"It is not that the Lord is slow in keeping his promise, as some suppose, but that he is patient with you. It is not his will that any should be lost, but that all should come to repentance." (2Pet 3:9)
The key is, which will of God is spoken of here? If it is God's will of decree, you'll have universal salvation for that means God decrees that none will be lost. But, there is also God's will of precept, what he wills for his creatures to do by his command.
God's will as to intent, his decree -
"You will say to me then, “Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” (Rom 9:19)
The answer to the rhetorical question is of course "No one can resist God's will".
"But he [GOD] stands alone and who can dissuade him? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me; and many such things are in his mind." (Job 23:13-14)
"Whatever the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps." (Ps 135:6)
"All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does what he wills with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can stay his hand or say to him, “What are you doing?” (Dan 4:35)
"...remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention,'” (Isa 46:9-10)
"The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations." (Ps 33:10-11)
"In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will," (Eph 1:11)
IF IN PETER THE WILL IS OF DECREE, ALL MEN WILL BE SAVED! BUT THERE IS THE OTHER WILL
God's will of precept -
"Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed... But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law," (Rom 2:4-5, 17-18)
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— (Rom 16:25-26)
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever, to observe all the words of this law." (Deut 29:29)
The number of the elect and who they are is secret to God alone, until saving faith is seen and evidenced in the life.
Friend, if you pray for the salvation of a loved one, do you pray to the will of your loved one, or do you pray to God who saves, 100%. If you believe God answers prayer, don't you find comfort that God will save the one for whom you pray? If it all depends on the so-called free will of your loved one, why pray to God? There is no comfort in the illusion of free will!
The key is, which will of God is spoken of here? If it is God's will of decree, you'll have universal salvation for that means God decrees that none will be lost. But, there is also God's will of precept, what he wills for his creatures to do by his command.
God's will as to intent, his decree -
"You will say to me then, “Why then does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” (Rom 9:19)
The answer to the rhetorical question is of course "No one can resist God's will".
"But he [GOD] stands alone and who can dissuade him? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me; and many such things are in his mind." (Job 23:13-14)
"Whatever the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps." (Ps 135:6)
"All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does what he wills with the host of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can stay his hand or say to him, “What are you doing?” (Dan 4:35)
"...remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My purpose shall stand, and I will fulfill my intention,'” (Isa 46:9-10)
"The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples. The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations." (Ps 33:10-11)
"In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will," (Eph 1:11)
IF IN PETER THE WILL IS OF DECREE, ALL MEN WILL BE SAVED! BUT THERE IS THE OTHER WILL
God's will of precept -
"Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But by your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed... But if you call yourself a Jew and rely on the law and boast of your relation to God and know his will and determine what is best because you are instructed in the law," (Rom 2:4-5, 17-18)
Now to God who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed, and through the prophetic writings is made known to all the Gentiles, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— (Rom 16:25-26)
"The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the revealed things belong to us and to our children forever, to observe all the words of this law." (Deut 29:29)
The number of the elect and who they are is secret to God alone, until saving faith is seen and evidenced in the life.
Friend, if you pray for the salvation of a loved one, do you pray to the will of your loved one, or do you pray to God who saves, 100%. If you believe God answers prayer, don't you find comfort that God will save the one for whom you pray? If it all depends on the so-called free will of your loved one, why pray to God? There is no comfort in the illusion of free will!