Parsing 2 Peter 3:9

Our Bible certainly is a remarkable tome. No matter how long and hard we study it, we discover truths which we never realized before.

I've been a Christian since 1969. After learning error from an aberrant house church, I had to unlearn their lies and learn the truth. For decades, I thought 2 Peter 3:9 was about God's wish that everybody would be born again. It was also one scripture which the cultic church I attended claimed meant that everybody would be eventually saved.

So, what does this verse actually mean? A preacher named Voddie Baucham showed in one sermon that this scripture doesn't mean God's permissive will but that God's waiting for all the believers to come to faith in Christ.

This verse in the Bible in Basic English reads, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his word, as he seems to some, but he is waiting in mercy for you, not desiring the destruction of any, but that all may be turned from their evil ways."

In the previous verses, Peter was speaking of those mockers who doubted God's future judgement upon them. As he wrote in 2 Peter 3:3 and 4 (BBE) that, "Having first of all the knowledge that in the last days there will be men who, ruled by their evil desires, will make sport of holy things, Saying, 'Where is the hope of his coming? From the death of the fathers till now everything has gone on as it was from the making of the world.'"

After pointing out that the world was destroyed in the flood, he wrote in 2 Peter 3:7 (BBE), "But the present heaven and the present earth have been kept for destruction by fire, which is waiting for them on the day of the judging and destruction of evil men."

Then we learn that time is no problem for our Father. As 2 Peter 3:8 (BBE) says, "But, my loved ones, keep in mind this one thing, that with the Lord one day is the same as a thousand years, and a thousand years are no more than one day."

This verse changes the focus from the scoffers to the "loved ones" to whom he was writing. It reassures them, and us, that the seaming slowness of God to punish the scoffers is done for a good reason. That reason is revealed in verse nine.

For decades, I was taught that 2 Peter 3:9 was addressing sinners. Now, by Voddie Baucham's use of simple grammar, I realize that Peter was speaking of those who our Lord chose for Christ. Look at what John 17:9 and 10 (BBE) says. "My prayer is for them: my prayer is not for the world, but for those whom you have given to me, because they are yours. All mine are yours, and yours are mine) and I have glory in them."

We learn about these "loved ones" whom our Lord chose in 2 Timothy 1:9 and 10 (BBE), "Who gave us salvation, marking us out for his purpose, not on account of our works, but in the measure of his purpose and his grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, But has now been made clear by the revelation of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who put an end to death and made life unending come to light through the good news,"

What a joy it is then that our Master will lose none of the people whom his Father has predestined for salvation. We need not fear losing our place in heaven because of some kind of damning sin.

I'll be writing about our assurance of salvation in my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? As John MacArthur observed, he would have lost his salvation long ago if it were possible to lose it.


On Thursday, I'll deal with another misunderstood passage of scripture.

God's Providence Vs. Allah's

As I've pointed out before, God and Allah are poles apart when it comes to their characters. They can't possibly be the same being. This shows up as true when it comes to providence.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Christ pointed out god's kindness to even unthankful people. Matthew 5:45 (KJV) says, "That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust."

But sura 2:172 says, "O you who believe! Eat of the good things
We have provided for you, and give thanks to Allah, if it is Him that you serve."

Our God doesn't have a fast-burning fuse either. Joel 2:13 (KJV) says, "And rend your heart, and not your garments, and  turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow  to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

But take note of sura 2:201-202 which reads, "And among them is he who says, 'Our Lord, give us goodness in this world, and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the torment of the Fire.' These will have a share of what they have earned. Allah is swift in reckoning."

How nice it is that 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) assures us, "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."

This is one verse I will love to add to my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? The Qu'ran claims that Allah is merciful but it contradicts itself. Properly understood, the scriptures don't.

Why Does God Demand Praise?

To answer this question, we must keep in mind that God is radically different compared to us. Firstly, he's eternal. Psalms 90:2 (KJV) says, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God."

And contrary to the ideas of some, God is merciful. Psalms 100:5 (KJV) reads, "For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

Moreover, he wants to give eternal life to those who believe and trust in Jesus Christ. In John 6:40 (KJV), the Lord declares, "And this is the will of him that sent me, that every  one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have  everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day."

He is also incredibly patient, as 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) shows. "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."

The heavenly Father is also wise beyond any level of wisdom we could attain to. Isaiah 40:28 (KJV) explains, "Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard,  that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the  earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his  understanding."

The Lord is also just. He judges the hearts of people and plays no favourites. Look at what Deuteronomy 32:4 (KJV) says. "He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he."

With all these laudable attributes, plus more I could list, God is far more benevolent, wise, and patient than we could ever hope to be. This is why I'm writing my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? So many wrong ideas have been spread about the heavenly Father that I feel compelled to challenge them. My book might even be used by God to save somebody from eternity in hell.

Why Aren't Sinners Punished Immediately?

Since God's judgements are just, why are sinners allowed to go on sinning? Because he abhors sin, shouldn't he zap people right away when they disobey?

Saint Peter gives us the answer. Destruction of sinners is a warning to us. As he wrote in 2 Peter 2:6 (KJV), "And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;" "Ensample" is the old word for example.

God also wants to give as many chances to people to repent as he knows they will need to make their permanent decision about eternity. As Paul wrote in Romans 2:4 (KJV) to self-righteous believers, "Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness  and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness  of God leadeth thee to repentance?"

Peter also noted that the Lord's apparent lack of action in destroying sinners isn't because of any slothfulness on his part. 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) contains this explanation. "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."

But a time will come when the Lord will metaphorically say, "enough is enough." As 2 Peter 2:9 (KJV) states, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out  of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment  to be punished:"

And as I've noted before, the Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Nevertheless, he grants them their desire to be parted from his beneficent kindness forever. This is why I'm working on my next book called You Think You're Going to Heaven? People must know that the Father won't let them go unpunished for their habitual sins after they die.