Make Your Calling and Election Sure
In 2 Peter 1:10, we read the exhortation: “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall”. At first glance, this verse might seem to suggest that we are being tasked with proving or ensuring that we are called and elected by God. However, a closer examination of the text within its context reveals something profoundly different. This passage is not about generating evidence for our calling and election, nor is it about testing the evidence, but about strengthening our assurance in gospel realities.
Context
To understand this verse, we must begin with its immediate context. Earlier in the chapter, Peter calls believers to live virtuous lives, adding to their faith: virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Pet. 1:5-7). These qualities, Peter explains, flow from a life rooted in the gospel. He writes in verse 9: “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.”
Peter’s diagnosis here is critical. The person who fails to live, strengthening their faith, has not lost their salvation but has lost sight of the gospel. They have forgotten the cleansing power of Christ’s atoning work and the grace that set them free from sin. This forgetfulness leads to spiritual stagnation and even sinful living.
The Call to Make It Sure
In light of this, Peter’s command to “make your calling and election sure” is not about working to secure our status as one of God’s elect but about anchoring our hearts in the certainty of what God has already done. The Greek word for “sure” (bebaios) carries the sense of something being firm, steadfast, and unshakable. Peter is calling us to reinforce our assurance in the gospel truths because this will be the only thing that returns our sight to the gospel truths.
This understanding aligns perfectly with Peter’s warning in verse 9. The key to living a holy life is not to strive harder in our own strength but to “sure up” our confidence in the gospel. As we meditate on and rest in the truths of our cleansing and reconciliation through Christ, the fruit of godliness naturally follows. Strengthening our assurance in the finished work of Christ is the key to walking in holiness. As we rehearse the gospel, recalling that we have been cleansed, called, and chosen by God, our faith is fortified, and the virtues Peter lists become the natural outflow of a heart resting in grace.
Assurance and Holiness: A Gospel-Centered Cycle
Peter’s teaching reveals a beautiful cycle: as we grow in the assurance of our calling and election (sure it up), we bear the fruit of godliness. And as we see this fruit in our lives, it further reinforces our assurance. This cycle is not about self-effort but about living in the light of the gospel. Reminding ourselves so that we do not forget. To “make your calling and election sure” is to daily rest in the truths of God’s grace in Christ. It is to remind yourself of the cleansing, calling, and choosing that God has accomplished on your behalf. As you sure up your assurance in the gospel, you will find the power to live a life that reflects His glory. In doing so, you will see the truth of Peter’s promise: “for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.”