Powerful Ways to Confirm Your ‘Calling and Election’

Crosswalk.com Contributing Writer
Powerful Ways to Confirm Your ‘Calling and Election’

Studying 2 Peter 1:3-11 is a case for rightly handling the Word of Truth, especially verse ten. What does it mean to “confirm your calling and election” (2 Peter 1:10)? In The Message, it’s described as having life “on a firm footing,” which is a bit obscure. The New Living Translation says, “work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen.”

Is this a works-based approach to salvation? What was Peter teaching in 2 Peter 1?

What Does 'Calling and Election' Mean in 2 Peter 1:10?

“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

It helps to understand the words Peter used. The word “calling” in this verse does not refer to a believer’s role or occupation, as in “He has a calling to help the poor.” In 2 Peter 1, a Christian’s calling is God’s drawing him or her to salvation. Earlier, Peter said God has “called us by his own glory and goodness” (1 Peter 1:3). In other words, God called us to Himself for His own excellent purposes and according to His good character.

The word “election” sometimes confuses Christians, but simply put, election is God sovereignly choosing or predestining a person to be saved. The Bible teaches that this occurred before the world's creation (Ephesians 1:4). Many scriptures mention God’s election. 

Because God calls and elects, the believer’s salvation is already “sure” or certain from His perspective. Salvation is solely the work of God through Christ’s sinless life, death (substitutionary atonement), burial, and resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 5:21).

Peter’s exhortation in verse 10 must be understood from the believer’s perspective

How Are Believers Equipped for Godly Living?

According to 2 Peter 1:3, believers have everything required for fruitful living and growth in godliness. God provides the divine power and grace needed — absolutely nothing is lacking. Part of our equipping in the faith is knowing who God is and what He has done to provide salvation and make believers more like His Son. That knowledge comes through the Word of God

Peter, moved by the Holy Spirit, taught that to maintain a holy life in a sinful world, we must be rooted and saturated with God’s “great and precious promises” (verse 4). Through the Word and the Spirit, the Father provides spiritual resources to perfect and sustain the life He gives. 

Since Christ's work on the sinner’s behalf was the only work necessary for salvation, biblical Christianity is not a works-based approach to salvation. It’s all God. But Peter suggests that our salvation works itself out in practical ways as we rely on God’s resources. 

How Is the 'Proof' of Salvation Observable?

Peter exhorts believers to progress in the spiritual graces that prove they are indeed children of God. This is similar to what James taught. He refuted those who taught that a professing believer can have saving faith without producing good works (James 2:17-26.). We know from many other Scriptures that salvation is by faith alone. But as a new creation, a believer’s salvation results in a changed life that will be demonstrated through good works. Some people describe this as being saved from the inside out.

Old Testament saints were saved by faith in God and in anticipation of the coming Messiah, and their lives were often radically changed. Abram, an idolator, became Abraham, the father of nations. Egyptian-raised, fearful, and conflicted Moses became a mighty deliverer for Israel. In the New Testament, Mary Magdalene was transformed from a demon-possessed woman to a disciple of Christ. Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee and persecutor of Christians, became a pillar of strength in the early church. 

But what about believers who show little change? It may take time for spiritual growth from a baby believer to a mature Christian, but babies are designed to grow (Hebrews 5:12-14; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18). Stunted growth is not a matter of not having faith (salvation) but of not walking by faith (cooperating with God in sanctification).

Another reason works are important as proof of salvation is that people may not understand a professing believer’s choice to follow Christ, but the watching world notices good works. Jesus said we can know a person’s true heart by their “fruit” or what manifests in their lives (Matthew 7:16-20). Paul said we are saved by faith, not works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but also said God created us to do good works (Ephesians 2:10). He also said Christians would be “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14).

Then Peter, desiring to help Christians see how they can grow as they lean into God’s power and resources, lists steps believers can take to grow spiritually.

Don’t Lose a Minute to Grow!

In The Message, 2 Peter 1:5 begins, “So don’t lose a minute in building on what you’ve been given.” Peter’s point is that because we have been given eternal life, we should work hard to cooperate with God in transforming our lives and showing the world we want to live for Jesus.

Peter says we are to add to our faith. Faith is the foundation of our growth, including conviction regarding beliefs. The reference to adding “these things” in verse ten is the list of qualities in verses five to seven: goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. There seems to be a progressive development — qualities building upon each other — toward spiritual maturity.

Goodness is good character, moral character, or virtue. It sometimes requires boldness to stand for what is right (Philippians 4:8; Titus 2:7-8). 

