2 Peter 1:10-11 Why the rather, brothers, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, you shall never fall:… But do not our calling and election proceed from God? How then can these be made sure by any action of ours? Can we confirm Jehovah Himself in His purpose, or bring confirmation to any of His promises? The sureness to be attained is the sureness of evidences which men themselves can bring out, take note of, and increase beyond the possibility of a question. I. THE TEXT PRESENTS GOD'S CALLING AND ELECTION OF HIS PEOPLE AS A MOTIVE TO DILIGENCE ON THEIR PART IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. The Bible never represents the fact that all believers are called of God by His Spirit as superseding in the least the necessity of personal effort for the attainment of holiness, but makes this fact a ground of exhortation to diligence and perseverance. The reason why many regard the purposes of God, even in the application of His grace, as in some way a barrier to their own effort, is that they conceive of all God's purposes as being executed by physical and irresistible force. This objection is contradicted by our own consciousness. If God at any point comes in conflict with our free agency, it must be m carrying out His purpose, and not simply in having a purpose. "Except these abide in the ship ye cannot be saved." God's purpose was to be made sure by the agency of men accustomed to manage a ship. II. THE VIRTUES AND GRACES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER IN A FULL AND SYMMETRICAL DEVELOPMENT, GIVE TO THEIR POSSESSOR THE ASSURANCE OF HIS PERSONAL CALL AND ELECTION. No amount of technical knowledge of religion can certify our personal interest in Christ. No rapture of occasional experience can certify our calling and election. Assurance grows with the fruits of grace, is inseparable from these, is dry branch without these. III. THIS COMPLETE CHRISTIAN CHARACTER ATTAINED IS LIFE ASSURES PEACE AND TRIUMPH IN DEATH, AND A JOYFUL ENTRANCE INTO ETERNAL LIFE. As Dr. Doddridge interprets the text, carrying out the figure of a choir of graces, "if you will lead on the virtues and graces here enumerated in their beautiful order, those graces will attend you in a radiant train to the mansions of immortal glory and blessedness." He who matures these graces in life shall have victory over death. (Joseph P. Thompson.) Parallel Verses KJV: Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: |
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