Making Your Calling and Election Sure

Let us stop for a moment to consider this word, "calling." To what does Peter refer when he speaks about our calling? The apostle Paul has referred to our calling in the epistle to the Romans. Our calling is the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing us to the knowledge of the Lord Jesus. The apostle Paul wrote, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Ro 8:29-30 KJV). So we have five great acts of God: foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification. Calling then is the work of the Holy Spirit and is always efficacious when it is written about in the epistles. That is, it is always a calling to which its recipients respond. Calling is the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing us to faith in the Lord Jesus and to justification of life.

There are two types of callings found in the Bible. There is the general calling of the preaching of the gospel to the whole of the world. Then there is the special calling by which the Holy Spirit speaks to the hearts of the elect. Here in 2 Peter 1:10, this is of course is a reference to the special calling. Make your calling and election sure. Peter talks about calling first and election second and I will address this in a moment, but let us look first at the word election.

Election is a word that causes such a great deal of controversy. I don't know why. It is one of the greatest doctrines in the Bible and has been a great deal of comfort to me all through my Christian experience. I never have thought that anyone ought to be angry over the doctrine of election. Surprisingly, there are people who get very incensed over the doctrine of election.

I was so pleased about two weeks ago when I got a letter from a businessman which was eleven pages long. He was apparently a very wealthy businessman who was president of a large corporation. He was interested in the Five Points of Calvinism. He had heard on tape a message or two that I had given on efficacious grace. He was so thrilled over it that he wrote me these eleven pages and asked me to criticize his doctrine. He was rejoicing in the doctrine of election, having become a real student of the Bible. He had only been converted a few years ago, but is evidently a man of some age. Why people don't love the doctrine of election, I simply don't know. John Calvin wrote, "They who shut the gates that no one may dare seek a taste of this doctrine, wrong men no less than God." So I would not want to wrong you, by not saying something about the doctrine of election. I want you to enjoy it. It is one of the great truths of the Word of God. It is the fountain from which all of our blessings come. They all go back to that choice that God made in the councils of eternity. So why should we not love the doctrine of election? I believe all the true saints, when this doctrine is presented as it is in the Word of God, do in fact love it.

Unfortunately, election is often presented in such a way that it is no wonder that people do not like it. I traveled home after the message Sunday morning at about 1:20 PM. I got in my car just outside the church building, turned on my radio and listened to a program that came on in which the teacher spoke on election. He referred to election, but his doctrine of election was disturbing. He said, "Election is very simple. In election, God is voting for you, and the Devil is voting against you. And which ever way you vote - that's the election." That is what the man said. Now it is no wonder that a person doesn't get any joy out of that particular doctrine of election because if you know anything about the nature of Man, you know that we will never vote the right way. That is not the doctrine of election. What this man was teaching comes straight out of the mouth of Pelagius (who was a heretic during the time of Augustine). Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who have that idea of election. They think of it just as Pelagian as that, i.e., that the source of our salvation rests with Man rather than with God. That is horrible doctrine. That is strongly anti-biblical doctrine. If you have some ideas like the kind that this man put forth, they do not come from God, I assure you.

Election is election to the church of the first born who will be in heaven. Incidentally, if you think that I am stretching this a little bit by telling you that you should rejoice in the doctrine of election, then I refer you to someone who told me to rejoice in election. I will just read his comments:

²⁰Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven. (The words of Jesus, Lk 10:20 KJV)

Who said this? The Lord Jesus said this, and He told them to rejoice because their names are written in heaven. Hallelujah! I am rejoicing because my name is written in heaven. Election is a tremendous doctrine. Our text in 2 Peter says, "make your calling and election sure." After all that I have said, it seems that we are stooping to a very human plane. After stressing that election comes from God, and then to read in this text, "make your calling and election sure," it demands some explanation.

