READING TIME: 4-7 MINUTES
January 15, 2020
What does Peter mean in 2 Peter 1:10-11 by diligently making certain your calling and election?
10 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; 11 for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you” (NASB).
This is what John MacArthur wrote about 2 Peter 1:10 in his Study Bible: “This expresses the bull’s-eye Peter has been shooting at in vv. 5-9. Though God is “sure” who His elect are and has given them an eternally secure salvation (see notes on 1 Pet. 1:1-5; cf. Rom. 8:31-39), the Christian might not always have an assurance of his salvation. Security is the Holy Spirit revealed fact that salvation is forever. Assurance is one’s confidence that he possesses that eternal salvation. In other words, the believer who pursues the spiritual qualities mentioned above guarantees to himself by spiritual fruit that he was called (cf. v. 3; Rom. 8:30; 1 Pet. 2:21) and chosen (cf. 1 Pet. 1:2) by God to salvation.”
I respectively disagree with Dr. MacArthur. We can indeed have an assurance of our salvation since our salvation is certainly not based on our performance, but it is based on Christ’s ability to keep His promise to give us eternal life when we place our faith in His finished work. The difference is that perseverance (what MacArthur teaches) focuses on the believer (his endurance, performance, relative holiness, or the measure of just thoughts or actions as opposed to unjust thoughts or actions). It looks upon the saintly or holy actions of those who are Christ’s (thus, the use of the term saints). The biblical doctrine of preservation, on the other hand, looks to the promises of God, not the compliance of man, as a basis for eternal security. It takes God at His Word and rests upon His promise. It also allows for the fact that believers are often weak in their faith and sinful in their actions.
All who have believed in Christ alone are eternally secure. Security is real for the believer regardless of his success or failure. Assurance is what follows as a result of realizing this fact. Eternal security is different from the assurance of eternal salvation because eternal security is not subject to vacillation or change whereas a believer may (but need not) develop a lack of assurance and doubt his security. One need not feel eternally secure in Christ to be secure. A believer has eternal life and is, therefore, secure in that eternal life forever. Assurance is the internal confidence in that knowledge and is based on God’s veracity. In other words, assurance is based on feelings, and eternal security is based on objective fact.
Getting back to 2 Peter 1:10-11, according to Peter’s words, many things hang on making your calling and election sure. Viewing this calling and election, in this context, as the calling and election of a believer (and the service or even character development he is called to and elected for) makes sense.
Important Observations about 2 Peter 1:10-11
1. Peter is convinced the readers are saved. Even in this passage he calls them “brethren” (cf. 1:1, 3, 4, 5-7, 8-9).
2. There is no indication or information about doubts of the readers’ salvation among the readers or in Peter.
3. If Peter is talking about God’s sovereign unconditional election to salvation, there is nothing the readers can do to alter or prove that. It would have been decreed in eternity past.
4. If Peter is talking about proving one’s sovereign election in eternity past by conduct, then that would be impossible. He does not give any objective standard of acceptable proof. Good works and fruitfulness cannot be objectively measured, because they are relative and variable.
5. Peter acknowledges that believers can be barren, unfruitful, and spiritually blind (1:8-9), so conduct cannot prove salvation or the lack of it.
6. Peter is explaining how God has given believers everything necessary for godliness (1:3-4), but it is the responsibility of believers to appropriate these virtues (1:5-7). Verse 9 is the negative consequence of not cooperating with God; verses 8 and 10-11 are the positive consequences of cooperating with God.
7. Peter uses the adjective “sure” (v. 10; bebaios from bebaioo, to confirm, establish) in the sense of giving evidence to others that the faith they claim is established. He is not seeking to have the readers prove the existence of their saving faith to himself or themselves. The visible testimony of their conduct will confirm (show to be reliable, valid, or established; see the same word and its verb form used in Matt 16:20; Rom 15:8; 2 Cor 1:7; Heb 2:2, 3; 6:19; 2 Peter 1:19) to others the faith that the readers say they have (cf. Rom 4:2, John 13:35; James 2:21-25).
8. The terms “calling and election” echo what Peter heard Jesus say in Matthew 20:16 (Majority Text) and 22:14 when He said, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Both Peter and Matthew use related words meaning “chosen, select.” But many would argue that sovereign salvific election should precede calling (cf. Rom 8:30). The reverse word order used by Jesus and Peter indicates that they are not discussing eternal salvation. Jesus uses this phrase in His two parables to comment about many who are invited to work or a wedding, but only a few get the reward of full payment for a partial day’s work and only a few get special privileges at the wedding feast. Jesus is indicating that rewards are reserved in the kingdom for a faithful few (cf. Rom 8:17b; 2 Tim 2:12).
9. The context of this passage is not about eternal salvation, but eternal rewards. Peter is helping the readers prepare for their eternal future as he is also preparing for his (1:13-14). He knows they are established in the truth (1:12), but wants them to remain steadfast (3:11, 14, 17-18). They can prepare for an eternity of rewards by appropriating God’s power to live a godly life (1:3-4) and putting on godly virtues (1:5-7). The result is not simply that they gain entrance into God’s kingdom, but that they enjoy a rich entrance that “will be supplied… abundantly.” The passive form of the verb epichoregeo (to supply, provide) indicates that God bestows this reward. Peter knows that all of his readers will enter the kingdom (even the unfruitful ones), but the faithful ones will have a rich welcome much like the victorious athlete or conqueror who is celebrated and rewarded when he returns home. Not all Christians will have equal rewards in the kingdom (cf. 1 Cor 3:11-15).
CONCLUSION
Peter is not addressing the fact of his readers entering the kingdom, but the quality of that entrance. All believers will enter the kingdom, but only the faithful ones are richly welcomed as a special reward. If this passage is intended to have readers prove their salvation by their works, the result will be futile introspection and endless uncertainty about their salvation, because measuring conduct is a subjective exercise. But as an exhortation to grow in faithfulness because they are surely saved, this passage reminds believers that they should increase in faith and virtue. If we please God in our growth, He will reward us with a rich welcome into His kingdom. Eternal salvation comes through faith alone; eternal rewards come through faithfulness.
Sources Used
Bing, Charlie. GraceNote #78. < https://gracelife.org/resources/gracenotes/?id=78&lang=eng>.
Bryson, George. The Dark Side of Calvinism: The Calvinist Caste System.
MacArthur, John. NKJV, The MacArthur Study Bible, eBook: Revised and Updated Edition. Thomas Nelson.