebrews 12:1). Instead Jesus died on the cross as the payment (the propitiation) for our sins so we would not face eternal death but have eternal life (Romans 6:23). Paul taught believers, “Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness” (Romans 11:22).

Those who die without trusting in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, will experience severe punishment (Mark 9:43-48). Those who believe will be saved and spared punishment for their sins, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Romans 10:9-10).

Jesus’ death on our behalf will be recognized throughout all eternity as evidence of “the surpassing riches of God’s grace

in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:7).

Paul taught that it was not miraculous signs or the threat of punishment that would cause men to repent. Instead he taught, “the kindness of God leads to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

The Greek word translated as kindness is xrēstótēs. The root meaning of xrēstótēs is “useful” or “beneficial”. Jesus demonstrated “useful kindness” towards all people. He met our need for a Savior by becoming the ultimate sacrifice that was required to satisfy God’s justice and righteousness.

In the Great Commission, Jesus calls His followers to demonstrate “useful kindness.” Jesus directs us to share the Gospel with the lost so they will be saved and become His disciples (Matthew 28:19). Our kindness directs them to Jesus’ kindness.

Kindness is among the attributes that define the heart of those chosen by God to be His children, to be His followers. We are commanded to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience” (Galatians 3:12). These attributes are expressions of the “new heart” God gives us at our salvation (Ezekiel 36:26).

Kindness is so important to our walk that it is listed among the fruit of the Spirit. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). Kindness is produced in the life of those who yield their lives to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 3:3 teaches us to “not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.” The prophet Micah announced that God requires three things of His followers, “to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).