2 Peter 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:
Peter was in the city called Rome when he wrote this second letter. 1-Peter wanted the people to be stronger Christians. 2-Peter wanted to warn the people about false teachers and remind them about true Christian beliefs. 3- Peter emphasised that Jesus Christ will return and will judge the wicked people.
How we can be sure that God called us and that we are His elect? It is clear when one attempts to do things for fruitful growth in faith, i.e. faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love. When we see these things growing in our life, we know that we are changing to the nature of Christ – we are becoming conformed to the image of His Son. Why are these different from the moral and religious duties that we do? These things are matters that pertain to the heart and God is interested in our intent and our heart; they should be evident, in the way we live, in any one who is elect – born again. When we pursue these things, to have continued growth and progress in our Christian life, we keep from stumbling, from backsliding. The one who acquires these graces has his path freed from many stumbling-blocks and his vision cleared to see and avoid the rest.
Why is ‘calling’ mentioned before being ‘elect’? God’s choosing is eternal but our calling takes place in time. However, to us our calling should be first because it is what we know, we are sure that we are chosen only when we know our calling. God has invited us and our good character must be the evidence. ‘Chosen’ describes God’s action. ‘Elect’ means that we have to reply to God. We do not become a Christian because we work hard or because we behave in the right way. First, we need to confess that we have sinned, then believe and trust in God’s Son Jesus as our Saviour. We must desire to please God. God called us to salvation; God selected us from the heathen. Therefore, we must respond to His call, and thus ratify His choice. Thus, we shall have a triumphant entrance into that everlasting kingdom where Christ reigns, and we shall reign with Him for ever and ever.
