2 Peter 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."
People use this verse and say, see, God wants all men to come to repentance in order to be saved so they will not perish. And of course it is true that he wants everybody to come to repentance — but the verse does not say repent of your sins. That is something people just add in because they realise others are confused about what the word repent actually means.
When the Bible says that all should come to repentance, it is about changing your mind about what you believe and believing on Christ. God does not want anybody to go to hell. He wants everybody to believe on Christ. That is why he calls for people to be soul winners and go out and preach the gospel — to explain to people, quit trusting in what you are currently believing, you need to repent and believe the gospel. You need to change your mind about what you believe and believe on Jesus Christ. Really believe that Jesus died for all your sins. And he does not require us to do any work or change our life, because he paid it all.
Therefore, 2 Peter 3:9 does not prove that you have to repent of your sins to be saved.
Pastor Matthew Stucky