In the first place, this is no question that this is something that we are to do. In the Greek text, the expression in the tenth verse, "give diligence to make…" That verb in Greek is in what we call the middle voice. It can be translated most accurately as, "give diligence to make for/by yourselves…" So the stress rests upon what we do. Make for yourselves your calling and election sure. How can we possibly make our calling and election sure?

Did you notice the order of the words in verse 1:10? He did not write, "make your election and calling sure," rather "your calling and election sure." Now calling occurs in time. Election occurs in eternity past. So you can see here at the beginning, that there is a kind of order that suggests that what we are dealing with here is the human side of election (God's choosing). The way we experience or come to the knowledge of election is by coming first of all to the knowledge of our calling. In other words, we come to know that we are elect after we come to know that we have been saved. We do not know that we are elect before we know that we are saved. We come to know our election after we come to know our salvation. That is the Christian experience. We come to know that we are saved, then we come to know from the Scripture that we have been elected in eternity past. Not the time of our election, but our knowledge of it follows our knowledge of our salvation.

This is a substantial clue. You can see then that Peter is not talking about this from the divine perspective, rather he writes from the human standpoint. He is concerned about how the person comes to the knowledge of his or her election. To make my divinely decreed election certain for myself is simply a matter of assurance. How do I make my calling or election sure? I do this through the demonstration in my life of the products of salvation. That is what Peter goes on to say. "Make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble" (2 Pe 1:10).

One of the evidences that we are truly elect of God is the product of our life. That is what Peter is speaking about when he tells us to make our calling and election sure. He is simply telling us to give all diligence to make sure that the virtues about which he had just previously mentioned issue from our lives. When these virtues issue from our lives as a result of our salvation then it is through this that we have assurance in our calling and election. The apostle John says the same thing except with a slightly different emphasis when he writes, "¹⁴We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren…." (1 Jn 3:14 KJV) Or as James says similarly, "Faith without works is dead." (James 2:20) Or when Paul writes, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Eph 2:8-10 KJV)

So when we make our calling and election sure it means nothing more than that there should be a demonstration in our lives of the product of divine grace. It is through the product of divine grace that we recognize the reality of the source, i.e., our election and our calling. This is a very needed and necessary thing. In fact, the one who does not have any evidence in his Christian life has no reason to think that he does really belong to God. Let me read you something from Benjamin Breckenridge Warfield, who says:

Accordingly, Peter exhorts us to make our calling and election sure, precisely by diligence of good works. He doesn't mean that by good works we may secure from God a decree of election on our behalf. He means that by expanding the germ of spiritual life which we have received from God into full efflorescence (full flowering), by working out our salvation. Of course, not without Christ but in Christ we can make ourselves sure that we have really received the election to which we make claim. The salvation of God being a salvation and sanctification of the spirit ought, when worked out, to manifest itself in such forms as faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly love and love. By working out the salvation which we have received into such a symphony of good works, we make sure that it is the very salvation to which God has chosen His people. Good works become thus, the mark and test of election. And when taken in the comprehensive sense in which Peter is here thinking of them, they are the only marks and tests of election. We can never know that we are elected of God to eternal life except by manifesting in our lives the fruits of election: faith and virtue, knowledge and temperance, patience and godliness, love of the brethren and that essential love that does not put limits to its object. He that gives diligence to cultivating such things in his life will not stumble in the way, for it is with such things in their hands that men enter into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is idle to seek assurance of election outside of holiness of life.

Now there is one correction I would like to make to this, one slight correction. It is possible for a person who has believed in the Lord Jesus - for that settles the question of salvation and is evidence for election, for only the elect believe - and for us to see no evidence in the life. We must never forget this. We must not, as a matter of fact, look around and test the fruit in the lives of others. God has not called us to check the fruitfulness of other trees planted by the Lord. However, in the final analysis the man who has truly believed must manifest in his life, whether it is seen by us or not, evidence of the reality of the decision that has brought life.

