“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
Not only do self-righteous hypocrites suppose they will escape God’s judgment because they perceive they are of a favored class, but their prosperity further deceives them.
Though God blesses them in this life that they might know a material symbol of his genuine paternal goodness, they suppose their success is on account of their own ingenious achievements.
Like their fathers of old, they presume on God’s grace. Cf. Deuteronomy 8:18: “You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day.”
And like the Gentiles Paul spoke of in Romans 1, instead of giving God thanks, they make idols of themselves.
What was designed to lead them to repentance becomes material evidence for their damnation.