by Jordyn van Gaalen

God Desires All to Be Saved

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“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9 NIV

“Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.”
2 Peter 3:15 NIV

We are in the waiting. Waiting for God’s promise of a new heaven and a new earth.

“But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
2 Peter 3:13 NIV

The Lord’s patience means salvation.

In this time of waiting, opportunities arise to bring more people to Christ. The Holy Spirit is in the process of changing hearts. The Spirit is in the process of setting hearts on fire with passion and love. God is patient and his timing is perfect. He sees the whole picture from beginning to end, in all its intricacies and interwoven stories. He has a plan. And His desire is for His children to come to know Him. Every child, every human, all of mankind.

God is coming. His promise reigns true. And it is in the Lord’s kindness, in His patience, that we wait. He desires all to repent in order to turn to Him as the only Savior. It is God’s deep desire that everyone would be saved, that everyone would come into His arms, adopted as His children and as His heirs. 

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?”
Romans 2:4 NIV

Repentance involves a change of the heart. It is recognizing our guilt and inability to save ourselves by any means. It is turning away from our pursuit of being our own gods, and fully surrendering to God. Repentance transforms into faith, as we turn to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is in this repentance and faith that we lift our hands and surrender our hearts to our Good and Perfect Father. 

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado