All and Us-ward

All and Us-ward

II Peter 3:9

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

In the united love of the Godhead, the three Persons of Deity, declared His covenant love toward the children of the everlasting covenant in this manner: “I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.” (John 17:23)

In the statement of the terms of the everlasting covenant of grace (which was established between God in His three Persons and Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ of God, who is our David) these words are written: “(26.) He shall cry unto me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. (27.) Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. (28.) My mercy will I keep for him for ever more, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. (29.) His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. (30.) If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; (31.) If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; (32.) Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquities with stripes. (33.) Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. (34.) My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. (35.) Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. (36.) His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. (37.) It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in the heaven. Selah.” (Psalm 89:26-37).

It should be noted by the reader, that the magnificent promises of this covenant are made to David (that is, to Christ Jesus the greater Son of David, II Samuel 7:12-17; Matthew 1:1; Romans 1:3) and His seed. And if it is asked, who is that seed? The scripture answers, (as many as) the Father gave Him (Christ Jesus) before the world was made (John 17:2, 9, 11; 6:37; Acts 2:39; 13:48; Galatians 6:16; Hebrews 2:16; Revelation 3:19; Ephesians 1:4; 3:15; II Thessalonians 2:13; II Timothy 1:9). As it is written: “Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ… And if ye be Christ’s then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” (Galatians 3:16, 29) To this seed it is promised: “His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven.” (Psalm 89:29.) Notice reader, it is God who makes His seed to endure for ever. And therefore: “he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22). And this promise is reaffirmed “Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie to David. His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established as the moon, and as a faithful witness in the heaven. Selah.” (Psalm 89:35-37).

From the scriptures that have occupied our attention, it should be as clear as a Sun Beam, just who the, all and us-ward, of II Peter 3:9 is speaking of. Consider to whom the epistle is written, it is written: “to them that have obtained like precious faith with us (the Apostles and believers of all ages, the remnant according to the election of grace Romans 11:5, those whom God has “reserved” (Jeremiah 50:20) the Lord having reserved them to himself (Romans 11:4) whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor, bond or free). “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;” (Revelation 5:9).  “…These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb.” (Revelation 14:4). This “us” is all those who are redeemed by the precious blood of Christ, at once, at Calvary, and by one offering, (Hebrews 10:14) these were redeemed, out of, every kindred, and were redeemed, from among, men these only were redeemed, there were others of the nations who were not redeemed by that one offering of the Precious blood of Christ, who, as the “only wise God” (I Timothy 1:17; Jude 1:25) possesses all that He has purchased. 

The “us-ward”, and the “all” who are referenced in the subject verse are, the “us” to whom the epistle was written; who “According as his divine power hath given us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who hath called us to glory and virtue:” (II Peter 1:3) In the first clause of this verse, all the individuals of a particular group have been given all things that pertain to life and godliness, that group that has received such amazing grace is referred to as “Us”. In the second clause of this verse all the individuals of that particular group have been called to glory and virtue, and all the individuals of that group are referred to as “us”.  Things that pertain to that group are, us-ward, who are given “all things that pertain to life and godliness, and who are called to glory and virtue.

The title words are used to describe those to whom great and precious promises are given, the promises of the covenant in Christ. For, it is written: “Whereby are given to us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (II Peter 1:4) These precious promises are promised to “us” that by these ye might be partaker of the divine nature, again the promises are to a particular group, that is all who are called with the holy calling, being named in the covenant, (Genesis 17:5; 32:28).

In the subject verse, that particular group, that is, the us who are called, who have obtained like precious faith, who are named in the everlasting covenant of grace, are referred to as “us-ward”; and it is “all” that group, of whom it may be said, that God is not willing that they should perish, for the Promises are to them; as many as the Lord our God has predestinated to be conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29), saying, “Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. (Psalm 89:35-37). 

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AJ Ison