- [2Pe 1:10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
- Be all the more diligent. Another echo of verse 5. Make every effort…
- Calling. Vs. 3. Through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence. God the Father calls. The NASB renders this verse as "be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you.” How does one do this?
- Election. In theological terms, there are two calls related to salvation - the general or broad call (the public preaching of the gospel) and the “effectual call.” Though the effectual call was laid before the foundations of the world, we must hear the gospel and turn in repentance and faith. Many hear the gospel yet do not turn to Jesus. There are also those that give an outward profession of faith and even seem to bear a little fruit before it is found, in the words of John, that they went out from us because they were not of us.
- Practice. 1 John 3:19-24. In fact, all of 1 John gives us the practical application of practicing these qualities, making every effort to supplement our faith. According to vs. 23 of 1 John, "And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.” Our complete faith should be in Jesus. Our delightful duty is to love one another.
- [2Pe 1:11] For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- For in this way. Rev. 3:21. "The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne."
- To the one who conquers, to the one who perseveres…The Father commands obedience. We are to make every effort to supplement our faith with godly qualities and characteristics. We are to be diligent to make certain God’s effectual calling and choosing of us.
- It is the one who perseveres to the end, the one who is steadfast in practicing and growing in godliness who will be richly provided with an entrance into Jesus’ eternal kingdom.
- Paul is able to say with confidence in 2 Timothy 4:8, "Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”
- Abundantly.
- Two passages are immediately brought up regarding the word ‘abundantly.’
- John 10:10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
- Ephesians 3:20. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us,21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
- Jesus came to bring us abundant life. It is, again, through His spirit working through us through which we receive abundant life.
- A diatribe on abundance and wealth: It is eternal life that will be richly, or abundantly supplied, not wealth gained on this earth. It is sad to see so-called preachers like Stephen Furdick, Joel Osteen, TD Jakes, and many, many others twisting the text of scripture to mean something it does not. We must allow the text to speak for itself and not our - or others - interpretations of the text to malign correct doctrine. We must abide by the reformation teaching of scripture interpreting scripture. This is the primary issue with almost every false Christian church. The Mormons prophets “heard” Jesus reinterpret the Biblical text. The Roman Church claims its pontiff speaks for Christ, making himself equal or even greater than Scripture. Unsound Charismatics believe they receive revelations from Jesus himself. We have false teachers in our own valley that proclaim Jesus gives the correct interpretation of Scripture through some feeling or passing thought.
Beginning of Part 3
- 2Pe 1:12 - Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
- Even the casual Bible student will see the wisdom in Peter’s exhortation here. I might go on a bit of a tangent if I’m not careful. How many times throughout Sacred Scripture do we see the people of God say “I will not forget you,” “We will do all the things you tell us to,” and the like just to immediately forsake said promise. The only good promise is from God. It is God who grants us His precious and very great promises. We are not so much forgetful as we are quick to pursue our lusts when it is inconvenient to follow hard after Christ. We sing of our promises each Sunday. Oh, how I wish I could sing some of our Sunday morning songs with the conviction of one who truly does what is said in the lyrics.
- And yet, Peter, knowing what is in man, states that he intends to remind us of these qualities, even to them that know them and are established in the truth that they have.
- How many times do the NT writers even say that the recipients needed reminding of certain subjects. Peter, here, says we need reminded of the qualities of sanctification. Jude wrote in order to remind his readers to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.” Paul reminded Timothy to “want into flame the gift of God.” We are to be a reminding people, another of the many reasons to come together as an assembly of believers.
- Is anyone here curious of Peter's qualification, “though you know them and are established in the truth that you have?” Paul certainly isn’t one to waffle at ego or reputation. Heaven is at stake.
- So writes Paul in Romans 15:14-16. Paul reminds his readers because of his position instituted by God Almighty…in order that the offering of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. I would assume Peter would utter a hearty amen to this. These reminders are sort of like the spaced lines in the middle of the road and the white line on the side, reminders to continually steer the car and not allow the erosion of the road to determine our car’s path.
