This passage from 2 Peter 3:9 is often used by those who wish to make the point that God does not have His chosen people, but rather that He impersonally prefers the salvation of all, but that salvation is left up to them. If we take a careful look at the passage and its context, we find that it is one of the most assuring verses in all Scripture, offering great hope and encouragement to the child of God.

First, note that Peter says at the beginning of the chapter that this is the second letter he has written to these same people. If we note who those people were from the first letter, we find that Peter addresses it "to God's elect, strangers in the world….who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father…." Thus, the second letter is also addressed to the elect of God who have been chosen by God. Also, in 2 Peter 3:1 and 8 he calls them "dear friends," which is translated "beloved" in the King James Version.

We may be assured then that when Peter uses the pronoun "you" in verse 9 ("us" in KJV, and it would make no difference whether the first or second person is used), it is referring to the readers who are the elect of God. Then, what is Peter saying? He is not saying that God is not willing that any human being who has ever lived perish but that all human beings who have ever lived come to repentance. Surely, if that were the case, the mighty will of God, of which Paul says in Romans 9:19 that no one can resist, would prevail, and we would have universal salvation.

No, what Peter is saying is that the mighty, decretive will of God has ruled and ordained that none of His elect, his precious chosen ones, his beloved children through Christ, none of them shall perish, but that all of them, all of us, shall come to repentance. We must never forget that repentance is itself a gift from God (Acts 11:18, 2 Tim. 2:25), and God will use this gift of His grace to bring all His children to repentance.

We should find this promise from God so assuring and personally comforting. After all, our hope rests on the promise of God (Heb. 6:17-20)!