How can you ensure your calling and election?

Understanding the Terms “Calling” and “Election”

In scriptural contexts, “calling” refers to God’s gracious invitation to enter into relationship with Him, while “election” points to God’s choice of believers for salvation and service. One foundational passage is found in 2 Peter 1:10: “Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things, you will never stumble.” This instruction underscores the believer’s responsibility to cultivate a life that reflects God’s redeeming work, demonstrating that genuine faith manifests itself through consistent growth.

Biblical Basis and Key Passages

Several key passages emphasize both divine sovereignty and personal responsibility:

• 2 Peter 1:3–4 states, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness,” establishing that God is the primary source of our spiritual capacity.

• Ephesians 2:8–10 affirms our salvation is “by grace through faith,” not from ourselves. Yet it also shows that genuine faith will reveal itself in “good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.”

• Philippians 2:12–13 urges believers to “work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will and to act on behalf of His good purpose,” blending human diligence with God’s sustaining power.

Together, these passages highlight that while salvation stems from God’s initiative, believers are invited to confirm and align themselves with that saving grace through faithful living.

Historical Faith and Assurance

Archaeological and historical findings reinforce the trustworthiness of the biblical narrative that undergirds our calling and election in Christ:

• Discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls have preserved significant portions of the Old Testament text, demonstrating remarkable consistency between ancient manuscripts and modern biblical texts. These manuscripts confirm the reliability of the very Scriptures that proclaim our calling and election.

• The Tel Dan Inscription names the “House of David,” lending historical weight to Israel’s monarchy as described in the Old Testament. This continuity underscores the faithful outworking of God’s plans over history—a plan extending into the New Testament’s message of salvation.

• The Pilate Inscription, uncovered at Caesarea Maritima, and various other archaeological finds confirm details about figures mentioned in the Gospels, further validating the context in which God accomplished salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection.

All these lend credibility to the scriptural witness that calls us to anchor our assurance in a historically grounded faith.

A Firm Foundation in Christ’s Resurrection

The New Testament hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the guarantee of our salvation and the proof of God’s power to transform lives. As 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 teaches: “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures … He was buried, and He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” This resurrection is not only historical but also vital for granting believers confidence in God’s promises:

• Credible support from historical testimony includes multiple independent accounts, early creed-like summaries in the New Testament, and the radical transformation of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:3–8; Acts 1:3).

• Christ’s own victory over death demonstrates that God is faithful to complete His work in those He has called and chosen, enabling believers to walk confidently in new life (Romans 6:4).

Growth in Godliness and Virtue

2 Peter 1:5–7 provides a list of virtues—including faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love—that foster spiritual maturity. Incorporating these qualities helps believers live in accordance with their calling:

1. Faith – Actively trust God’s promises by leaning on Scripture and prayer.

2. Goodness – Engage in upright, honorable actions rooted in God’s character.

3. Knowledge – Study Scripture diligently, aided by reliable textual evidence (like ancient Greek manuscripts and textual comparisons) that confirm biblical authenticity.

4. Self-Control – Govern impulses through the Holy Spirit’s power.

5. Perseverance – Endure trials, remembering that the God who called you is faithful.

6. Godliness – Reflect the holiness of the One who created you.

7. Brotherly Kindness and Love – Demonstrate genuine care and selfless love toward others as evidence of spiritual transformation.

Refining these virtues is not about securing God’s favor—His favor comes by grace—but about revealing the reality of your salvation (James 2:17). This aligns with 2 Peter 1:8, which states, “For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Dependence on the Holy Spirit

Scripture portrays the Holy Spirit as essential in guiding and sanctifying believers:

• John 16:13 emphasizes, “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth.”

• Galatians 5:16 commands believers to “walk by the Spirit,” affirming that real progress in virtue comes through the Spirit’s enabling power.

Genuine communion with the Holy Spirit cultivates obedience, prayer, and a spirit of humility, strengthening the believer’s assurance of belonging to God (Romans 8:16).

Practical Steps Toward Assurance

1. Regular Scripture Engagement: Reading, meditating, and studying the Bible in its historical and theological context. Early manuscripts such as Codex Sinaiticus attest to the reliable transmission of the New Testament’s message.

2. Active Participation in Fellowship: Mutual accountability, communal prayer, and the teachings of sound faith communities encourage growth and assurance.

3. Devoted Prayer Life: Consistently asking God for wisdom (James 1:5), leaning on the Holy Spirit, and giving thanks for His ongoing grace.

4. Confession and Repentance: A regular habit of turning from sin and walking in the light (1 John 1:9) demonstrates authentic faith.

5. Service and Outreach: Engaging in good works—ministering to others, evangelizing, and charitable acts—confirms Christ’s love in us.

6. Persevering Through Trials: Trust that, much like the historical fidelity God has shown from the earliest chapters of Genesis into the modern era, He will sustain each believer’s faith to the end.

Confidence in a Faithful Creator

Just as young-earth geological models highlight a world designed with remarkable balance and specified complexity, the human person is likewise “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). Recognizing intentional design in creation resonates with a God who carefully orchestrates both cosmic and personal history. When we see that the Creator upholds the universe and that Jesus Christ has conquered death, we find certainty that He can also bring us safely through our life of faith (Romans 8:38–39).

Living Out the Assurance

Ensuring one’s calling and election does not imply anxious striving to keep salvation, but rather diligent cultivation of a living faith marked by God’s presence and power. As 2 Peter 1:10 exhorts, “strive to make your calling and election sure,” believers are encouraged to move forward in godly living, trusting the God who began the work to complete it.

Conclusion

Confirming your calling and election is an ongoing journey that unites personal responsibility with God’s sovereign grace. Scripture stands firm through historical, archaeological, and manuscript evidence, reinforcing trust in its promises and commands. Through growth in virtue, dependence on the Holy Spirit, and active participation in the life of faith, believers experience deeper assurance of their secure standing in Christ.

This divine-human partnership reveals a God who not only saves but continues to transform His people. Believers who heed the biblical admonition to “make your calling and election sure” discover the unshakable confidence that comes from aligning with God’s perfect plan—ultimately leading to a life of fruitful service and unbreakable union with the One who calls and chooses for His eternal glory.