What does the Longsuffering of God Mean?
By Pastor Roger Redmond
Message Number two in the series, It is God who calleth You”
2 Peter 3:9 -15
1]why your salvation is Eternal [can never be lost, forfeited, taken away from you]. [Review from last week]
You are Born of God, Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Joh 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
From the Word of God [i.e. John 3:7-16], you know that you are Born from Above when you believe on Christ, for everlasting life. Here is a promise of Jesus, Joh 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. “believe in Him” means to believe His promise that whoever believes in Him for everlasting life has everlasting life. You have everlasting life because Jesus promised it to you. 1Jn 2:25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, eternal life. Also, you know it is the Holy Spirit that brings you to Christ.
Why Salvation is eternal: 1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. What is that seed that remains? It is something implanted by God. I think that is more than His Word that has been implanted in you. It is something He gave you, Eternal Life and He is the Eternal One. So to speak, that seed is His Divine Gift, Born from above, a new life, His Life implanted in you. That new life does not sin. It cannot for it is your spirit born of His Spirit.
2] What happens when you as one who is saved sins. How do you reach an understanding of these verses: 1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. And 1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1Jn 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1] 1 John 3:9 is talking about being born from above that gives you a home in Heaven. The initial act of salvation that makes you a Child of God. It is coming to faith in Christ for eternal life.
Believing in Jesus is not a belief that He existed or belief that He died on the cross for our sins“ Listen to these verses John 3:16 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. John 5:24, Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 6:35,…. I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. John 6:37, All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. John 6:47. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
To believe in Him means to believe His promise that whosoever believes in Him for everlasting life has everlasting” John 11:25-27.
2] So He gives us His seed! His Life, His Nature! We still battle the flesh, the Old nature. Sin comes through the flesh but it can not touch His Seed that is in us. It is that battle with the flesh that we stand at the JSOC to give an account.
. I John 1:8-1:10 Is dealing with our sin as a born again believer, 1Jn 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 1Jn 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
Jesus is teaching forgiveness in John 13:8-10. We are clean as a saved person and we sin in our daily life and need our feet washed, by confessing our sin. And that is not the only lesson here we need to wash one another’s feet: we need to forgive one another. This is symbolic of confessing our sin committed in our life which is about fellowship.
This part of our life is about rewards = our place in eternity. 1Co 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 1Co 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 1Co 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
What is the cost of living with unconfessed sin? It is the loss of so many blessings.
A] the loss of growing up into Christ, Eph_4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
B] The loss of touching someone for Christ.
C ] The loss of being prepared to faced Christ.
D ] The loss of the power of prayer. Our prayers are before God, Rev_5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. Eph 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; Php_4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
The word lost and perish are translated from the same Greek word. Ap ol loo mee It is used ninety-two times [92] in the N.T. Only seven of the ninety-two times does it refer to being eternally damed. And six are found in The Book of John. Thirty-two of the 92 refer to physical death. [i.e. John 6:12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. It does not mean the bread is consigned to hell but rather not to be wasted.
His Grace and kindness are seen in His Longsuffering, 2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. He is not slack concerning His promise? That would be the promise of His coming.
“[1]slack — slow, tardy, late; exceeding the due time, as though that time already came. Heb_10:37, “will not tarry: For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. He is waiting in the Longsuffering of God!
his promise — which the scoffers quibble at. 2Pe_3:4,[ 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 the creation.] as if He is not aware of His promise. (2Pe_3:13). Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Some, the “scoffers,”count, His promise to be the result of “slackness” (tardiness) but it is not but rather His S.C. is held in His longsuffering.
long-suffering — (2Pe_3:15) shall be completed. He delays His coming so that more people can be saved. Not willing that any perish either eternal condemnation or suffer as a believer out of fellowship. So let us read the verses together 3:11-18, 2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Final Words
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; Even our salvation is found in His Longsuffering. I challenge you today to return to the shepherd and bishop of your soul. To be counted as the one that left the ninety and nine. And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
His longsuffering is toward us = to us-ward — The oldest manuscripts, Vulgate, Syriac, etc., read, “towards YOU.”
any — not desiring that any, yea, even that the scoffers, should perish, which would be the result if He did not give space for repentance.”
The Second Coming of Christ is waiting in the Longsuffering of God
come — the Greek implies there is room for their coming to repentance (compare Greek. You remember the Old Song, “There is room at the cross for you”. Though millions have come there is still room for you. This is not only about the cross to the unbeliever but He is speaking to believers to come to Him in repentance and He is saying there is still room for you.
Now go to Luke 15:1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him. Luk 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them. Luk 15:3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying, Luk 15:4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he finds it? Luk 15:5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. Luk 15:6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. Luk 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
He delays His coming because He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. Today is the day of salvation. For you to believe in Jesus for eternal life and for the believer to get right with their Saviour. The story of the Ninety and nine is so beautiful – He goes, He finds and He brings home. He says to a wayward child, there is joy in heaven over one sinner that repents more than ninety and nine just that need no repentance.
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