Now then, Peter says in verse 1:11, "For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Pe 1:8-11 KJV) Those who do these things shall not fall. That is, they will not lose fellowship, but shall have an abundant entrance into the Messianic Kingdom of the Lord Jesus. What great words to excite a weary pilgrim!

I do not want in any way to suggest, that these words that I have conveyed to you would create any doubt about your election. If you have truly believed in the Lord Jesus, that is the proof that you are elect, that you have been called. But we cannot ultimately have any real assurance if this does not manifest itself in a transformed life. Both of these emphases are in the Word of God, and we must not forget them. This then has to do with assurance.

There is no contradiction between the election of God and our making it sure. One is the Godward side, the other is the manward side. There is a contradiction between mere intellectual appreciation and no moral application of the truth. The cure is if you do these things. There may be some of you who cannot make your calling and election sure. You have not been called; and not having been called, you have no assurance. You cannot make your calling and election sure until you have come to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Your responsibility is to come. In receiving the Lord Jesus, who died for sinners; in that act of faith produced by God the Spirit, is the consummation of your calling and the evidence of your election. Then our Lord's word for you is, "Rejoice! Rejoice!"

He has saved you and sealed you so YOU I know .I suspect Dave is..but I have no evidence....

How do you know Mack is saved and only suspect that Dave is? What evidence do you have on anyone other than yourself? And then how can you know that your evidence is pleasing to God?

1 Corinthians
Chapter 4
1 Thus should one regard us: as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Now it is of course required of stewards that they be found trustworthy. 3 It does not concern me in the least that I be judged by you or any human tribunal; I do not even pass judgment on myself; 4 I am not conscious of anything against me, but I do not thereby stand acquitted; the one who judges me is the Lord. 5 Therefore, do not make any judgment before the appointed time, until the Lord comes, for he will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will manifest the motives of our hearts, and then everyone will receive praise from God.

I love you Mack and you can teach me to ride a hog in heaven:>)..But that will be AFTER you have to admit you were wrong:>)))

I could teach you to ride next year, Becky and I are coming to DC for the Rolling Thunder Ride to the vets wall, and we could swing by your place, we are going to try to do the whole NE area, and we can arm wressel to see whos wrong. :)

Are you REALLY going off line? Wow I will miss you

I really thinking hard about leaving, I get up each morning and get on here and get sucked in, and the rest of my day is shot, I'm weak.

BigMack

I am truly, honestly confused. My understanding from your posts and/or Ambassador's posts is that you do not believe man has free will. What am I missing?

Mom believes in something she calls "free will," but it bears no resemblance to what is meant by the term.

The Ambassador stated it more properly, which is why I thanked him for being honest.

Well I have tried to spend more time off line..I am reading a book on the holiness of God..but sometimes we just get wound up

If you come my way next year I know Christian bikers up here that would love to go on a ride with you..( Yes I have been to a bikers pig roast**giggle*)

Now I wili need a glorified body to ride one I am patient:>)

My cassa your cassa if you come this way Mack

I study people's words and doctrine. For instance I know what you believe because I know your church

You believe your church will save you by its traditions (sacraments) and your desire to live a good life...neither of those beliefs is biblical

I believe that Jesus Christ will save me. You know nothing about the Catholic Church. Your posts about Her (including this one) bear this out.

You believe in the false doctrine of a fallen, sinful human being. Predestination was not the belief of the early Christians. It was a heresy that sprung up from time to time, just like the multitude of other heresies. John Calvin gave it his name and you accepted it with your own fallen sinful nature.

If God creates some for solely for eternal fire, then He must be the author of evil, and that cannot be.

Dave I suspect that you are alot closer in belief to me than most RC's cause you read the word..But our discussion on purgatory let me know you do not YET have a saving belief in the atonement

Did you know that was a word made specifically to describe the work of Christ?

AT ONE MENT

Do you think God would send someone that was IN his Son to hell? ...Do you think He would send some one IN His son to purgatory?

