PATIENCE, FORBEARANCE & LONGSUFFERING

September 05, 2020

PATIENCE, FORBEARANCE AND LONGSUFFERING

Question:

"...I like to know...is there is a difference between patience, forbearance and longsuffering?"

'Forbearance' and 'Longsuffering' are closely knitted with Patience. Literally, these words can be used interchangeably, but in scriptural context, they are presented as different spiritual virtues that a true Christian must posses.

Being called or identifying with the Christian faith is not just enough, it is only enough when the nature of Christ is expressed in our way of life. I mean to say, claiming and associating with Christ's kingdom on earth without gracious evidence of virtuous fruits is empty.

Have I digressed? I don't mean to, sure you got that point👆. Now, let's consider scriptures, "...despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" (Romans 2:4). This opens us to see God's nature of patience and endurance toward the unrighteousness of man.

Beloved, the patience of God is expressed in His forbearance and longsuffering for our sinful world, hoping its turning to repentance. By this, it is clear that forbearance and longsuffering are hallmarks of patience.

However, forbearance and longsuffering could also depict love. "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God" (Romans 3:25). Forbearance and longsuffering are natural products of love; if you truly love your friend or whoever, you will certainly tolerate and endure with such person while you expect a change someday, that's simply love at work.

You see, it is God's love for mankind that moved Him to send His only begotten Son as a sacrifice for man's redemption (John 3:16); and yet still expressing patience with man towards repentance. "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9). Love is the precursor and strength of patience- forbearance and longsuffering. Love works Patience (I Corinthians 13:4).

Again, we should not be quick to forget that longsuffering is an attribute mentioned in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) which is a manifestation of walking in the Spirit. Longsuffering as it implies is consciously enduring hardness- inconveniences or discomfort with the hope of an expected outcome, just like Christ endured the sufferings, pains and shame of the cross to bring us repentance. "...Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach" (Hebrews 13:12,13).

Should God be patient, believers must covet and earnestly pray for the Godly virtue of PATIENCE.

Should Christ manifest forbearance and longsuffering, we as disciples of Christ must consciously depend on Grace to lead a life of forbearance, longsuffering and endurance.

In spite of my quite short and humble perception on this subject, I like to submit that to capture a more profound knowledge of the meaning, essence and power of patience is to engage an in-depth meditation on the nature of God and the person of Christ.

I would conclude this way, patience is not an option for God's elect (sincere believers), rather it is a mark of Kingdom citizenship (Colossians 3:12,13).