Let's take our Bibles and turn
with me to the book of 2 Peter, 2 Peter chapter 1. I'd like to just read to begin
the 10th verse, and then we'll go back and look at a few verses
before. 2 Peter 1.10, Wherefore, the
rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election
sure. For if ye do these things, ye
shall never fall. Now, Peter is admonishing the
brethren to something that they have great interest in, their
calling and their election. A believer knows by revelation
of Almighty God that the Lord effectually calls is she. They know that. They know that
by experience. They know that by being taught
of God. They are convinced that they
did not call themselves out of darkness. The believer knows
that election is eternal. God Almighty has from the beginning elected he everlastingly loved. You know that. Election. God has elected, chosen a people
in his Son. The believer wants some biblical
assurance. He wants to know, wants to know. When Peter says, read those words,
Wherefore the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling
and election sure. Why does he do that? Well, he
knows that, as we've said before, the heart is desperately wicked,
deceitful, Above all things, he knows that man left to himself
will convince himself that he's religiously okay. The believer
is concerned. What does God have to say about
calling an election? Has he called me? If he's called
me, then he elected me. You can bet that. You don't have
one without the other. Now listen, I think that I can
look into the book of life, I know that from the foundation of the
world. The scripture says in Revelation that the book of life
was written from the foundation of the world. It's not a recording
angel, as I've heard someone say that whenever someone gives
their heart to Jesus, that a recording angel writes their name down.
Names were written, Gary, from the foundation of the world. Can we look into that book by
our eyes and see our names written there right now in this life? Can we? No. No. Some things that belong to God,
secret things. But those things that are revealed
belong to us. We are told to give diligence
to make our calling and election sure. Surety of calling and surety
of election. The Scripture says, For whom
God did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son, them
He also called. God is going to call His people.
This is what I want to know. I want to know that I make diligence
to make my calling and my election sure. What does the Scripture
have to say about God's calling and God's election? If there
be true conviction of sin, I have been convinced of my guilt in
and of myself, and the just penalty of it. If there be true conviction
of judgment, that is to say, if God has judged Christ in my
stead at Calvary, if I by God's grace be convicted, truthfully
convicted of righteousness, that Christ's imputed righteousness
to me is truly my covering that shall stand, then I have a hope.
Give diligence. Let's look at these first few
verses, because Peter has something to say about this. And this is
something I'm telling you, you that believe, you're concerned
with this. You want to, you know, give diligence
to make your calling and your election sure. You want to know. I want to know. God's people
don't take this lightly. It's not a frivolous thing. This
is eternal. This is concerning me. This is concerning you. Peter. Simon Peter, verse 1. A servant
and an apostle of Jesus Christ to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us. Peter's writing, let me say this,
to them who have obtained. obtained by the Spirit of God,
obtained by God's grace, obtained by God's gift, having given unto
us by this precious grace that the believer is enabled to look
to the Lord Jesus Christ, to come to Him. As Moses lifted that brazen serpent
in the wilderness, the Lord says, as Moses lifted up the serpent
in the wilderness, even so must the Son of God be lifted up. Look to Me, all ye ends of the
earth. Come to Him. Rest upon Him. Trust Him only for remission
of sins. Peter, servant of God, a servant
and apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like
precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and
our Savior, Jesus Christ. Grace, he said, verse 2, and
peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God
and of Jesus our Lord. There is a blessing that is invoked
to those that have obtained this precious faith. Grace and peace. be multiplied, or may there be
a greater discovery unto you. It is by grace that we are saved
in faith to believe God's Word concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. It brings peace to the heart
and the knowledge of Christ that is applied to the soul. Grace
and peace be multiplied through the knowledge of God. and the
Lord Jesus Christ, according," verse 3, "'as His divine power
has given unto us all things.'" Now, there's the key right there.
We're going to find this over and over. These all things, these
things, "'if these things be in you, according as His divine
power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life
and godliness through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to
glory and virtue." Now, this knowledge is not a speculative
knowledge. It's divine knowledge through
the knowledge that he was talking about in verse 2. It's not a
speculative, but it's a lively knowledge that manifests itself
in a true love for the Lord Jesus Christ. It's to know Him. He said this, His divine power,
in verse 3, has given unto us all these things." This knowledge
is not a selfish knowledge that brings glory to man, but it's
concerning all things that pertain to life, that is, spiritual life
and godliness, that is, godly behavior. He said that, "...whereby,"
verse 4, "...are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises that by these," these things that he was talking about
are all things in verse 3, "...by these ye might be partakers of
the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the
world through lust." All these things given are great and precious
promises. Now, these promises reveal to
us Him who we trust. Him who is our hope. And through
these promises, we realize that there's no need that's going
to arise toward us that Almighty God has not already made provision
for in the Lord Jesus Christ. Great, precious promises. Now, men are born and they grow
up. We look at a little baby, and
a little baby comes forth from its mother's womb, and he begins
to grow. growth is the evidence that there's
life there. You know, you kind of wonder
about a child that doesn't grow. You kind of wonder about a plant. You know, you go out there and
plant your garden, you know, and something just—it doesn't
begin to manifest itself. Something is wrong here. Well, Peter is going to talk
to us a little bit about some great things," all these things,
all things pertaining to godliness. 2 Peter 3, 18 says, "...grow
in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
Christ." You know, a believer is not satisfied concerning his
knowledge of Christ. Is there anybody here that has
trusted him, that has cast themselves upon his mercy, that says this?
