Brenda and I were discussing II Peter 3:9 today and the fact that so many Arminians misquote and misuse the verse to substantiate their position on salvation. They believe that Christ's death on the cross provided the potentiality of salvation for everyone, rather than the surety of salvation for God's elect. The verse reads: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." Most Arminians will state the verse in this manner: "God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Big difference! This verse must be examined in light of the context of the passage. To whom is the letter written? Who is included in "us," who is included in "any," and who "all" will come to repentance?
The Apostle Peter wrote this letter "to those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ" (II Peter 1:1); therefore, the "us" refers to the saved people of God. The "any" must also refer to those whom God has chosen and will call to be redeemed. "All" also refers to all those who have been chosen to come to Christ. God is delaying His coming because He is patiently waiting for His people to repent. From the MacArthur study notes on this verse: "Since the whole passage is about God's destroying the wicked, His patience is not so He can save all of them but so that He can receive all His own. He can't be waiting for everyone to be saved, since the emphasis is that He will destroy the world and the ungodly." (MacArthur Study Bible, p. 1929)
Maybe another time I'll write on my other pet peeve - the pervasive misinterpretation of John 3:16...but "not today," as Tyler will say. Hey, that rhymes! Okay, goodnight.
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