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NASB | 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. |
Bible Question:
Hello, I am new here. My question is "Does God create some people for heaven, and some for hell?" |
Bible Answer: proorizo: I welcome you to the Forum. What follows is no criticism of you, sir. I am merely pointing out the dissension and unending debate the question of election has already caused in the past. I hope you elect to stay with us here on the Forum. On this Forum in the recent past, Calvinism vs. Arminianism has been the subject of a long, bitter debate that left people with hard feelings. I think it very unwise, counterproductive and risky to start up again on what is now a very tired and tiresome debate. There is no need for everybody to go back over all the arguments for each side. We have really had enough of this quarrel. So for the sake of maintaining peace and avoiding hard feelings, I feel it would be better if everyone just dropped the subject. (Of course, I am merely another member of the Forum just as everyone else is. This is only a suggestion.) Well over 100 questions and answers have been posted regarding Calvinism vs. Arminianism. Proorizo, I appreciate your effort to enlighten me as to the meaning of 2 Peter 3:9, but you are preaching to the choir. I firmly believe and defend the Bible doctrine of election. For my past efforts on the Forum I have been re-paid with a wealth of ridicule, criticism and verbal abuse. I quote the following to clarify where I stand and present what I believe the Bible plainly teaches on the Bible doctrine of election. I am neither a Calvinist nor an Arminian. (Before anyone reads the rest of this Note, I would like to say: By this posting, I am NOT inviting debate. I merely state what I believe. Without posting 40 questions, you can read much more on this subject by clicking on Search and then typing in the word "election". ) The following is what I believe: "Election is the act of God whereby in eternity past He chose those who will be saved. Election is unconditional, because it does not depend on anything outside of God, such as good works or foreseen faith (Romans 9:16). This doctrine is repeatedly taught in the Bible, and is also demanded by our knowledge of God. "No sinner can ever make the first move in the salvation process. This is what Jesus meant in John 6:44, when He said, "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him." "Ephesians 1:4-5,11 reads, "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will . . . also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will. (...) "In summary, we can say that God has had a special love relationship with the elect from all eternity, and on the basis of that love relationship chosen them for salvation. The ultimate question of why God chose some for salvation and left others in their sinful state is one that we, with our finite knowledge, cannot answer. We do know that God's attributes always are in perfect harmony with each other, so that God's sovereignty will always operate in perfect harmony with His goodness, love, wisdom, and justice." For further study: John MacArthur, The Love of God (Dallas: Word, 1996). J. I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1961). (article by John MacArthur at www.gty.org - listed in Issues and Answers archives) --JVH0212 "In essentials unity, in nonessentials liberty, and in all things charity." |