I'm just as satisfied as I can possibly be with what I know
about him. I know all I need to know. I don't need to know
anything else. That's not so. You desire to know more of him.
It's long after him. I want to hear of him. I want
to hear of him again. I want to hear the same thing.
I was thinking as Brother Scott was reading just a minute ago
out of Romans 3. I think to myself how refreshing it is. I've read
Romans 3 before, but you know I need to read Romans 3 again.
I want to hear Romans 3. I want to hear it. Tell me one
more time. Tell me one more time about Him
who has justified me. Tell me one more time I put away
my guilt. Tell me one more time of these
great and precious promises that are given me in Christ Jesus.
One more time, let me hear that. The more that is revealed, the
more we realize our need to know more and the more we desire to
know. Great and precious And it is
by these promises we are partakers of the divine nature as a new
man that exhibits by grace that new nature, having escaped the
corruption that is in the world through lust. And besides this,
we have been given some great and precious promises. The Lord
God Almighty has given unto us some promises that I want to
look at for just a minute. Besides this, given all diligence,
add to your faith, verse 5, virtue. Now, we're admonished to give
diligence. Do that speedily. Do that carefully. Consider these things. giving
all diligence, add to your faith virtue." Now, we're getting ready
to look at some things in the next few verses that are absolutely
true, because the Scripture says in verse 8, and we're going to
look at them starting in verse 5, it says in verse 8, "'For
if these things be in you and abound, they make you that you
shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord
Jesus Christ." Now, I want to know what they are. If I am admonished
to give diligence to make my calling and election sure, if
Peter has revealed under the inspiration of the Spirit of
God, in verse 3, that it is by his divine power that he has
given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness
through the knowledge of him, that have called us to glory
and virtue. If He's given them, then they're
His. If He's given them, they're from
Him, and it's not something that I've manufactured. It's not something
that I've come up with. I know this. Faith is the gift
of God. It's given unto man to believe. We are absolutely given an admonishment
to give diligence, give diligence to that which God has said a
man that knows him shall have. Who is going to give diligence,
first of all? I'll tell you this, it's those
that have obtained like precious faith. Why do they give diligence? Because they desire to know what
God Almighty has got to say about their calling and election. How,
then, is this diligence manifested? Well, certainly we can say by
grace. But what does the Scripture reveal
concerning the believer's growth, and to what do we give diligence? Give diligence to make your calling
and election sure. Be constant. Give diligence. Be careful. Be persevering. Be eager. We want to remember,
first of all, that we have been called with a holy calling. Give diligence to make your calling
and your election sure. It is by faith alone that we
receive or behold or come to the Lord Jesus Christ, to rest
on Him, to look to Him. But a lively faith will not leave
us barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. Faith, faith in Christ, is the
evidence of life. You know that. Faith. Besides this, Peter says in verse
5, besides this giving all diligence, add to your faith. Now let me
just make one thing real clear. You don't have the ability. to
of yourself add anything. You do not have the ability to
add to faith in the perfecting of it. That would be contradictory
to Scripture, which is saved by grace through faith and that
not of yourself. It's the gift of God. But this
adding here is going on in practice. What do I mean? Going on in practice.
There are some things that are going to be manifest in a believer. It is by these things that Peter
reveals, under the inspiration of the Spirit of God, that God
has given some evidences to his people. And by these, you make
your calling and your election sure. If these things be found
in you, that's what he's saying at verse 8. If these things be
in you and abound, they make you. that you should neither
be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Adding here, Christ has commanded
it, and love to Him constrains us to do it. Let me ask you,
do you have a desire to make your calling and election sure?
I want to know. Has He called me? Has He called
me? Has He called me by His grace?
