To Make our Calling and Election Sure

To make our calling and election in Christ sure and to prevent us from falling out of the way, Peter in his second epistle tells us to add seven things to our faith.

“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:5-11)

Let’s examine these seven qualities in a little more depth.

1. Virtue: A virtuous course of thought, feeling and action. Virtue, moral goodness. Any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity

2. Knowledge: General and deeper understanding of Christianity, a continuous process of learning.

3. Temperance: self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, esp. his sensual appetites)

4. Patience: Time, endurance and steadfastness. A man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings

5. Godliness: Piety towards God. The doctrine that promotes God.

6. Brotherly kindness: (Philadelphia) Cherish for each other as brethren

7. Charity: (Agape) Godly love.

(Sources referenced: Thayer & Vine)

Adding the above seven qualities to our faith will enable us to stand secure and assured in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It will empower us so as to never be barren or unfruitful. Virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, Godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity are seven posts in our fence of faith. Our faith fence keeps sin out and keeps us in the way of salvation.

It is very important to highlight one key phrase from the above passage. Peter said to “give diligence” in making your calling and election sure. To “give diligence” means to put forth effort, to exert oneself. Adding these seven attributes to our faith is work. It requires mental acuity, a conscious effort and a desire so strong to become these Godly attributes that any conflicting fleshy desires will be defeated. Our desire to overcome the flesh is rooted in our love for Christ.

There will always be a price to be paid for something of value. In other words, there is no value in something that is free. This is why David insisted on paying Araunah for the threshingfloor, after it was offered to David for free, when he was looking for a place to offer burnt offerings unto the Lord (See 2 Samuel 24:24). No price, no value, then no worth.

One may argue that if there is no value in free, and God’s grace is freely given, then there must be no value in His grace. That’s absurd. Although God’s grace is freely given, there is a tremendous price in receiving it. To accept God’s grace, we must accept God. This requires that we give our all to Him; heart, mind, body, soul and spirit. Christ gave His life for us. We are to do the same for Him.

Faith and these seven attributes are of immeasurable value and worth. This is why the devil will present what appears to be insurmountable problems in attaining them. Overcoming worldly problems and the flesh is a great price we must pay while here on earth. God’s grace is sufficient to overcome any obstacle, no matter what we may confront.

The price we must pay for faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, Godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity is our diligence in obtaining them. It is our responsibility to pass them along to others.

Bill Hitchcock