Good morning. Good morning. If you have your Bibles again, please turn with me to the book of 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9. 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 9. You're the reading of God's Word. The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but His patience towards you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. This morning I want to wear a couple of hats as we go through this message. I want to wear the hat first of all of a preacher slash lawyer and also the hat of a private eye. Because what we are about to embark on is this question, the 2 Peter 3 9 refute the doctrine of election. The 2 Peter 3 9 refute the doctrine of election. Let's go to the Lord in prayer. If you're having me father, we thank you again for this opportunity to hear your word and to be in this time of fellowship. Lord and we thank you again as we just heard that all of our help truly does come from you. Now father, as we come to this preaching hour, we pray for your help, Lord, and helping us to first understand what you have for us and also to penetrate our hearts, Lord, with the truth, Lord, that you have for us. Lord, we thank you for salvation. We thank you for Christ who brings it and we thank you Lord for your spirit, Lord, who guides us in it. And we ask your blessings upon all of these things in Jesus name. Amen. Amen. As I've stated the last few times we've gotten together, the Lord has placed on my heart the desire to reexamine the doctrine of sovereign election. And equally as I've mentioned before my focus in this study, which makes it different from the previous times that I've done it, is that the Lord is impressing on my heart a desire not only to be built up in the benefits of this doctrine, but to be edified from the fruit that comes from this doctrine. And today as we look at this verse in 2nd Peter 3.9, we discover one of those times where we are exposed to both the truth and the blessings that come from God's sovereign election. Now in San this, there's a bit of irony here because if you are a believer in the doctrine of God's sovereign election and have had the privilege of defending it against those who oppose it, you more than likely have heard your opponent use this verse as a way to refute. In fact, 2nd Peter 3.9, as well as John 3.16, which talks about how God so loved the world and by the way that's a verse we'll be looking at a future message to see if it refutes the doctrine of election. These are commonly the two favorite passages of scripture for those who deny the doctrine. Personally, I can't tell you the number of times that I've heard someone say, well brother Jarvis, I have a hard time accepting this doctrine that God elects some to salvation and he doesn't elect others because doesn't the Bible say that it's God's will that none should perish? Well taken into the account that the Bible does not actually say this, at least not in the way that it's often stated. What I want to do today is look at this passage and discuss three ways how it actually proves the truth that God does in fact elect some individuals to eternal life. But secondly, in keeping my initial thoughts of how God is both building me up in the truth and edifying me of this doctrine at the same time, what I want to do is close this message and discuss three wonderful assurances that God gives his elect. Then the words that Peter speaks here. Now, the first way that the doctrine of election is substantiated in this verse is when we consider what God is quote, willing in this verse. Again, let's look at the verse. It reads, the Lord is not slow about his promise at some count. But his patience towards you, not wishing or willing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. Now, when we speak of the will of God, we need to keep in mind that it's not an open and shut statement in short, it's not self explanatory, but rather when we speak of God's will, we have to distinguish it from three different outlooks. The first outlook is what we call God's decreed of will is the creed of will. And to put it simply, God's decreed of will is what he has decreed or purpose to take place before the foundation of the world. One of the classic verses that speaks of God's decreed of will in some way is found in Genesis 50, 20, in which Joseph tells his brothers ask for you, you meant evil against me. But God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive. In other words, Joseph is telling his brothers, listen, your hatred towards me and you selling me to the media nights all work together to bring us to this point where God is preserving and blessing us in the midst of the famine we're going through. Or if I can put it this way, it was God's will for you to put my life in danger so that I can go to another land and save your life from danger. So in this, in essence, is God's decreed of will. It's when God has planned and purpose something to happen through his sovereign pleasure and prerogative. But secondly, there's another outward concerning God's will, namely his preceptive will, his preceptive will. This is when God, this is when God's will rather is expressed in what he commands of us, hence precepts. A great example of this is found in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 16-18. 