Pastor Chris’ Corona Quarantine Epistles to the Flock of AIC Ngong Road, in Dispersion and Isolation. 159th. Edition.
Dear People Who Have Obtained Faith as Precious as that of the Apostles,
Today’s passage (2 Peter 1:10-11) concludes the theme of developing virtues, with the benefits of having such virtues being the focus.
Confirm your Calling (v. 10). Peter here does not attempt to explain the meaning of calling and election to his readers. Obviously, they understood what he was saying. These two are to be made Sure. This is to confirm beyond any doubt.
Calling. This is sometimes referred to as an effectual calling. The reason is that it is a call that always results in the called coming to Christ. Jesus said of such, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). In reality, it is God who draws us to Christ.
Choice. The word election implies choice. God chose us in Christ even before he created the universe (Ephesians 1:4). This obviously raises many questions about our own choices. All we can say for now is that our coming to Christ is the result of God has chosen and called us. Had he not called, we would not have come. So why do we need to confirm what God already has done? It is not that the security of any believer is threatened. But there are two things that call for this confirmation. One, not everyone has made a sincere faith decision to follow Christ. When we grow in Christlike attitudes and practices, it confirms our claim to be in him.
Two, sin causes doubt in us. Paul wrote that “The Himself Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God” (Romans 8:16). If we sin it grieves the Holy Spirit who is in us (Ephesians 4:30). The result is that the assurance of the Spirit is lacking. He has not left us, but we do not sense his testimony of assurance. When we develop Christlike virtues, it enables the Spirit to confirm that we truly belong to Christ.
Stable. Living a holy, Christlike life ensures that we will not stumble. The world expects us to respond selfishly, for instance, but in Christ, we respond to others with selfless love. This gives us the stability that the world cannot shake because it is not equipped to handle selfless love.
Expect Eternity (v. 11). The ultimate goal of our salvation is an eternity with God. It is said here that we will be supplied an entrance “abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”This is not to suggest that people who are saved risk losing access to the kingdom if they fall into sin. It is rather that people who are truly born again have an aversion to sin, because of the Spirit of God in them.
While they may fall into sin, wallowing comfortably in sin should be out of the question. So those who are born again will be faithful, and the faithful will gain access to the eternal kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Time to ask oneself, Am I born again? How am I doing on godly virtues?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.