Make Your Calling and Election Sure

The Calling and Election of the Christian

2Peter 1:10
Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

The Scripture tells us to add to our faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. We are then told these qualities must abound in us before our relationship with Jesus will be fruitful. Also, we are told that if we lack these qualities we are blind and cannot see afar off, and that we have forgotten we were purged from our old sins.

2Pet 1:2-11
2) Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Blindness

Verse 9 speaks of blindness which is an inability to see afar off and speaks of forgetting that they were purged from their old sins. Verse 9 also tells us these conditions are the result of not possessing the character qualities of verses 5-7.

The blindness of verse 8 refers to a person who will not see and has chosen to not remember they were called to a lifestyle of holy living. As Christians, we are expected to know and understand that our born-again experience is the beginning of God’s process to change us and not the end or completion of His work in us. It is true that Christians are made right with God through forgiveness, but after they are forgiven they are called to a life of sanctification; the work of Christ is both a justifying and a sanctifying work.

We are told everywhere in Scripture that there is to be a division or a conscious separation from all forms of wickedness subsequent to our adoption into the family of God. Christians are plainly told to “be holy for I am holy”. From this we learn the Lord both calls and enables His people to “put on” godly behavior. The above scriptures are very clear and there are other scriptures that speak with the same clearness about our call to holy living.

2COR 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.

ROM 6:19
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

ROM 6:22
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

2COR 7:1
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

1Thess 3:12
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
13) To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

EPH 4:24
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

1THESS 4:7
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

2Pet 3:11-13
11) Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12) Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13) Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

JUD 1:23
And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.

Seeing Afar Off

Not seeing “afar off” means not understanding or discerning the eternal goals of the Lord for our individual lives. The blind Christian does not see their life as the arena and the means of their sanctification. They do not view or interpret their circumstances as an opportunity to submit their heart to the Lord. They do not understand that holiness is not optional and that the Lord has chosen our (earthly) circumstances to “perfect” or complete His work within us. People who cannot see the sanctifying purposes of God have no reason to allow their present circumstances to bring them to a place of heart change. They cannot see afar off! The blind Christian does not see, or feel, the need to “perfect holiness in the fear of God”. That person is not concerned about holiness but about their own fulfillment and their own opinions.

They Have Forgotten They Were Purged From Their Old Sins

We are being told that if we are not abounding in the character qualities of vs. 5-7 then once again we have fallen into a sinful lifestyle! If we were purged from our old way of living then why are we not valuing godly living? To not abound in the character qualities of verses 5-7 is the result of not seeking or valuing the personal qualities of Jesus Christ. We value Christ by wanting and giving ourselves to His character more than giving ourselves to our personal and temporary fulfillment. The sanctifying work of Christ is an eternal work, and we will carry our love of holy living into heaven. If we do not value holiness on earth, then we will be very unhappy and out of place in heaven.

To love and value Christ means to put on His ambitions, His priorities, His emotions, His thoughts, and His behavior. Salvation, to the person who has forgotten he was purged from his old way of life, is more about the security of heaven than the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.

Give Diligence to Make Your Calling and Election Sure

2Pet 1:10 says to make our calling and election sure (steadfast, firm). This does not mean that our ability to live a good life will save us, but it does mean that the saving work of Jesus Christ includes not only forgiveness but a sanctified lifestyle as well. We often face painful and difficult circumstances as we follow the Lord. If we know the calling of the Lord is to put on virtue, knowledge, self-control (temperance), patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity then we can see our difficulties as bringing us to the place of real change. Often, the only way to survive spiritually is by facing our problems with a heart and mind strengthened through practicing the character qualities of 2pet1:5-7. The scripture tells us the Lord tests (purifies) the heart. Holiness is neither old fashioned nor legalistic, but is contemporary and beautiful because it reflects the Person and character qualities of Jesus Christ. He is our example and also our delight because He is perfect in holiness. This culture scoffs at salvation, scoffs at objective truth, and scoffs at anything that promotes submission of one's life and will to Jesus Christ. But His people, through holy living, defeat the dark spirit of this age and show the Lord Jesus to be more powerful than all the powers of hell.

Scripture

Psa 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.

Psa 37:25-26 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. He is ever merciful, and lendeth; and his seed is blessed.

Psa 37:30-31 The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment. The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.

1Co 6:9-11 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

1Co 6:18-20 Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19) What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

Rom 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Eph 5:1-8 Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children: 2) And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savor. 3) But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5) For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6) Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

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