1 Thessalonians 5, verses 16-18. Paul says these words. He says, rejoice always. Pray without ceasing and everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Now, one of the things that should immediately jump out to you and hear in that verse is that when we speak of God's preceptive will, we are talking about a will that can be resisted. Now, oftentimes when I'm asked the question, you know, is it possible not to do God's will? I always respond by saying, well, what will are you talking about? If we're talking about God's accretive will in particular, then no, it's not possible not to do his will because again, his accretive will is what he has purpose to take place before the foundation of the world. However, if we're talking about God's preceptive will, then it is possible not to do his will because all we have to do for example is be miserable instead of rejoice. All we have to do is be ungrateful instead of giving thanks. So again, God's preceptive will is defined in him giving us commands or precepts for us to follow as his children. But third, and finally, there's the outlook of God's will of disposition. God's will of disposition. And this will is defined as God's natural feeling towards things based on the fact that he is our creator. For example, we see in Ezekiel 3311, when God says that he quote, doesn't take pleasure in the death of the wicked. What's being expressed here is that God is not throwing a party. He's not opening up champagne every time a person goes to hell. But rather as the creator of all mankind, there is a part of God that is displeased at the damnation of the unbelievers because in part, they are part of his creation. And if you remember back in Genesis, his creation was what? Very good. And being a loving God, God naturally has a part of him that finds no joy that everything didn't stay good even though he ordained it not to be so. Therefore, God's will of disposition is not a will in which he takes an action. It's not a part of his will where he commands something is just an expression of his feelings towards his creation as their creator. So with all this stated, we're now faced with the question, what is meant by God's will in 2nd Peter 3.9? Well, we can obviously rule out his preceptive will because there's no expressed command in that verse. So this leads us really with two options, either his decreed of will where he decrees ordained something to happen or his will of disposition where he expresses his feelings toward something. And the way we answer that is by looking at this verse's overall context. So let me have you go back up to verse 3 and we're going to read down the verse 9 to see what's exactly happening here. Verse 3 reads as follows. Know this first of all that in the last days, markers will come with their mocking following after their own lust and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God, the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water through which the world at the time was destroyed, being flood by water. But by his word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness but is patient towards you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. Thus, when we look at verse 9, it's context. When we look at it and don't isolate it from the rest of the passage that it's there, here is what we have. In fact, we have that God has not designed to bring about the coming of the Lord until all come to repentance. In short, second Peter 3.9 doesn't highlight an emotion of God toward something but rather it highlights an action which God is in the process of performing. Therefore, second Peter 3.9 must be understood from the outlook of God's decreed will. In short, it tells us that God has not ordained the coming of the Lord to happen until, quote, all come to repentance. But now this leads another question. What is meant by all? Does it mean everyone or does it mean certain individuals? Well, the logical way we can answer this question is to ask this, will every person on this planet come to repentance? Well, if you've been saved even 10 minutes, you know for a fact that this question can be met with an emphatic note. Every single person will not come to repentance. Therefore we are left to conclude that the all in this statement refers to certain individuals. Because if the all refers to everyone, then we have to say that the mockery Peter talks about in second Peter 3 is right in saying that the coming of the Lord is not going to come. In other words, if God is waiting beloved to sin Christ after every single person comes to repentance, then Jesus is never coming because not everyone is coming to repentance. And in essence this tells us that God can ordain things to occur, that can be frustrated, that can be thwarted by man, which is something that scripture refutes. Therefore beloved, what we see in second Peter 3.9 is God's divine plan to say certain individuals from spiritual death, and after he has successfully saved everyone whom he has chosen to save, he will then come, Christ will then come rather, thus finishing God's plan of redemption. Now, if that thorough breakdown of our text was not sufficient in convincing you, that second Peter 3.9 is a past, it's a past that proves God's sovereign election, then maybe the direct words of Peter will. Because secondly, when we consider the audience that Peter is writing to, we are told by him that it is directed towards God's elect. Again, look with me at second Peter 3.9. It says, the Lord is not slow about his promise as somehow slowness, but his patience towards you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. Now, the you tells us that Peter has a specific audience in mind, so the question needs to be asked, and please excuse my grammar beforehand, who is you? Who is