In effect he would be sending His son there with you..YOU are ONE with Him

So I do think you have an intellectual belief..it just has not overtaken you YET..

The testimony from the mouth of Mack He believes that his salvation is by the blood of Christ and that alone..no add ons...

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

I believe that Jesus Christ will save me. You know nothing about the Catholic Church. Your posts about Her (including this one) bear this out.

Your words just verified what I have said..

Jesus HAS saved those that are His..It is not Jesus + the church or Jesus + communion or Jesus + my obedience or Jesus + tradition..it is the blood of Christ that was shed on Calvery that HAS saved us

Past tense Colleen ..there is nothing I can do to add to or perfect the work of jesus on the cross.There is no middle ground on this either you are saved or you are lost..

The early church believed this * They that are carnal cannot do the things that are spiritual...Nor can unbeliever do the things of belief. [The celebrated Chruch Father Ignatius in A.D. 110]

God given free will, Terry.

That does not answer WHY one man chooses one thing and another chooses another ...I ased WHY one wills one way and another not?

WHY would anyone CHOOSE to burn in hell?

I believe that Jesus Christ will save me.

Your words just verified what I have said..
Jesus HAS saved those that are His
Past tense Colleen

Why do you jump down Colleen's throat for using the future tense? Just a few posts ago, you wrote:

But I do know this IF Dave is elect of God he will be saved BEFORE he dies..in Gods time not mine

Why is it OK for you, but not for her?

Did you know that was a word made specifically to describe the work of Christ? AT ONE MENT

LOL. You can't be serious. I can assure you the word is not an English neologism.

Do you think God would send someone that was IN his Son to hell?

Of course not. Why would you think I would?

...Do you think He would send some one IN His son to purgatory?

Yes, of course. How else is the Blood going to clean the person?

In effect he would be sending His son there with you..YOU are ONE with Him

That's a comforting thought. If you understood anything about Purgatory you would know that it is the process of making us worthy, of putting on our fancy clothes for the wedding feast. It is nothing else than God washing us in the Blood of Christ. Of course Jesus is there with us.

For crying out loud, I can make the early church sound like Mormons or Jehovah Witnesses if I take writings out of context and put them in soundbites. Politicians operate like that.

Thanx for picking apart my words. OK you won because I wasn't scrupulous with my choice of words.

He saved us by dying for our sins. He instituted physical means to obtain, from Him, additional graces... like baptism, like reconciliation, like Holy Communion, like confirmation --- to aid us while "running the race."

But our discussion on purgatory let me know you do not YET have a saving belief in the atonement

I couldn't let this one slip by. Discussion?? Dave tried to discuss but what you did was evade, misdirect, dodge, and spin. YOU didn't even try to discuss. Because you were afraid of the answers you'd give if you were honest, you couldn't bring yourself to address his questions. Don't try to pass this off as discussion.

And AC is right, you have proven time after time that you don't know what the Catholic Church teaches. You argue against what YOU want to believe it teaches. But I don't think you're being honest here, either.

If you understood anything about Purgatory you would know that it is the process of making us worthy, of putting on our fancy clothes for the wedding feast.

And here all along, I figured we were admitted into heaven as "dunghills covered with snow" - go figure.

non existant scripture

Like this?

..."You believe your church will save you by its traditions (sacraments) and your desire to live a good life.."

or this?

...He has saved you and sealed you so YOU I know .I suspect Dave is..but I have no evidence....

or this?

...But I do know this IF Dave is elect of God he will be saved BEFORE he dies..

or this?

....I do not know if Dave is an elect child of God..he has not expressed a belief in the atonement....

This is a real good one:

...You live in self deception Irish..you are on this computer right now ..you are not concentrating on Loving God..everytime you make a decision without prayer first and waiting on His answer ..any time you have lost your Irish temper you have broken the law..That ONE break condemned you to hell for you failed to keep it perfectly ..breaking that law means you are guilty of breaking EVERY law of God..You stand condemed because you can not keep it perfectly....

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