7 Things God Is Not (Part 3)

We have reached the final part of the series I started two months ago considering the seven “God Is Not…” statements found in the Bible.

We have looked at God is not:

• A man - Numbers 23:19

• The author of confusion - 1 Cor. 14:33

• Mocked - Galatians 6:7

• Unrighteous - Hebrews 6:10

Let’s finish with the last three statements today.

God is not:

• Ashamed to be called their God.
• Slack concerning His promises.
• Willing that any should perish.

Read 7 Things God is Not (Part 1) here.
Read 7 Things God is Not (Part 2) here.

Statement #5 – God is not ashamed to be called their God.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.” Hebrews 11:13-16

​Hebrews 11, sometimes called the Hall of Faith, delineates multiple aspects of faith in the lives of patriarchs recorded in Scripture. This part of the chapter speaks of the desire of those who “died in faith” before receiving the promise of the Messiah. They believed God would perform what He had promised and lived like they believed that! They were seeking a land for themselves and refused to return to the land they left at God’s command because they were hopeful of the Promised Land even though it was seemingly out of reach. The writer of Hebrews says that those who followed this example would be part of a very special group – a group of people who “God is not ashamed to be called their God.”

The question is do we actually live in that type of faith today? I think that we often take for granted what God has promised us in His Word. Most of these saints only had small portions of God’s Word if any written in their lifetime. We have the whole canon of God’s Word full of His promises to help us through each day. Yet our faith can be so small. That is not God’s design for us. God gives us so many examples in His Word to follow. When your faith is tested, could it be said of you that God is not ashamed to be called your God?

​Statement #6 – God is not slack concerning His promises.

Actually, we find both statements 6 and 7 of our study in 2 Peter.

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

Let’s start with the first half of this verse. What does it mean when Peter says, “The Lord is not slack”? The Greek word here gives the idea of being slow or tarrying in coming. So, Peter is pointing out, in the context, that God has not forgotten His promise to return for His bride, the church. He is not slow or slack in that promise as some men think and even accuse Him to be. Peter explains in verse 8 that God is not governed by time as we are. One commentator explained God’s time this way: “People see time against time; but God sees time against eternity. In fact time only seems long because of man’s finite perspective.”[1] The Lord’s return is imminent and is something that all believers are admonished to look for with anticipation. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:8 that there is a crown reserved for those who “love his appearing.” Christian, don’t be discouraged in the Lord’s tarrying of His return. Look for and love the prospect of His appearing at any moment. At the same time, redeem “the time because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16). The scoffers, earlier in this chapter, forgot God and didn’t believe His promise to return. But as believers, we must be encouraged that what God says He will do. James 5:8 tells us to be patient and establish or strengthen our hearts because His return is coming ever closer! This “God Is Not…” statement brings great comfort to my heart, and I hope to yours as well knowing that He will make good on His promise! Are you ready for the coming of the Lord?

Realizing how God views time helps us to understand that God’s delay in coming back for His church after His promise made over 2,000 years ago is what explains the second half of this verse and the last point in our study – He is a longsuffering God!

Statement #7 – God is not willing that any should perish.

The rest of 2 Peter 3:9 goes on to describe a God who is longsuffering which allows for any who will come to Him to receive Him. Some people will argue that God determines who will be saved and who will not be saved. Although I don’t want to open a proverbial “can of worms” in dealing with this topic, I must say that this verse tells me that God doesn’t, wouldn’t, yea, cannot choose to send anyone to hell. His desire is that ALL might be saved. Paul states the same idea in these words — “Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4). God does not desire that anyone perish but that everyone who wants to be saved will be saved. One hymn writer said it this way – “Whosoever will may come.” God’s delay is not evidence that He isn’t going to fulfill the promise, but that He is waiting for all who will be saved. How I praise God for His longsuffering to you and to me to give us time to repent!

Dear friend, as we close this series of things the Bible says “God Is Not…,” can I ask you if you have experienced the longsuffering of our God? Have you come to Jesus, repented of your sin, and placed your faith in Him alone to save you? Jesus is the only way to reach Heaven (John 14:6). It would be horrible to study all these passages knowing about what “God Is Not…” and miss Heaven by the short distance between your head and your heart.

​Do you know this God who gave Himself for you?
​If you don’t, please reach out to us and let us show you how you can know you are His child.

To my Christian friends reading this series, can I invite you to search the Scriptures to know your God better than you ever have before? God’s Word is the way Jesus has been revealed to us. Don’t stop at these seven “God Is Not…” statements. Be like those saints of old who believed God even before they saw His plan of redemption in Jesus. Go to His Word and learn what He is to you so your faith will grow. James 4:8a tells us to get as close to God as we can and then He will close the gap and draw closer and closer to us. You will never regret spending time getting to know your God![2]

This “People see time against time; but God sees time against eternity.” and this "God is not willing that any should perish." should really spur us on today (and every day) to tell His story—the Gospel, to all who cross our paths.

[1] Gangel, K. O. (1985). 2 Peter. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 876). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.
[2] Special thanks, again, to Bro. Steve Anderson for letting me develop this series from these points he shared in a sermon at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Virginia Beach, VA, in May 2018.