Discussion of passages that might seem to refute a reformed view of salvation

First, is it possible and OK for God to require/command repentance of those who will never repent?

God “…commands all men everywhere to repent,” (Acts 17:30b)

Can God rightly command us to do what we are unable to do, or does the command for all men to repent, guarantee that is it something we are able to do?

First, I hope we would agree that if the Bible actually teaches all are commanded to repent, and also says we are unable because of our sin nature, we would have to accept that as OK and true, becasue we cannot hold our ideas of fairness/justice above what God’s word actually teaches.

Second, I think we must affirm that God commands we do many things that we can’t do on our own: “…Be Holy, for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:16b), ^“Jesus said to him, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37), “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48).

Clearly all of these commands are right/good and God should promote what is right and good. However, it seems clear that in our natural state, without the work of the Holy Spirit, we would never do any of them as prescribed. So the idea that God cannot require of us what we cannot do, is clearly false from a biblical standpoint. If we did repent and believe the gospel, He would save us, as that would be in keeping with His promises, the fact that we won’t unless He changes our hearts first, does not change the rightness of His command.

Next, a couple of passages that can cause confusion –

First let us consider 2 Pet. 3:9 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.

Now, consider it in conrtext (My coments in blue)-

2 Pet. 3:1 Beloved, (Written, like all the epistles, to believers or at least those assumed to be. The church is the audience of the letter!) I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

OK, so we se that the "Beloved"/church is the audience and the scoffers are the problem being addressed. These scoffers mock the church regarding its belief in the return of Christ. The (church), under these circumstances, would likely ask, how can God let them mock Him and His people? Answer, they (mockers), “Willfully forget”, as is typical of carnal/mind nature, the history of God’s judgment in OT! Just as those who doubted the coming judgment in the days of Noah eventually perished by the promised flood, these present scoffers will suffer eternal judgment/punishment by fire. In Noah’s day God had promised provision for Noah and his family and after a very long time all those who were promised provision entered the ark and were saved. Noah may have told people to repent and be saved, but only those God planned on saving from the beginning entered the ark. Now, the church is told judgment is being delayed “by the same word” God’s word/His plan is responsible for the delay, but why, on whose account? –

⁸ But, beloved, (same audience in next verses) do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ 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.

First, we must affrim that God is not sadistic, He does not punish for pleasure, but out of His just/Holy nature, and if any did repent as He commands - He would save them, but we won’t unless reborn as seen in the discussion of Acts 17:30 above.

With that said is the “us”/usward (KJV) or you (NIV) to whom He is longsuffering, not willing for any to perish and giving time for all to come to repentance, those who are reserved for judgment/perdition the “scoffers” or is it the beloved/elect/church? Is God delaying in case some of those reserved for judgment repent, and He can only return once they all have their chance and He sees what they do? Or is He waiting until He calls and saves all He chose for salvation? It makes much sense in context that He is unwilling any of “us” church/beloved/elect to perish, so He will see all of “us” come to repentance, before he returns!

Consider the comparison with the days of Noah in the passage. Did God delay judgment in Noah’s day for the sake of the lost, in hopes they would repent, or for the sake of Noah and his family? God said Noah and his family would be saved, so He delayed the flood until the ark was built, and all God said He would save, were then actually saved.

Is Jesus return delayed until every single person who has lived or ever will live has had the gospel presented and can reject or receive it? Will God stop births for a few decades so evangelism can catch up and He can return? No, He is longsuffering toward those He is definitely going to save - the beloved/elect/church and will put up with His enemies mocking Him and us, and delay their destruction until He saves all those He has chosen. Not willing that any of the His children should perish. Still not convinced look how it concludes:     

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. ¹¹ Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Why would we be told to “hasten” or “earnestly desire” the coming judgment, if God is trying to save every single person? Would we be told to hasten/desire it while He does not? Should we feel guilty for wanting Christ’s return? If it meant lots of people who might have been saved, won’t be saved, because He did not delay coming, then we should probably feel guilty for wanting Him to return soon. However, He says we should look forward to it, the sooner He comes the sooner we know His plan is done, our heavenly family is complete, and His glory will be seen in both the judgment of His willing enemies and those equally undeserving who He chose for redemption in Christ!

Exegesis of 1 Tim. 2:4.

1 Tim 2:1 Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, 2 for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.

Greek - πάντας “all” can mean every one or all kinds; the context must help decide which. Does he mean prayers for every single person in the world – go get the Ephesus phone book! No, prayers for all kinds of people even Roman kings, those who you would think God would be against. The god’s the gentiles believed in were unique to culture/race and position was often associated with god’s favor. One God, who can save Jew/Gentile/rich/poor and even these evil rulers, is something quite new and amazing for this time/people. Now take that idea into the following verses -

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

All men period or all kinds - from all cultures/positions like the verse above? God is not sadistic, takes no pleasure in the destruction of lost, calls all to repent and if we would He would save us, but scripture says we won’t unless born again! I would hold that this is referring to all kinds of men – more reason follows for this understanding -

5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time,

Point, there is one way for anyone to be saved – Jesus Christ/gospel - He is the mediator and pays the ransom for “all” those who will be saved out of every tribe, tongue, people and nation! Probably no controversy in that, but does this mean He is the actual ransom and mediator for every single person who ever has or will live? Would that make salvation universal, most would say no, but a case could be made that if the price for everyone’s sin is already paid, why should anyone ever be made to suffer/pay for it themselves?

I will assert that Jesus took the wrath of God and is the mediator for all those He elected/called to be saved and exactly who they are is to be “testified”/revealed in due time, ss they are born again and believe!

"Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved."