"MAKE YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE" 2 Peter 1:10

2 Peter 1:10 (NIV) 10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, The promises of God for those He has called are great and precious... 2 Peter 1:4 (NIV) 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

2 Peter 3:13 (NIV) 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Incumbent upon us is the duty to make our calling and election sure... 2Pe 1:10 a.Implied is that one's calling and election is conditional b. That those who have been called need to make their election sure

YOUR INITIAL CALL AND ELECTION GOD CALLS THROUGH THE GOSPEL... 2 Thessalonians 2:14 (NIV) 14 He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. The gospel of Christ concerning His death, burial and resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:1-4 (NIV) 15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures

This gospel contains commands that must be obeyed 1 Peter 4:17 (NIV) 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? The command to believe in Jesus John 8:24 (NIV) 24 I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he, you will indeed die in your sins.”

The command to repent of sins Acts 17:30-31 (NIV) 30 In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. 31 For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

The command to confess Jesus as Lord Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

The command to be baptized Acts 2:38 (NIV) 38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit Have you responded to the gospel with the obedience of faith? Hebrews 5:9 (NIV) 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him

MAKING SURE YOUR RESPONSE TO THE CALL... 1.By obeying all the commands of the gospel a.Not just the command to believe, but the command to repent b. Not just the command to confess, but the command to be baptized 2. By obeying the commands in a Biblical manner; e.g., have you been: a.Baptized in the proper mode (immersion, not pouring or sprinkling)? b. Baptized for the right purpose (for the remission of sins, not as a public profession)?

c. Baptized as a suitable subject (a penitent believer, not as an infant incapable of faith)? 3. If your response was different in any way, what should you do? a.Those baptized improperly were re-baptized Acts 19:1-5 b. If your baptism was in any way different, you should be concerned Ephesians 4:5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; c. A Biblical baptism (mode, purpose, subject) can remove all doubt

A.MANY ARE CALLED, BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN... 1.Jesus taught this truth in several parables a.The Tares - Mt 13:41-43 b. The Wedding Feast - Mt 22:1-14 c. The Talents - Mt 25:24-30 d. The Vine And The Branches - Jn 15:1-2 Note the calling and election of the nation of Israel a.Israel as a whole was called to be God's people Deut. 7:6 b. But their calling was conditional - Exodus 19:5-6 c. And many individuals failed to live up to their calling - Heb 3:7-11

Similar is the calling and election of the church of God a.The church as a whole are called to be God's people - 1 Pe 2:9-10 b. Yet our calling and election as individuals is conditional Romans 11:22 (NIV) 22 Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off.

c. We can become hardened by sin and fall away Hebrews 3:12-15 (NIV) 12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. We have been called, but will we be chosen at the last day? - Mt 25:34

MAKING SURE YOUR ELECTION BY GOD... 1.By being fruitful in the knowledge of Christ - 2Pe 1:5-11 a.Adding to our faith such things as virtue, knowledge, self-control b. Abounding in perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love 2. By growing in grace and knowledge - 2Pe 3:17-18 a.Aware of the danger of apostasy b. Standing fast in the grace of Christ

3. By learning from the parables of Jesus a.Not doing those things that offend, or practice lawlessness (Tares) b. Adorning ourselves with garments of righteousness (Wedding Feast) c. Utilizing what talents (abilities, opportunities) Christ has given us (Talents) d. Bearing fruit in our service to the Lord (Vine and Branches) -- Will your entrance into the kingdom be abundantly supplied? 2 Peter 1:11 (NIV) 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

It never hurts to ask oneself: "Have I truly responded to the gospel of Christ...?" a.Was I scripturally baptized into Christ for the remission of my sins? b. Was my baptism like those depicted in the examples of conversion in the Scriptures? c. Might I need to be re-baptized like those in Ephesus? 2. It never hurts to ask oneself: "Am I growing in grace...?" a.Am I abounding in the knowledge of Christ? b.Am I utilizing what talents Christ has given me? c.Am I bearing fruit for Christ?