God’s Grace

Romans 2:4
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

In this context kindness refers to “common grace,” the benefits God gives all people. In Romans 2 Paul was taking about God’s Righteous Judgment to all the Jews first and then to the Gentiles. Paul talked about how Jews practice the law and hold themselves righteous because of pridefulness in the law.
I love what Paul says later in the chapter:

Romans 2:25-29
25For indeed circumcision is of value if you practice the Law; but if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision.
26So if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision?
27And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you who though having the letter of the Law and circumcision are a transgressor of the Law?
28For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh.
29But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Even though we hold our self highly esteem and we are nothing without the Grace of God. The kindness of God that leads to repentance is a gift. It’s not a gift what we hold in terms of today. It’s not an interchangeable gift. The Gospel is a proclamation and a command. It’s repent and trust in the Saviour, it’s not open me up. The way we think of the word “gift” today is we’ll use it until we find something better. There’s nothing better than the Gospel. Yes, it’s a gift, meaning free.
No matter if you feel that you are good enough or your works are good enough. Until you realize the Gospel is not about happiness and self-works. You will not understand the fullness of God’s kindness, His Grace. The Gospel is not about happiness, it’s about righteousness.
I thank the LORD for the LORD! His Grace is everlasting.

“We are the laborers and God is Sovereign.”