What does 2 Peter 1:10 teach about assurance of salvation? The Text Itself “Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble.” (2 Peter 1:10) Setting the Verse in Context • Verses 5–7 list tangible graces—faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love. • Verse 8 promises “they will keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” • Verse 9 warns that ignoring these graces leaves a believer “blind and short-sighted.” • Verse 10 follows as a logical “therefore,” showing how the pursuit of these graces relates to assurance. What “Calling and Election” Mean • Calling: God’s effective summons into saving faith (Romans 8:30). • Election: God’s eternal choice of believers in Christ (Ephesians 1:4–5). • Peter assumes both are already true of his readers but urges them to “make” these realities “sure” in daily experience. The Urgency—“Be All the More Diligent” • Assurance is not automatic; it grows through Spirit-enabled effort. • Diligence does not create salvation—it confirms it. • This active mindset mirrors Philippians 2:12-13: “work out your salvation… for it is God who works in you.” Assurance Grounded in Practice, Not Performance • “If you practice these things” centers on a lifestyle, not a momentary achievement. • The virtues in verses 5–7 act like evidence stamps on a passport—they authenticate the traveler’s identity. • Titus 2:11-14 links salvation and holy living in the same order: grace first, zeal for good works next. • 1 John 3:18-19 says “we will know by this that we are of the truth,” tying love in action to assurance. Never Stumble—The Promise of Stability • “Stumble” refers to serious spiritual failure, not minor lapses. • Continuous growth in Christlike character keeps believers from derailment (Jude 24). • This promise reinforces John 10:28—“no one will snatch them out of My hand”—while highlighting the protective effect of obedience. Connecting Passages on Assurance • Romans 8:16: “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” • 1 John 5:13: Scripture was written “so that you may know that you have eternal life.” • Hebrews 6:11: “We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that your hope may be fully assured.” Putting It All Together • God secures salvation; believers supply diligence. • Observable growth in virtue validates hidden grace. • Assurance deepens as faith moves from confession to consistent practice. • Those who actively cultivate the graces Peter lists will enjoy a settled confidence and a steady walk, safeguarded from spiritual collapse. |
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