you? Well, one clue to who you is, and don't tell me to say that again, can be found in the beginning part of verse 1 of this very chapter. Let's look at verse 1, chapter 3 at the very beginning of verse 1. It reads, this is now beloved, watch this, the second letter I am writing to you. Now, since we know that the name of this letter is called second Peter, this implies what? That there's a first Peter. So, who was Peter writing to in first Peter? Well, turn over with me there to first Peter, and we are going to see Peter's audience in the first two verses. We are going to see Peter's audience in the first two verses, first Peter, and it reads as follows, those who reside as aliens, scattered through Pontius, Galatia, Capagotia, Asia, and Bethania. Now, watch this, who are chosen according to the four knowledge of God, the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood. And, short, in answering the question of who is you, we see that you is referring to God's elect, those who were, quote, chosen according to the four knowledge of God, the Father, by the sanctifying work of His Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and to be sprinkled with His blood. Now, equally, we don't even have to go that far, because Peter backs up this claim even at the beginning of second Peter, because he tells us that the audience of the second Peter are, quote, those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God in Savior Jesus Christ. Now, again, beloved, the evidence shows us that second Peter 3.9 is a verse that is proof of God's doctrine of election, and it does not refute it. However, if the first two points didn't convince you, then there's a third and final one, an argument from the grammatical makeup of this verse. Let's look at this verse again at second Peter 3.9. Second Peter 3.9. It reads again, the Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but as patience towards you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. Now, let me draw your attention to three words in this verse, you, any, and all. Now, one thing that can't be denied in reading this verse even by the hardened skeptics, if they're honest, is that these three words refer to the same thing. In other words, you and any and all refer to the audience that Peter is writing to. Therefore, as we saw in our second point, if the you refers to God's elect, then the any and all refer to God's elect also since the you is the antecedent of the any and all. Therefore, this verse can also be translated like this. The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but as patience towards his elect, not wishing for any of his elect to perish. But for all of his elect to come to repentance. But in the end, beloved, no matter which one of these proofs you go with, here's the bottom line. Second Peter 3.9 when seen in its context is not a verse that refutes the doctrine of God's sovereign election, but rather when understood properly, it actually serves as one of the strongest proofs. Now, keeping with our overall objective as we now transition into the second part of this sermon, we see that it also holds three wonderful arguments or assurances rather within it that again serve as a comfort for those who are recipients of God's electing grace. Now, the first assurance that we can take from second Peter 3.9 is this. God will do all that He pleases. God will do all that He pleases. And again, how do we know this? Because when God decrees something, it's going to happen the way He planted the happen. And as we saw in our last point, this is what second Peter 3.9 is telling us. But in addition to second Peter 3.9, there are also several other scriptures that back up this claim. So, let me give you three of them. I'm not going to have you turn to them, but I'll give you these three. First of all, the first one comes from Job 42 verse 2. Job 42 verse 2. It reads that God can do all things, and no plan of His can be thwarted. That's Job 42. The next verse I want to give you is Daniel chapter 4 verse 35. Daniel chapter 4 verse 35. It tells us that God, quote, does according to His will in the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth. And no one can ward off his hand or say to him, what have you done? Again, that's Daniel chapter 4 verse 35. And here's a verse we all know very well. Isaiah 46.10. It tells us that God, quote, declares the end from the beginning. And from ancient times things which have not yet been done, saying, my purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure. Again, as Isaiah 46.10. And ultimately, beloved, here's where the importance of understanding 2 Peter 3.9 correctly becomes critical to the believer. Because we need to keep in mind, beloved, that a God who does not get what he wants or is waiting on simple and rebellious human beings to quote, get their act together to make his plan work is not the God of the Bible. Not a God at all. And unfortunately, this is the type of God that is being proclaimed in a lot of our churches today. You know, over the past few years, I've often been asked the question, well, how do you know if the church you attend is a good church? How do you know if it's a faithful church? And I often respond by saying this. I said, listen, anytime you attend a church and the worship and the preaching is designed under any one of these following premises. God won't, if you don't, God can't, if you, you do so, God can, or God can't, if you, anytime you hear that in any church you're at, make it the last time you attend that church. Because