Knowledge is understanding who we are in Christ and what pleases God. It’s also learning to recognize false teaching. It is related to wisdom and understanding (2 Peter 3:18; Proverbs 9:10). 

Self-control or temperance is mastering evil desires (1 Corinthians 9:25-27). It includes living in moderation and obedience to the Word of God. 

Perseverance, sometimes translated as “patience,” is patiently persisting in trials — not giving up — and even being willing to suffer for Christ (James 1:2-4; 1 Peter 1:7; 5:10). 

Godliness is the desire to imitate God in His character and to obey Him. It is a valuable trait (1 Timothy 4:8b) connected to holy living (1 Peter 1:15-16). 

Mutual affection, sometimes translated as brotherly affection, is the kind of love Christians are meant to have for brothers and sisters in the family of God (Hebrews 13:1; Mark 3:35). It is often expressed through kindness and serving.

Love in this passage is the Greek word agape, which means a special love that comes from God. It includes affection, benevolence, and sometimes sacrifice for the one who is loved. It is selfless and unconditional love. Jesus said the world would identify us as His disciples if we demonstrated agape love (John 13:35; Galatians 6:10). 

What if We Don’t Cultivate These Virtues?

In verse eight, Peter says if we continue to grow in faith and these seven qualities, they will keep us from “being ineffective and unproductive” in our knowledge of Jesus — our desire to be like Him. The surrendered and obedient child of God will want to be functional and fruitful for Christ and His kingdom.

But in verse nine, Peter suggests that believers who do not demonstrate these qualities are “nearsighted and blind.” There are two thoughts here. First, believers with stunted spiritual growth are “nearsighted.” They’re too focused on earthly values and circumstances instead of things of eternal importance.  

Also, they are blind. This does not mean they are not true believers. In the hymn “Amazing Grace,” clergyman and poet John Newton described his salvation: “I once was blind, but now I see.” That is blindness to salvation, which Satan tries to perpetuate (2 Corinthians 4:4). But Peter says believers can become blind to what God has accomplished for them and, in essence, to their identity in Christ. They forget that “they have been cleansed from their past sins.” The implication is that being cleansed from sin doesn’t automatically equate to growing in goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. 

Peter says these virtues must be possessed “in increasing measure” (verse 8). They must be cultivated alongside faith so believers will not want to return to their past sinful behavior (1 Peter 4:1-3; Ephesians 5:8).  

What Are the Ultimate Results of Adding These Virtues?

In verses ten and eleven, Peter expresses two ultimate results of our adding virtues to our faith as we prove we are God’s called and chosen.

First, when we do these things, we will “never fall away” or stumble in our assurance of our faith. We’ll be on a firm footing with God, confident that we belong to Him and that He is making us more like Jesus. 

Second, Peter says we will “receive a rich welcome into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Picture that! Our entry will be abundantly provided — we’ll enter heaven as co-heirs with our Savior and blessed in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6; 1 John 3:1a).

Are There Other Ways We Can ‘Prove’ Our Salvation?

The passage in 2 Peter is not the only place we find evidence for genuine saving faith. Much evidence is noted in the book of 1 John, but there are other passages we can consider.

Abiding in the Lord’s teachings is evidence of salvation. In John 8:31, the Apostle John quotes Jesus as saying to the Jews who believed in Him, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.” John said this another way in 1 John 2:3, “We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.” Keeping means obeying. Verse four says if we’re not obedient to the Lord’s commands, we’re “liars” and not true disciples.

Maintaining a clear conscience is another proof. God does not want us to live with a guilty conscience; He wants us to live in the freedom of our salvation. When we confess our sins, our hearts do not condemn us; we can have confidence before God (1 John 1:8-9; 3:21).

Developing attributes through the Holy Spirit is described in Galatians 5:22-23. It reminds us of the list in 2 Peter. When we exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit — fruit that the indwelling Spirit cultivates in us — we show that we are true children of God. 

Receiving assurance that when we are in Christ, we are held securely in our salvation (John 10:28-29; 17:11, 15). 

Fellowshipping with other Christians involves loving other believers as Christ has loved us (John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:14; 4:7-8). Years ago, a song said, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.” This is perhaps the most significant evidence of our salvation — a powerful way to prove our calling and election.

Photo credit: Unsplash/Priscilla Du Preez

Dawn Wilson 1200x1200Dawn Wilson and her husband, Bob, live in Southern California. Dawn serves part-time with a women’s revival ministry, Revive Our Hearts. She is the founder and director of Heart Choices Today, publishes Truth Talk with Dawn, and writes for Crosswalk.com and other publications. Her co-authored book is Truth Talk for Hurting Hearts: Discover Peace and Comfort Through God’s Perspective.