How do Christians make their "calling and election" certain?
2 Peter 1:10
ESV - 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
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Asked April 18 2014
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Anthony Clinton
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
James Kraft
I believe we will be very surpised at some of the people we thought were not going to heaven, and also some that we thought would be there are not. Only God knows for sure about others, but we can be sure by our faith in Jesus finished work on the cross. My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. If His blood sacrifice for my sins is not good enough, then no one can go to heaven. Thank God His grace is sufficient for all my sin. Why He should die for such a worm as I is beyond my understanding.
Merle Mullet
2 Peter 1:10 "...to make your calling and election sure." This passage must give adherents to John Calvin's theology of election, heart burn. In context, this passage in 2 Peter 1.3-11 gives a list of requirements to "make their calling and election sure" along with the assurance all that is needed is available to those who will believe. Believers have access to the promises contained in God's word, believers have been made partakers of the divine nature, given knowledge and the admonition to act upon the gifts they have received so that we won't be barren or unfruitful. If one is careful in regard to these admonitions, they will never be deceived by Satan's lies, or fall. By implication, if the elect don't do these things their "calling and election" is not sure.
God calls everyone to repentance from sin, for all have sinned (Romans 3.23). God requires that each respond to His call by an act of the will. By doing so each are invited into relationship with God himself. God's call requires a personal response to become effective in an individuals life. While God empowers belief, he ialso requires that respondant take their calling seriously and like the "good steward" invest wisely and not out of fear bury the gift as did the "unfaithful steward." (Matthew 25.25-30, Luke 12.46) We also must guard against becoming indifferent to the blessing as did Esau, who sold his birth right for a bowl of soup disregarding the blessing of God and making it of no value to him
Shirley H
James, ‘I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but while my lean on Jesus’ Name! On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. ALL other ground is sinking sand!!
Danny Hickman
"If you practice these qualities you'll never fall."
The person who believes that we must behave a certain way in order to get and stay saved, thinks this is said to us to get us to live in a way that proves our mettle as believers. When in fact, we were chosen to be saints of God and nothing can change that.
Peter means if you practice the qualities he listed you can rest in the grace and peace you have with God, given to you because of the cross of Jesus Christ, and not doubt that God called you out of darkness and death.
The sin conscience saint says 'Well if we've been called out of darkness we should walk in the light.' (Prove it by our conduct). That's a total misunderstanding of the gospel and grace of Jesus Christ. Walking in darkness is walking in unbelief. The most difficult unbelief to get shed of is the belief that we can perform our own brand of righteousness and be in the light. Jesus did it, WE CAN'T!!
Walking in the light is walking in the knowledge of the grace of God, KNOWING that we're saved, forgiven, enjoying the peace of God's love because our sins were removed when Jesus was crucified for our redemption. OUR SINS ARE FORGIVEN!! LIVE LIKE IT!!
Walking in darkness is NOT KNOWING that your sins are forgiven, thinking you can please God for yourself, or not caring about it at all.
Trusting in the Cross removes all doubt about God's love for us. Trusting in your "good behavior" will always cause you to doubt. It lasts until your next failure.
Shirley H
Romans 10:9: "If you declare with your mouth that Jesus Christ is the Lord, and if you believe with your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you will be saved!"