again, beloved, the God of the scriptures is not a God who is at the mercy of his creation. And rather, he is a God who is transcendent. He is a God who has provenance over his creation. And that is what second Peter 3.9 when understood correctly is telling us. Therefore, since all of this is true, we as believers can be assured that everyone who God elected in Christ from the foundation of the world, and everyone who had, he has decreed, will be washed in the blood of Christ, will come to repentance. And by doing so, every single one of these people will receive his saving grace and the eternal life that he has planned for them. But secondly, secondly, here's another assurance we can draw from a proper understanding of second Peter 3.9. Namely, that the present time is no indication that God's plan will fail. That this present time is no indication that God's plan will fail. Again, if we were to examine second Peter 3.9 in light of its context, we see that it comes in the middle of a discussion concerning the validity of the day of the Lord. For example, let me have you go back up to verse three and we want to read again to verse seven. It reads, know this first of all, that in the last days, mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lust and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. For when they maintained this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God, the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of the water and by the water, through which the world at the time was destroyed, being flooded with water. But by his word, the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. In essence, beloved, here's what we see. We see that in verse three, that Peter is talking about some mockers who were trying to discredit the day of the Lord by basically pointing at the way things look now. And how they were able to keep doing their evil acts and how Christ had not come to put it into these things. However, in response to this, Peter tries to guard those he's writing to, as well as all believers, by using the example of the flood. To say that despite the fact how things look at this present moment, this is not the end of the story. But rather, beloved, at the end of the story comes when according to 2 Peter 3.9 by his eternal decree, all of God's elect comes to repentance of their sins and comes to faith in the saving work of Jesus Christ. That's when the end comes. You know, quite possibly my favorite show on television is a debate show, ESPN first take. And it has two sports reporters who are the stars of this show. They have Skit, Bayolas, and another one by the name of Stephen A Smith. And they debate various current and sometimes controversial sports or even world news topics. In fact, when people often ask me about the length of time, it takes me to get home every week from down here to West Palm. You know, I always tell them, listen, the drive is long. Don't get me wrong. But it, but thank God for the turnpike and thank God for the ESPN first take podcast. Because I can play it and by the time I get home is just ending. So I'm entertained the whole way. Okay, but I still need your prayers on the road. So thank you. But nevertheless, one of my favorite times to listen to first take is during the times when the NBA playoffs are going on. Now, for those of you who watch basketball, you know that every playoff series is the best of seven. And short, in order for teams to eliminate another one from the playoffs, they have to beat that team four times in a series of games. And usually after one team has won the first two games in the series, or for example, when a team may go up three games to one in a series, much like the heat we're down with this first. I had to throw that out there. Sorry. Pray for me, Lord. We got quite in here. But pretty much when a team is down three, one or they're down 0-2, Steven A would take the opinion of, you know, this is done. The series over. It's a wrap. You know, let's move on to something else. There's no coming back from this. And then skip Bayless would oftentimes follow Steven A up and would be a little bit more optimistic. He would say, listen, don't be a prisoner of the moment, Steven A. Now, what does he mean by that? Well, what he means is he's telling Steven A, listen, just because someone's down 0-2 or 3-1, the series is best of seven. They don't have that for victory. It's not a best of three. It's not a best of five. So, in essence, what Steven, excuse me, what Skip tells Steven A is, listen, things can change any moment. Don't be again a prisoner of the moment. And thus, this is the importance of second Peter 3.9. It instructs us not to look at this present world and be a prisoner of the moment. But rather, it instructs us to look forward to the time where things will eventually turn around. Namely, the time when God's elect comes to repentance in their due season and when our Lord returns, puts an end to all the evil and collects all of his people to enjoy the eternal and blessed fellowship he provides. Now, we've seen that second Peter 3.9 gives us the assurance in God's decree. We see that it gives us the assurance that the present time is no indication that his plan has failed. But third and finally, we see an assurance which we have touched on, but now I want to look at it more in depth. And that is namely the assurance that our Lord is indeed coming back. That our Lord is indeed coming back. Look with me at second Peter 3.9 again. It reads, the Lord is not slow about his