Prior Book | Prior Chapter | Prior Verse | Next Verse | Next Chapter | Next Book | Viewing NASB and Amplified 2015 | |
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: In Heb:6:4-6 it states that it is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirt, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, because to their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. Please tell me what this means? does this mean if we fall that we canot go back to God? I would appreciate it if someone could help me with these verses. Please help me understand what this means. Thank you Angala |
Bible Answer: Dear Angala In 2 Peter, the apostle is teaching the Christians about the last days in view of the Lord's coming in power and glory. 2 Peter 1:14, Peter appears to know that his martyrdom is near and he wants to leave them with "last words" which will strengthen them and give them assurance that God is and will always be in control. In Chp. 2, he warns them of false prophets who teach heresy and lead others away from the Lord. He assures them that such people are destitute of the truth v. 17 and that they may appear to be genuine Christians but eventually they go back to their wicked ways v. 20 Peter says that for such apostates that "it would be better for them to have not known the way of righteousness" in other words they will be judged for what they professed to be. Peter emphasizes by citing old testament examples that although it appears that God does not judge those who follow after wickedness and ignore him, that indeed he will judge the ungodly in due time. The principle is that ALL sin must be judged. A holy God cannot overlook sin. That is why he sent his only son to be made sin for us upon the cross, that he might suffer the judgement for our sins allowing those who will except his subsitutionary work to be forgiven and the possessors of eternal life. With this background to the verse which you are questioning in Chp. 3 in view of the coming of the Lord that their will be scoffers deny the truth of his coming. In v.5 - 6 they are compared to those in Noah's day who sinned against God with a high hand until God said "my Spirit shall not always strive with man" Gen. 6:3. Even though Noah was warned by God about the coming judgement and built an ark, the people around him were not concerned. The reality was the time came when God called the eight people who received his message into the ark and shut the door. We find that although God was patient with them, the ungodly who did not fear him perished in their sin. In V.7 Peter speaks of a time when God will judge ungodly people. In V. 9 he tells them that because the ungodly seem to go unjudged, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, but is longsuffering" Again as in the day of Noah, God is holding back his wrath with the hope that those who ignore him might change their minds and come to repentance. "God is not willing that any should perish" however, there is a day coming V.10 when Christ will come in vengence upon those who have rejected him. Humans who reject the strivings of the Spirit of God, the love of God through Christ are making a willing choice to be punished for their own sins. Angala this chapter is not dealing with disobedient Christians who are safe in Christ. When we fall as Christians we know from 1 John 1:9 that "if we confess our sins, he faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. In the verse you have provided it says that "God is not willing that any should perish" In John 3:16 we read of the provision which can be ours "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I hope this helps Safe in his hand John 10 Robert |