Connect Ezekiel 18:23 with 2 Peter 3:9 on God's patience and salvation. Setting the Stage God consistently unveils His character throughout Scripture. In Ezekiel and 2 Peter, written centuries apart, one theme rises: His patient desire to save sinners rather than judge them. God’s Heart Revealed in Ezekiel 18:23 “Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Lord GOD. Would I not prefer that he turn from his ways and live?” • The verse exposes the divine disposition—no delight in judgment, great delight in repentance. • “Turn … and live” underscores personal responsibility; God invites, not compels. • The immediate context (vv. 21‒32) shows individual accountability, affirming that repentance reroutes destiny. God’s Heart Echoed in 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance.” • Patience is not procrastination; it is purposeful delay, allowing space for repentance. • The promised return and judgment remain certain (vv. 7, 10), yet mercy governs timing. • “Anyone … everyone” widens the invitation, matching Ezekiel’s “wicked” category. The Thread That Holds Them Together • Same God, same heart—unchanged from Old Testament prophet to New Testament apostle. • Repentance is the hinge: God’s pleasure flows toward life when sinners turn. • Judgment is real, yet postponed; love provides the interval. • Divine sovereignty and human responsibility coexist—He wills salvation, we must turn. What God’s Patience Means for Us Today • Every sunrise signals extended mercy (Lamentations 3:22-23). • Evangelism gains urgency; time exists, but not forever (2 Corinthians 6:2). • Personal repentance remains non-negotiable; holiness answers His patience (Romans 2:4). • Assurance grows—God delights in saving, not condemning (John 3:17). Living in Light of His Patience 1. Reflect: regularly remember the mercy shown to you (Psalm 103:8-12). 2. Repent: keep short accounts with God, turning quickly from known sin (1 John 1:9). 3. Reach: share the gospel while patience endures (Matthew 28:19-20). 4. Rest: trust His timing amid scoffers who mock delay (2 Peter 3:3-4, 14-15). Supporting Scriptures • Isaiah 30:18 — “Therefore the LORD longs to be gracious to you…” • Romans 11:32 — “God has bound everyone over to disobedience so that He may have mercy on them all.” • 1 Timothy 2:3-4 — God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” • Jonah 4:2 — “gracious and compassionate … slow to anger.” • Hebrews 10:26-27 — warning that patience has limits when grace is despised. Takeaway Points • God’s consistent pleasure is salvation, not destruction. • Patience postpones judgment to maximize repentance. • Each believer is called to respond with repentance, gratitude, and gospel witness before the day of the Lord arrives. |
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