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How to Make Your Calling and Election Sure

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How to Make Your Calling and Election Sure
II Peter 1:5-11

by John A. Kohler, III

In eternity past, God the Father elected certain members of Adam’s fallen race to salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ (Eph. 1:4; II Thes. 2:13; II Tim. 1:9). This being the case, it is very important for each individual believer in the Lord Jesus Christ to diligently make his calling and election sure (II Pet. 1:10). That is, he must make certain that he is actually one of God’s elect, and that he has not been self-deceived by making an empty profession of faith. II Peter 1:5-11 tells the believer how to make his calling and election sure.

I. Add virtue to your faith (v. 5).

    A. Virtue may be defined as “moral goodness or excellence.”

    B. Genuine saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will produce in the believer clean, wholesome, moral living.

II. Add knowledge to your virtue (v. 5).

    A. Knowledge may be defined as “discernment; an understanding of spiritual truth.”

    B. Genuine saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will produce in the believer sharp spiritual discernment.

III. Add temperance to your knowledge (v. 6).

    A. Temperance may be defined as “self-control; disciplined living.”

    B. Genuine saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will produce in the believer self-controlled, disciplined living.

IV. Add patience to your temperance (v. 6).

    A. Patience may be defined as “patient continuance; perseverance; endurance.”

    B. Genuine saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will produce in the believer perseverance in faith and holiness.

V. Add godliness to your patience (v. 6).

    A. Godliness may be defined as “God-likeness; piety or devotion in one’s attitudes and actions.”

    B. Genuine saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will produce in the believer God-like character.

VI. Add brotherly kindness to your godliness (v. 7).

    A. Brotherly kindness may be defined as “friendliness; courtesy; love for one’s fellow man.”

    B. Genuine saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will produce in the believer courtesy and kindness.

VII. Add charity to your brotherly kindness (v. 7).

    A. Charity may be defined as “love for one’s fellow Christian.”

    B. Genuine saving faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will produce in the believer an unselfish commitment to the well-being of other true Christians.

“A man may tell me he believes in election and is sure that he has been called of God, but unless I can see in his character and conduct the spiritual graces of II Peter 1:5-7 then I have to say of him (as Paul did of the Galatians) ‘I stand in doubt of you.’” Arthur W. Pink

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