More on predestination versus “free will”: Will EVERYONE be granted repentance?

Someone pointed out something to me today. I’d noticed it before, but I’ve never done a lesson on it. Scripture is clear that God elects people to be saved. Some think this means everyone will be elected to be saved, while others believe that only some will be elected to believe.

Take a look at these verses and let me know what you think:

2 Timothy 2:24-26

24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correctingthose who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.

The word for “perhaps” is Mepote. This means, “that … not, lest, whether perhaps, whether or not, in no way, perhaps.” If PERHAPS God may GRANT them… It seems clear to me that people in opposition are not guaranteed “repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth.” NOR are people in opposition guaranteed to “come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”

We see another example of someone (Simon) whose intention of his heart MAY not be forgiven in Acts 8:21-23

21 ”You have no part or portion in this matter, for your heart is notright before God. 22 ”Therefore repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that, if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you. 23 ”For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.”

Perhaps we can see even more clearly that not every one will be saved by looking at 2 Timothy 3 – in fact, we are to avoid such people. Some of these people are “always learning and NEVER ABLE to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Indeed, “evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.” He probably does not mean all evil men and impostors, but even if Paul meant even ONE such person, this should be sufficient evidence to show not everyone will be come to knowledge of the truth (which is necessary for one to repent and turn to God).

1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. 2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of  money,  boastful,  arrogant,  revilers,  disobedient  to  parents,  ungrateful, unholy,  3 unloving,  irreconcilable,  malicious  gossips,  without  self-control, brutal, haters of good,  4 treacherous, reckless,  conceited,  lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power ; Avoid such men as these. 6 For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, sothese men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith. 9But they will not make further * progress ; for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also. 10 Now you  followed  my  teaching,  conduct,  purpose,  faith,  patience,  love,  perseverance, 11 persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me! 12 Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. 13But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of,knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known thesacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faithwhich is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, forreproof, for correction, for training in righteousness ; 17 so that the man of God may beadequate, equipped for every good work.

So no, not EVERYONE will repent. Not everyone will come to knowledge of the truth. Be sure you are not someone who ignores the truth, who fights against God and His clear word. Be certain you are one who turns from sin, turns to God through faith in the Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.