- Peter here now speaks of “being established.” How have the Christians here been established? By their own doing? They are established by regular time in the Scriptures and good teaching.
- Acts 16:1-5. Paul was sent to alert the Gentile churches of the decision reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem, that they are under grace and not under law.
- Colossians 2:6-7. As they received Jesus Christ as they were properly taught. Paul affirms the teaching the Colossians received and exhort them to hold to it.
- 1 Peter 5:12. Peter urges the readers of his first letter to listen to the teaching of Silvanus as he brings them Peter’s letter and explains it to them. They are, in a word, to “stand firm in it,” echoing Paul’s words from Ephesians 6:13.
- We are to be a reminding church. We pray or sing the Lord’s prayer weekly, we partake of communion monthly, we recite the Apostle’s Creed twice a month, among other facets of our Sunday Worship. The Gospel and right doctrine should adorn all of the above. We cannot have proper relationships without right doctrine. Oh, sure - we can have good feelings, do nice things, and even bond with others in a base human love. However, we are to have a gospel-driven love that is entirely higher and better than that. In fact, it’s a point of sadness for me to have fairly deep relationships with fellow musicians, unbelieving though they may be. It’s a very sad thing to know I cannot have a deeper bond with them with Christ missing. On the other hand, it is something else entirely for me to meet fellow musicians who not only share a common love and high integrity but are in the faith.
- I want to, at this point, shamelessly plug the Ligonier Conference coming up in June. What a way to be reminded of our continual sanctification (growth in holiness) and connect with believers from all over who share our same love for the God who came among us in order to take our punishment for sin.
- 2Pe 1:13 - I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder,
- Body - 2 Corinthians 5:1-4,8. This tabernacle, this dwelling place of the Holy Spirit is to be “further clothed” in eternal perfection upon our deaths. Yet, Peter remains in it for the time being in order to be of service to Christ’s church, reminding us to grow in the faith gifted to us by Christ.
- Peter underlines this reminder with the phrase “to stir you up,” which can be rendered “to wake up, awaken, arouse (from sleep), or metaphorically speaking, “to arouse the mind; to stir up, render active.” In other words, we should not just half-heartedly hear this. We are to be mentally active, to consider. The more modern dictionaries, unaware or actively ignorant of Scriptures demand to be responsible Christians, indicts us with a more active definition. Peter here is, according to vocabulary.com, “calling forth” or to “summoning into action or bringing into existence.” Peter here would be like a trumpet reveille calling the army of God to get into formation and not to simply utter a “be right there” response.
- 2Pe 1:14 - since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
- John 21:18-19. Peter here remembers the words Christ spoke to him. He even tells him how he’s going to die.
- Duet. 31:14, 34:5. What happened to Moses? After summoning Joshua, singing a song, writing some more Scripture, he is called home through his death.
- 2Pe 1:15 - And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.
- Deut. 31:19-29. Moses ends his life teaching the Israelites a song about their eminent failures to follow their God. How does Peter end his life? Reminding us of the incredible grace of God in Christ.
- What is Peter hoping for? If I could put it in an Arminian way, to be able to handle this business after he’s gone.
- What things? Everything spoken of in vs. 3-7.
- As we close today, I'd like to read a passage from one of the articles you received today called, "A Helpful Reminder."
- All of this is not to undermine the sovereignty of God in salvation. Peter was well aware that only God’s election and monergistic work of regeneration can guarantee our final salvation (1 Peter 1:1–5). However, he also knew that God’s sovereign grace always reveals itself in that those whom He has elected seek after holiness. His sovereign work of redemption does not nullify human responsibility or free us from the need to fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:2).
- Our efforts do not merit God’s grace, but neither does God’s gift of grace mean that we can abandon His standards with impunity (see Rom. 6:1–2). Both of these points make up sound doctrine, and so Peter reminds of these qualities, so that we can be established in the truth and not fall prey to false teaching (2 Peter 1:12).
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