What's Scripture got to say? These things. It's obedience. These truths, precious truths. He says, first of all, add to
your faith virtue. Virtue. Now, a believer is going
to manifest virtue. What is that? It's firmness,
strength, stability. It is that ability to do, as
Paul says, all things in Him who strengtheneth me. Virtue. Does the strength come
from you? Absolutely not. Turn with me
to Ephesians 6. Ephesians 6, verse 10. Ephesians 6, 10. Paul says in Ephesians 6, 10,
finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power
of his might. Be strong in the Lord and in
the power of his might. Now, hmm, I thought about that. Be strong in the Lord. What is
that? If the Scripture says, these
are the evidences of a believer, add to your faith virtue. What
is virtue? Firmness, strength, stability. Paul says, Be strong in the Lord
in the power of his mind. When is a man strong in the Lord? A man is truly strong in the
Lord when that man is realizing his own weakness. Paul says in
2 Corinthians 12, 10, For when I am weak, that's when I'm strong. When I'm weak, when I know and
I'm convinced of God's Spirit, by God's grace, I'm weak. And of myself, I can do nothing. I must lean on Him. I must look
to Him. I must have Him. When I'm weak,
then I'm strong. Be strong in the Lord. Add to
your faith virtue. Almighty God has taught us, first
of all, that the evidence of a believer is that he sees in
himself he's weak. Add to your faith virtue. God has not given us the spirit
of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind. But my strength
is God's strength." He said, secondly, in verse 5, and to
virtue, knowledge. The first sign of a believer
is that God has given him faith. God gave him faith to believe
that faith is not of yourself. Faith is a gift of God. Without
faith, it's impossible to please God. Add to your faith virtue,
strength, God's strength. Thirdly, add to virtue knowledge,
knowledge, knowledge of Christ according to the gospel, according
to God's revelation of Him in Scripture. Paul said, I'm determined
not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. He prayed his high priestly prayer
in John 17 3, This is life eternal, that they may know thee, and
Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. Eternal life is not a profession
of religion. It's not reformation of manners
or even a knowledge of facts about God, but it is a revelation
of the true and living God to the heart. to know Him. What is it? To know God. It's
to believe Him, to love Him, and to come to Him as He reveals
Himself in the person of His Son. Virtue is added to faith,
and knowledge added to virtue. Without Him, I can do nothing. This is life eternal, that they
may know Thee. And then, next, the Scripture
says in verse 6, and to knowledge, temperance. What is that? Temperance. It's endurance, what it means. Endurance, waiting or enduring
in the midst of trials, being able by God's grace to bear the
burden graciously, for it has been sent by Him who is all-wise,
who is all-good. sent toward us by Him who is
all-loving, patiently continuing because God has purpose to keep
His own. Truly, they that endure to the
end shall be saved. But remember, we are kept by
the power of God through faith. Add to your faith virtue, to
virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and then to temperance,
patience, patience, being able to rest and to believe and to
trust and to know that He is who He is. And then he says to
patience, godliness, godliness. That means devotion, true spiritual
worship. striving after, following after. Verse 3 says, His divine power
has given us all things that pertain unto life and godliness. Godliness. It's a struggle against
the old man. That is not of ourselves. That,
too, is the gift of God. Truly, godliness is a difficult
term to define, but the essence of godliness is an attitude toward
Almighty God when it manifests itself in devotion toward Him. Almighty God grants His people
a heart after Him. And then to godliness, verse
7, brotherly kindness, brotherly kindness, or love for the brethren. The Lord Jesus Christ says this,
By this shall all men know. that you are my disciples, brotherly
kindness. And then to brotherly kindness,
charity, love for Christ, love for his word, love for those
who oppose us, love. Love is of God. If these things
be in you and abound, they make you that you should neither be
barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faith is the gift of God. Make your calling and your election
sure. Faith, the foundation grace,
given, given, faith to believe Him. Adding to that faith, virtue,
strength, God's Strength in him is weakness in myself. Virtue,
knowledge, knowledge of God, knowledge of my sin, knowledge
of my need of him. And to this knowledge, temperance. Temperance, patience. Patience,
godliness. Godliness, brotherly kindness.
Brotherly kindness, charity. Make your calling and election
sure. Has Almighty God done this for
me? Has He given me some of these
characteristics? Do I rest in Him totally by His
grace? Do I see, based upon His gift
to me, a hope in the Lord Jesus Christ? If I do, has God given
me a knowledge of Him, a resting in Him, a waiting on Him, strength
in him, God's given me a calling, called me, elected me. Let's pray. Our Father, how we
thank you tonight for your mercy and your grace. How we thank
you that you've given us some evidence, that you've given us
some evidence that is for our assurance that we might know,
that we might look to, that we might rest in totally the Lord
Jesus Christ. We realize that these things
are not of ourselves. These are great and precious
gifts given by the power of Almighty God, these precious gifts that
are given, we realize, are given by your grace. We pray that you
would forgive us where we have thought and done and acted so
disrespectfully Father, we pray now that You would cause us to
behold and to rest in these great truths. For we pray these things
in Christ's name, Amen.