“Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:”
—2 Peter 1:10
End Times Spiritual Survival
WHAT DOES PETER MEAN WHEN HE SAYS FOR THE BELIEVER TO MAKE HIS CALLING AND ELECTION SURE?
There are many who dress up on Sundays and “attend church.”
How many of those have experienced the new birth, had their lives transformed and have been adopted into the family of God?
Though it is customary to refer to such folks as “brethren,” how many are truly saved?
From Notes on the Bible by Albert Barnes [1834]: 2 Peter Chapter 1
The word rendered election here, (eklogh) occurs only in this place and in Ac 9:15; Ro 9:11; 11:5″| Ro 11:7,28; 1Th 1:4; though corresponding words from the same root denoting the elect, to elect, to choose, frequently occur. The word here used means election, referring to the act of God, by which those who are saved are chosen to eternal life. As the word calling must refer to the act of God, so the word election must; for it is God who both calls and chooses those who shall be saved. The word in the Scriptures usually refers to the actual choosing of those who shall be saved; that is, referring to the time when they, in fact, become the children of God, rather than to the purpose of God that it shall be done; but still there must have been an eternal purpose, for God makes no choice which he did not always intend to make.
The word sure, means firm, steadfast, secure, (bebaian). Here the reference must be to themselves; that is, they were so to act as to make it certain to themselves that they had been chosen, and were truly called into the kingdom of God. It cannot refer to God, for no act of theirs could make it more certain on his part, if they had been actually chosen to eternal life. Still, God everywhere treats men as moral agents; and what may be absolutely certain in his mind from the mere purpose that it shall be so, is to be made certain to us only by evidence, and in the free exercise of our own powers. The meaning here is, that they were to obtain such evidences of personal piety as to put the question whether they were called and chosen, so far as their own minds were concerned, to rest; or so as to have undoubted evidence on this point.
[…]
We can rely on no voice, or vision, or new revelation, to prove that it is so. No internal feeling of itself, no raptures, no animal excitement, no confident persuasion in our own minds that we are elected, can be proof in the case; and the only certain evidence on which we can rely is that which is found in a life of sincere piety.
Just so there is NO MISTAKE. A “life of sincere piety” is the transformed life. That is the only way a person can known he is truly one of God’s.
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
–2Corinthians 5:17
There are MANY pretenders, false converts and tares who exhibit lives of “sincere piety.”
This is not the transformed, new life of the Christian.
NO amount of good works can confirm one’s standing with God. A new believer will have every aspect of his life changed.
This will manifest itself in many ways. Two in particular stand out. 1- A person will no longer be about the “things of this world.” The things of God will occupy his thoughts. 2- A person will begin to experience a loss of “friends” and others who were in his social circles. Most times, his social circle will shrink to a social one or two.
In view of the important statement of Peter in this verse, then, we may remark,
(1.) that he believed in the doctrine of election, for he uses language which obviously implies this, or such as they are accustomed to use who believe the doctrine.
(2.) The fact that God has chosen those who shall be saved, does not make our own efforts unnecessary to make that salvation sure to us. It can be made sure to our own minds only by our own exertions; by obtaining evidence that we are in fact the children of God. There can be no evidence that salvation will be ours, unless there is a holy life; that is, unless there is true religion. Whatever may be the secret purpose of God in regard to us, the only evidence that we have that we shall be saved is to be found in the fact that we are sincere Christians, and are honestly endeavouring to do his will.
(3.) It is possible to make our calling and election sure; that is, to have such evidence on the subject that the mind shall be calm, and that there will be no danger of deception. If we can determine the point that we are in fact true Christians, that settles the matter–for then the unfailing promise of God meets us that we shall be saved. In making our salvation sure to our own minds, if we are in fact true Christians, we have not to go into an argument to prove that we have sufficient strength to resist temptation, or that we shall be able in any way to keep ourselves. All that matter is settled by the promise of God, that if we are Christians we shall be kept by him to salvation. The only question that is to be settled is, whether we are in fact true Christians, and all beyond that may be regarded as determined immutably. But assuredly it is possible for a man to determine the question whether he is or is not a true Christian.
(4.) If it can be done, it should be. Nothing is more important for us to do than this; and to this great inquiry we should apply our minds with unfaltering diligence, until by the grace of God we can say that there are no lingering doubts in regard to our final salvation.
THE GOSPEL
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
“And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.“
-–1 Corinthians 15:1-8 – (h/t:B)
Will the reader respond? Has the reader responded? Is your calling and election sure?
Christ died to pay the penalty for sin.
He provided a way for sinners to be reconciled to a holy God.
Believe on Him, and you will be saved.
BUT, BE COMPLETELY SURE YOU ARE SAVED.
Jesus said “Few there be” that find the narrow path to eternal salvation. Most are far too cavalier about their salvation.
“and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.”
—Acts 13:48
Perhaps the most important question for the times in which we live:
IS YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE?
Not saved? Not sure?
The gospel of Christ has the power to save you and your loved ones! But only if you make your salvation more important than anything else in this world.
“So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.”
—Luke 14:33
No sinner’s prayer, no pledge card, no altar call can replace the gospel Jesus Christ, which is the power of God unto salvation.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”
—Romans 1:16
THE GOSPEL
“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”
–1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – (h/t:B)
Work Out Your Own Salvation with Fear and Trembling
RELATED ARTICLES
- FEW THERE BE: How Many Christians are There?
- Do You Know if You are Going to Heaven? Be Sure!
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- Make Your Calling and Election Sure
- NARROW ROAD: True Christianity is a Lonely Road
- Roman Road to Eternal Salvation through Jesus Christ
- Few There Be: How Few is Few?
by Jeremiah J. Jameson
–with Mondo Frazier
images;
1- Miles Stuart, FreeDigitalPhotos.net/ETPR
2- Kittikun Atsawintarangkul, FreeDigitalPhotos.net
© Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report, 2012-13. © Mondo Frazier, DBKP and End Times Prophecy Report, 2007-13. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Jeremiah J. Jameson and End Times Prophecy Report with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
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