Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.
Summary: We have received a wonderful invitation. Now it is time for us to respond.
Knowing Jesus Christ is wonderful. He is very much alive and very active in his creation. Our God works hard to make himself known to each of us.
Being a Christian can be wonderful, but it can also be confusing. Christianity has been a part of human history for two thousand years. In all that time, people have been arguing about what Christianity is supposed to be.
Jesus warns of this when he says, “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15) The book of Acts tells story after story of conflict between the Jews and Paul. If that were not enough, false teachers confused people with corrupted messages about Jesus.
Paul works to shepherd the fledgling church of Christ among the Gentiles. Yet he is constantly confronted by obstacles and opposition. His letter to the Galatians is a heart-rending plea for them to return to the original gospel:
“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ.” (Galatians 1: 6-7)
Those that sow confusion and “are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ” did not give up. They continue to throw mud at our Lord and his church to this very day. Jesus warned us about these people when he says:
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.” (Matthew 7:15)
The “sheep’s clothing” part is telling us that they look and act like believers, even while they are working against the word of God. I am reminded of this fact because the words “calling” and “election” have been given special meaning by those who sow confusion.
In the Greek language, “calling” means “invitation” and the word “election” means to be “chosen.” Peter’s statement is simple enough. Peter is telling us to make “every effort to confirm your [invitation from Christ to be saved from hell] and [the fact that God has chosen you to receive this invitation]. In fact, one translation, The Message, states it like this: “So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, his choice of you.”
If you are not aware of the controversy surrounding these words, “calling and election,” I am happy for you! Yet be aware that some people may try and use them to trap you into the very thing that Jesus warns us against.
There is no mystery about Jesus choosing you. As Jesus explains to Nicodemus, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.” (John 3:14-15)
“Everyone who believes” are those who receive the invitation Jesus gives to all of us. God “chooses” us to receive the invitation and the gift of eternal life. Does this mean you can no longer reject God? Does having been chosen remove all risk of future temptation? Of course not. That is why Peter is so concerned that we keep our focus on Jesus. That is why Peter wants us to “make every effort” to confirm our invitation to salvation.
My wife and I recently received a wedding invitation to our son’s upcoming wedding. The first thing we did is confirm our invitation by responding with, “Yes, we will be there!” But that is not enough. We still have a lot of things to do. We have to “make every effort” to be ready when that day comes. Jesus expects no less.
Application: Take a personal inventory of the efforts you are making to confirm your invitation to heaven. Is there more that you need to be doing?
Food for Thought: What kinds of things come to mind when you hear Peter say “make every effort”?
Thank you brother. I really like your wedding analogy. In fact, it made me think of the times Jesus used the same analogy to tell us to be ready for the wedding of the Lamb. Matthew 25: 1 – 13 is one of those places. While He did not give a lot of specifics, it is clear that He meant us to live our lives in light of our eternal reward. He reminds us to live for Him, seek Him, love Him and serve Him. If we do that on a daily basis, we will no doubt be making every effort to confirm our invitation and that we are chosen to be part of His family.
Ah yes, the story of the Ten Virgins. All of them were up “oily in the moining” as our friends on the East Coast might say, but not all of them had oil.
Thank you for sharing this reference, Rich. It shows us where Peter’s sense of urgency comes from. He is not just making this up. He wants us to be ready to meet Jesus!
Amen brother. And oily in the morning. Really. 😊
9-25-2021, 2 Peter 1:10a, What kinds of things come to mind when you hear Peter say “make every effort”?
Examine ourselves and submit to Gods will. We do not become more Christ-like under our own power, but by God’s power, in Gods timing, according to His priorities as we submit to His will. We should see the beginnings of changes in our desires and actions toward others.
Hebrews 10:14, that “by one offering He forever made perfect those who are being made holy.” Cooperate with God as He uses His power to make this process a reality in lives.
Mature believers need to come alongside new believers and help them begin to function as the new creation they have become. Help them wake up to the reality of God and Holy service. See to it they are being spiritually fed, be patient and biblical with them as they try to understand and live this new life. Encourage a true living relationship with our living God as they are trying to make sense of this new reality. Stay away from big words, listen to them, help them understand their priorities, refer them to the Bible for clarity and always pray with them as well as yourself.
Ron,
What good advice! I have been reminded today of the truth of your observations on God’s Word. I see it again and again where God touches a person’s life and amazing things happen. People’s faces change. They are less angry, and become more concerned about others. They begin to make changes in the choices that they make. It is a wonderful thing to see.
Hey Jeff,
You got it, the transformation of a persons heart cannot be contained. They’re like a new baby. You can’t help but love them.
Blessings!!
Ron