The objective of this lesson: to focus on God's enormous desire for people to repent.
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.
In the past, perhaps through the centuries, Christians painted a poor [often horrible!] picture of God. Without concern for the context of the incidents, we focused people on some dire incidents of men/women enduring the consequences of long term rebellion against God. These dire incidents often were an effort to try to terrify people into yielding to God. The underlying concept: "If we scare people enough, they will obey God."
To portray God only in terms of divine wrath and distributing human consequences draws an inaccurate, incomplete, distorted picture of God. While divine wrath exists, so does divine patience. When studying the consequences of rebellions and evil in the Bible, it is essential to place those incidents in the context of why they occurred. If we fail to do that, we distort the picture of God. To portray God as a being Who finds pleasure in punishing people is to misrepresent God.
We should never attempt to remove the disastrous consequences of rebelling against God. We should never suggest in any way that human decisions and behavior occur without eternal implications. We should never suggest that disobedience to God is without consequence. Yet, neither should we use the consequences of spiritual failure to mask God's patience. Never must we create the impression that God derives as sense of pleasure from destroying people.
Divine wrath and the consequences of rebellion or evil are real. In no way should we ever seek to ignore or deny them. Neither should we seek to exaggerate them. In patience, God invested far more to save people than to punish people. God prefers saving to punishing.
Ezekiel told the first Jewish exiles in Babylon that (1) their exile would not be brief [unwelcome words!] and (2) Jerusalem [their beloved capital at home] would be destroyed. He declared God called them to repentance through the horrible consequences they suffered. Consider a striking statement God made through him as he urged the exiles to turn to God.
Consider how devastating and disheartening it would be to hear that your exile would not be short and that the capital of the country you loved would be destroyed. Also consider God's desire to encourage the exiles. They were to look upon their consequences as a call to repentance. They were assured that their repentance would be welcomed by God.
Ezekiel 18:23 Do I have any pleasure in the death of the wicked," declares the Lord God, "rather than that he should turn from his ways and live?"
Ezekiel 18:32 For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies," declares the Lord God. "Therefore, repent and live."
Ezekiel 33:11 Say to them, 'As I live!' declares the Lord God, 'I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?'
God does not delight in destroying. God delights in saving. The wicked can cease being wicked by repenting.
God clearly stated even in matters as dire as exile and the fall of Jerusalem [the result of generations of great wickedness in Judah], God took no pleasure in the wicked's destruction!
God's finds no joy in the wicked's defeat! He prefers for the wicked to repent rather than be punished.
Ezekiel's emphasis in these statements is verified repeatedly. Though Eve clearly understood rebellion against God's instruction would result in death (Genesis 3:3), the gracious, patient God did not kill them. Though people's total inner wickedness rejected God, He was sorrowful and grieved in His heart. Rather than destroying all people, He began anew with Noah (Genesis 6:5-8). Abraham failed God in hiding the fact that Sarah was his wife (Genesis 20). Isaac failed God in the manner he favored Esau (Genesis 27). Jacob failed God by being a deceiver (consider Genesis 27). The sons of Jacob failed God in their revenge of Dinah (Genesis 34) and their treatment of Joseph (Genesis 37). Israel frequently failed God in the wilderness and in Canaan (consider Exodus 32 and Judges). Yet, though deeply offended, patiently God responded with grace, not wrath.
God's use of grace to respond to human failure has been consistent through the ages. In dispensing divine grace, God has been and is extremely patient.
If God found pleasure in destroying the wicked, He surely missed many opportunities for experiencing divine pleasure!
God's investment in redeeming people and again establishing His sovereignty over humanity is astounding! Consider His patience before Israel was delivered from Egypt, and His patience with Israel in Canaan. Consider His love in allowing Jesus to come as a human! Consider His agony in watching His son endure unjust rejection and suffering! God's desire to forgive and save surpasses our comprehension of the incredible! His love for rebellious humanity surpasses the most compassionate human heart! Consider Ephesians 1:3,4 and stand amazed!
It is impossible to exaggerate the expression of God's grace toward those who accept responsibility for their evil through repentance. It is God's nature to love before hating, to save before destroying. If we give God an option through our repentance, God will love and God will save.
When Peter wrote 2 Peter [likely the mid or late 60's], conditions were rapidly declining for early Christians. What began with a burst of popularity in Jerusalem (Acts 2:47) and had a significant impact on the Roman world (Acts 16:19-21; 17:6, 7) was growing increasingly unpopular. Apostles died. Jewish, Roman, social, and idolatrous forces united in opposition to this "dangerous heresy" that threatened beliefs and social order.
These first century Christians were extremely discouraged. Their expectations for Christianity's triumph in an evil physical world, and their expectations regarding the return of Jesus Christ were not met.
The Christian movement that once saw itself as invincible began to see itself as vulnerable. Failed expectations quickly become anxiety! Peter said, first, they needed to realize that nothing was occurring that God had not indicated would happen. Second, they needed to realize that Jesus Christ's prompt return did not fulfill God's purposes. Third, they needed to realize that counting of time is important to humans, but not to God. Fourth, they needed to realize that God was not being hesitant.
It is too easy for Christians to base expectations that fail on their own desires. It is too easy to focus on our desires rather than God's intentions, priorities, or promises. Our expectations must begin with God's intent, not with our desires.
Then how were they to understand the fact that the resurrected Jesus had not returned? They were to see God's patience. They were to see that God found no pleasure in destroying the wicked. They were to see God's enormous yearning for all to repent.
The fact that the resurrected Jesus did not return when they expected was not to be viewed as God's failure, but as God's patience. God patiently awaited human repentance.
Please note: Peter stressed repentance, not baptism. Those who repent are led to baptism. Those who do not repent do not commit to God when baptized. The principal difference between those converted to the resurrected Jesus and those who merely submit "to a religious rite" is repentance. God wants those willing to be baptized to be people committed to turning their lives around. God does not want an unrepentant world to be baptized. God wants a repentant world to be baptized. God can build a kingdom from people committed to turning their lives around in Jesus Christ. God can build nothing from people who refuse to repent--whether baptized or unbaptized! People who repent become what God always wanted--a people belonging only to Him (Exodus 19:3-6; Deuteronomy 4:20; 7:6; 14:2; 26:18; Titus 2:14).
Repentance must precede baptism. There cannot be baptism for remission of sins until there is a willingness to turn from sin. Biblical baptism cannot be viewed as a religious ceremony that obligates God. Biblical baptism must be seen as an act entered by the person who chooses to desert evil and chooses to follow God. When a baptized person clings to his/her old life and lifestyle, he/she declares repentance is not alive in him/her. He/she may declare that repentance never existed in him/her.
Thought questions:
This discussion should focus on the numerous incidents when God responded to rebellion or evil with grace. What impresses the individual student will differ with each student.
God invested the death and blood of His son. He continues to invest His grace and His patience.
One must want to turn from evil before forgiveness can occur. He/she chooses to follow God and serve God's will. That choice is made in repentance. God forgives the person who wants to come to Him.
God finds no pleasure in destroying the wicked. The statement of 2 Peter 3:9 and the statements in Ezekiel should be included in an explanation.
Link to Student Guide
Lesson 12