Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard…
Summary: Things are not always what they seem. What we cannot see is greater than what we can see. Peter has warned us of several things. Today we look back at confirming our calling.
Today’s passage could be a line from a book or a movie. There is danger lurking about. We have been warned! Now we need to be on our guard.
But what is the danger? What has Peter warned us about? There are several warnings in his letter.
The first warning is implied. Peter writes, “make every effort to confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1: 10). Why? Does this passage suggest that there is a danger of one’s election not being confirmed? If so, what happens then?
This is the danger Jesus warns us of when he says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
Be on your guard against taking your salvation for granted.
This is a very personal warning. It is not one that I can see in you or that you can see in me. This is a warning between the Savior and the saved: Be on your guard!
As warnings go, this one represents a bit of a conundrum. Some will argue that if a person has been counted among the “elect,” then their salvation is irrevocable. But that is not what Scripture says in this case. The word “election” is translated from the Greek word eklogē. Eklogē, is a word that can mean “election” or “chosen.” If we use the alternate meaning, then Peter is saying something like “make every effort to confirm your having been chosen.” That sounds different!
Who does God choose to save? Paul writes, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2: 3-4) As far as God is concerned, he chooses “all people to be saved.”
This same Paul who wrote that God “wants all people to be saved” writes, “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15: 2)
Does this mean we are saved by our own works?
No.
This is one of those optical illusions you sometimes see in psychology books or the occasional magazine article. It appears that by holding firmly to the Word, we are doing the work of salvation. That is a bit like saying that the husband who brings his wife flowers is doing the “work” of keeping their marriage together.
The work of marriage is in forgiving the thousands of cuts that one spouse gives to the other without ever knowing it. The work of marriage is doing all the work when it seems like the spouse is not doing anything, while at the same time, the other spouse feels the same way.
We see only what we are capable of seeing. We are blind to what we cannot see. Yet because we cannot see something does not mean it is there.
The work of salvation is God himself becoming a man, living a life perfectly devoted to the Father and showing love to his fellow men, and allowing his Creation to kill him on the cross. After paying this horrific price and rising from the dead, he is now in a position to offer salvation to all those who believe in him.
When Peter writes, “make every effort to confirm your calling and election,” he is not saying that we should make every effort to impress your pastor. Doing a “good deed” once in a while is nice, but if we do not believe, then how can it be said that we have made every effort?
What does Peter tell us to do?
“… make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” (2 Peter 1: 5-7)
These are all things that are known only to you and God. Do not ever think that he is not watching.
Application: Be on your guard, hold to the word Paul preached!
Food for Thought: What kind of effort is Peter talking about when he says, “make every effort to confirm your calling and election.”
I’m looking forward to the comments… (I’m on east coast time) I feel conflicted. I was taught I was chosen and I cannot lose my salvation. But this is telling me Santa is watching and I better behave or else I’ll lose it. (I understand the balance between faith and fruit, it matters, but I’m still conflicted)
Cathy,
Thank you for joining in this morning!
This is one of those topics that are avoided in church circles because we do not want to cause anyone to doubt their faith. I do not want to cause anyone to doubt their faith!!
That said, the words I have quoted are in the Bible. We should not ignore them.
If being a little conflicted draws us closer to our Lord and deepens our faith, then it is worth the momentary uncertainty.
Blessings!
What kind of effort is Peter talking about when he says, “make every effort to confirm your calling and election.”
I believe Peter is talking about finding confirmation through an earnest attempt to pursue Godly virtues and actively grow in a Christian life. When we accept Christ’s sacrifice, we realize and understand that our sin is keeping us from God, and that Christ has paid our debt and make it possible for us to reunite with Him. We confirm this by growing closer to Him through the reading of His Word, in prayer, and through loving each other as we would ourselves. This isn’t what provided our salvation, Christ did that; this is what gives us confidence that God is greater than our sinful nature, and that we can have a relationship with Him.
The thought popped into my head when I read the worlds “calling and election.” I thought about every time I have received a letter in the mail stating “You have been preselected…” These are form letters, sent out to names on a list, and the people who sent them have no real connection to me, or know anything about me. God’s “calling and election” is not like that. God is capable of calling and electing me, individually and personally, and yet, at the same time, everyone else, individually and personally. As many as will accept Him. No list, just love.
Chris,
I like your example of being “preselected” for a loan, or credit card, or “free” something-or-other with a million strings attached. That is a great example of what we are not talking about.
Having a relationship with our living Lord is the best thing ever. Waking up to our need for that relationship is extremely important for our spiritual health.
I agree with Chris. I think verse 18 is important for the topic at hand. In 2 Peter 3: 18, after telling us not to fall from our secure standing (notice it is a secure standing), he tells us what to do instead: grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus. The grace refers to counting on Him and His work. The knowledge refers to more than an intellectual understanding. It means to know Jesus relationally. I believe Peter is urging us to persevere in the security of our faith. At the end of his letter to people under trial, he is cheering them on to finish the race. Like a coach for a long distance runner he is urging us to keep running toward the goal – which is Jesus. Hebrews 12: 1 – 3, 2 Timothy 4: 6 – 8. We want to be on our guard against the errors of those who are lawless so that we keep pursuing Jesus and finish the race. The opposite of falling is to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.
Rich,
Thank you! I added a link to your reference verses – they are excellent! So is your summation: “The opposite of falling is to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ.”
Some preach ‘hell, fire, and brimstone.’
Others preach repentance.
Still others preach God’s love and forgiveness.
All are true and are part of the gospel message. It is a very uncomfortable combination!
“The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,” (Eph 6:17) is sharp! It cuts.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)
01-18-2022, 2 Peter 3:17a, Part 1, What kind of effort is Peter talking about when he says, “make every effort to confirm your calling and election.”
Our strength comes as we become weak!
Believers have responded to conviction by the Holy Spirit, His call to repentance by rejecting, turning from our sinful ways, and choosing to live our lives IN the righteousness of Jesus Christ.
We have chosen to become imperfect beings serving our perfect God. We became acceptable to God as He now views each of us through His Son Jesus Christ. While in these bodies, we will always struggle against our flesh, and like Paul will become increasingly aware of our inadequacies as we grow in Christ. This does not mean we have lost our salvation, but in fact it means we have become more aware of how far short of Gods standards of righteousness we truly are.
John 16:8-11, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Romans 7:15-20
We confirm our calling and election as we begin to fully understand we are God’s work in progress, and all good in us is from Him not ourselves. We approach God knowing He is Sovereign in all things, and we find rest in His security.
His thoughts are not our thoughts, neither are our ways His ways. We are to be still and know He is God! The word “still” comes from a Hebrew word meaning to “let go” or “release.” The meaning would be best understood to say cause ourself to become restrained or to let go. Stop being a control freak thinking we ever have had any good in ourselves. We need to know His purposes in our lives are those which will stand for all eternity. He has given Himself as our security.
Isaiah 55:8-10, Psalm 46 :10, Proverbs 19:21, John 3:16
Ron,
Nicely said! I especially appreciate this sentence:
“We confirm our calling and election as we begin to fully understand we are God’s work in progress, and all good in us is from Him not ourselves. ”
I have been seeing this more and more myself. All good comes from the Father.
In Genesis 41: 16 Joseph tells Pharaoh, “I cannot do it … but God [can]” (Jeff’s paraphrase).
I cannot do it, but God can… this phrase puts everything into perspective for me.
Amen Brother!