Praise to our FORBEARING LORD
“…in the FORBEARANCE of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.”
Some people wrongly accuse God of not being tolerant. However, our faith is based on the tolerance* or forbearance of God. It’s not that God is tolerant of sin. Rather, sin is so “intolerable” to God that He sent Jesus to die for our sins so that we would be free of it. However, in God’s forbearing love, He “passed over” or “paid for” sins that had even been committed before Jesus died. Our forbearing Lord is just. Our forbearing Lord is the justifier (just as if I’d never sinned) of the one who has faith in Jesus. Do you have faith in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins? Then you have reason to praise Him!
Lord, we praise You for Your FORBEARANCE! You are great and merciful!
*”Forbearance,” http://www.blueletterbible.org