promise. What's that promise? That the Lord is coming back. As some count slowness, but as patient towards you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. And believe it, in the end, it is this promise assurance, namely that the Savior is coming back again, that serves as the fruit that comes from the two previous assurances that we've spoken about. Because as we stated before, since God has decreed a remit to be saved, and since the present time is no indication that God's plan has failed, this gives us the faith, it's in joy to know that God has not nor will not forget about us. You know, just a few moments ago, I mentioned that my form of entertainment going back home to West Palm is ESPN first take. However, my drive down in the morning from West Palm to Miami, I actually listened to the Ligonier app on my phone. So yeah, my phone gets a lot of work doing the week. And on that app, they have the renewing your mind broadcast by RC Sproul. And on an addition, this app also not just has renewing your mind, but it also has a lot of conference messages and a lot of studies that have been done through Ligonier Ministries in Orlando. And there you could hear things like Dr. Sproul, you could hear St. Clair Ferguson, you can even hear our own Pastor Ken Jones on this app. Now, one of the conference messages that I actually have downloaded right now saved, and I listen to regularly on my phone, is a message that Anthony Carter did at last year's Ligonier conference, the 2013 conference, on his most recent book entitled Blood World, in which he talks about how the blood of price accomplishes our salvation in various areas. And in this message, Tony Carter talked about how when he was growing up on every first Sunday when he was a child, he would go with his family to his local church in rural Michigan where he grew up. And during this communion service that was going on that first Sunday, someone would always raise a song. It would be the same song, song, every first Sunday. And if you have been in a predominantly African American church, you know exactly the song I'm talking about. I know it was the blood. And just like Pastor Carter and most of you, I remember singing this song on every first Sunday too growing up. However, even from childhood, there has always been one line in that song that's been my favorite. Even now, a line that always brought joy to my heart every time I sung it. And it was this line. He's coming back again. He's coming back again. He's coming back again for me. One day when I was lost, he died upon the cross. And I know it was the blood for me. And beloved, now being a Christian and working in full-time ministry. Not only am I constantly reminded that God has decreed my salvation in His Son. Not only am I reminded that the blood of Christ is at the center of my salvation, but I am also reminded that the same blood guarantees that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, my precious redeemer and friend, will indeed come back for me. See, He's going to bring me into His heavenly kingdom. And I will be His and He will be mine for all eternity. However, in San this, you know what ultimately makes ministry so sweet to me? When God doesn't just remind me of these things, but rather when He allows me to be a witness when He reminds you of these things. You know the times where I see the joy on your faces when you hear a gospel truth and it penetrates your heart from the preaching and teaching of God's Word. The times where I go out with brother Hill, brother Johnson, brother Brooks, and help commune the sick and shut in. The times where I'm visiting members in the hospital were in a nursing home, and I get the opportunity to be an encouragement and pray with them in their moment of suffering. The times that I can call members and talk with them about the suffering they're going through through the death of a loved one, or when I can take your prayer request and see in your eyes that everything is going to be all right. Beloved, these are the times that makes ministry sweet to me. Because these are the times that I get to witness how God is reminding you that you are one of His elect people. And thus even in those times of discouragement that you go through, even in those times of pain, even in the times of sorrows you face, at the center of your election. And the center of the reminder of your election is this fact. He's coming back again for you. And Beloved, when he comes back, when he comes back for his people, this is what the book of Revelation tells us, that he's going to wipe every tear from our eyes. That there's no longer going to be any death. There's no longer going to be any mourning. There's no longer going to be any crying or any pain because the first things would have passed away. So again, Beloved, in the end, does 2 Peter 3 and 9 refute the doctrine of election? Well, I think we can clearly see that the answer to that again is no. But again, we actually can see that it is a verse that may be one of the strongest proofs to validate the truth of this doctrine. However, in San this, here are also a few things that it validates. It validates that God will fulfill His plan in electing us. It validates all hope that we have obtained victory in Jesus Christ and it also validates the truth that because we are in Christ Beloved, He will come back for us. And when He does Beloved, He will bring us into joyous fellowship. He will bring us into all eternity with Him. And we will never be frustrated or broken in any way when we get there. Amen.