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Archive for May 5th, 2010

5
May

Simon Kistemaker on 2 Peter 3:9

   Posted by: CalvinandCalvinism    in 2 Peter 3:9

Kistemaker:

9. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Because the Christians of the first century expected the imminent return of the Lord and waited patiently, they needed a word of encouragement from Peter.

a. “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise.” The term Lord in this verse and the next (v. 10) is a synonym for “God.” In other words, Peter refers not to Jesus but rather to God with his use of an Old Testament designation for God . Peter alludes to the Old Testament prophecy of Habakkuk:
For the revelation awaits an appointed time:

it speaks of the end
and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
it will certainly come and will not delay. [2:3]

The writer of Hebrews, who assures his readers that God will fulfill the promises that he made to them, quotes this same Old Testament prophecy (see Heb. 10:37). “Why does God delay the return of Christ? The cause of the delay stems not from indifference or inattentiveness on the part of God.

It lies in God’s grace and mercy toward sinners. He allows them time to repent of their sins. Jesus will return when God’s patience has ended, when the time allotted has expired, and when the last believer has accepted Christ as Savior. “Not human sin, but divine forbearance, which cannot be constrained, determines the delay. It is the sovereign God who graciously grants an interval for repentance.”30 God works out his plan and purpose even though man expresses doubts.

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5
May

Jonathan Edwards on Ezekiel 18:23, 32 and 33:11 (With Reference to 1 Timothy 2:3-4 and 2 Peter 3:9)

   Posted by: CalvinandCalvinism    in Ezekiel 18:23, 32; 33:11

Edwards:

[Prop.] I. God oftentimes uses many means with wicked men to bring ’em to forsake their sins. This is what God declares in his Word, that he hath no pleasure in death of a sinner, but that he should forsake his sins, and live. Ezekiel 18:23, “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?” And again in the Ezekiel 18:32, “For I have no pleasure in the death of him that dies, says the Lord God: wherefore turn yourselves, and live ye.” And Ezekiel 33:11, there God swears the same thing: “Say unto them, As I live, says the Lord, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, Ye house of Israel?” Surely it would be horrid presumption in us to call this in question, after God has sworn by his life to the truth of it. The same we are told in the New Testament by the Apostle. 1 Timothy 2:3–4, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth.” 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” And therefore God appears in his providence slow to wrath, and is wont to use many means with sinners to bring them to forsake their sins, before he gives them up. Thus God’s Spirit strove long with the old world, before he destroyed them. Genesis 6:3, “My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.” For God sent Lot, a preacher of righteousness, to turn the inhabitants of Sodom from their sins, before he destroyed them. So he did not destroy hardhearted Pharaoh, till he had used many means to make him willing to comply with God’s commands.

Jonathan Edwards [1734], Sermons and Discourses, 1734-1738 (WJE Online Vol. 19), Ed. M. X. Lesser.  [Some spelling modernized and underlining mine.]

Thanks and credit to Tony

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