"Like Precious Faith"

[SheepWhisperer]

If one has already "obtained like precious faith" and is one of the "brethren", he is a born again, saved individual and, of course, he is already one of the elect. Correct? So if he is already elect, why does he need to make his "election" sure?

2 Peter 1:1 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:.....................................................................................................................................................................10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

 

[JonC]

Scripture never refers to a pre-saved person as "elect", and Scripture never speaks of a lost person as having been "elect". I suspect Peter is telling people to examine themselves to make sure they have actually obtained such faith.

 

[Scarlett O.]

I think your answer lies in the verses between 1 and 10 - specifically verses 5-9.

My two cents is that Peter is saying these things will confirm it to yourself. Not that you have to do something to keep it or gain it. Just to see it concretely.

 

[The Archangel]

If one has already "obtained like precious faith" and is one of the "brethren", he is a born again, saved individual and, of course, he is already one of the elect. Correct? So if he is already elect, why does he need to make his "election" sure?

Because self-deception is quite real. It is possible to think one's self to be saved and to be hopelessly wrong.

[21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21–23 ESV)
​

There are many passages that clearly show that faith is not an issue of a simple one-time decision, but a day-to-day dying to self and living for Christ. But even that phrase "living for Christ" can be deceiving since it is possible to be like the older brother in the Prodigal Son, who did everything for the father, but out of a desire to serve himself, not out of delight in the father.

We also understand that it is important that we bear fruit. Just as an orange tree that produces no oranges is a problem, a "Christian" who produces no fruit is a problem. One can rightly question whether the no-fruit orange tree is an orange tree and one can rightly question whether a no-fruit Christian is Christian.

So to make your "election" sure is to constantly monitor your thoughts, attitudes, and actions and to be diligent to submit them to Christ through His word so that you may delight in Him and the things He delights in.

The Archangel

 

[thatbrian]

If one has already "obtained like precious faith" and is one of the "brethren", he is a born again, saved individual and, of course, he is already one of the elect. Correct? So if he is already elect, why does he need to make his "election" sure?

2 Peter 1:1 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:.....................................................................................................................................................................10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

Imperatives always follow indicatives. First we are reminded of what we have been given, and then there is always a "therefore". As an example, if I told my son, you are a my son and a member of the thatbrian family, so act respectably when you are at our neighbor's house this afternoon, am I telling him to behave or I will disown him, or am I telling him that because he is my son I want him to act in a certain manner?

2 Peter 1:3–4

Confirm Your Calling and Election

[3] His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, [4] by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (ESV)​

 

[SheepWhisperer]

Because self-deception is quite real. It is possible to think one's self to be saved and to be hopelessly wrong.

[21] “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. [22] On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ [23] And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21–23 ESV)
​

There are many passages that clearly show that faith is not an issue of a simple one-time decision, but a day-to-day dying to self and living for Christ. But even that phrase "living for Christ" can be deceiving since it is possible to be like the older brother in the Prodigal Son, who did everything for the father, but out of a desire to serve himself, not out of delight in the father.

We also understand that it is important that we bear fruit. Just as an orange tree that produces no oranges is a problem, a "Christian" who produces no fruit is a problem. One can rightly question whether the no-fruit orange tree is an orange tree and one can rightly question whether a no-fruit Christian is Christian.

So to make your "election" sure is to constantly monitor your thoughts, attitudes, and actions and to be diligent to submit them to Christ through His word so that you may delight in Him and the things He delights in.

The Archangel

It's telling them to "add" to their "faith" which acknowledges that they already had "faith", correct? But yet, if they do the things , they won't "fall". Fall from what? NONE of this is saying that if you do all things in verses 5-10, that you will be "assured" of your salvation. It's speaking about "Faith" that you already have, and that if you "add" to that faith the virtues listed, you will be fruitful and you won't fall. So, in the context, the ones being addressed, namely these "brethren" having "like precious faith" already have their "calling" and "election". "Never fall" is speaking of "falling" into sin. Making their "calling" and "election" "sure" is speaking of their service, or purpose, without which they cannot be fruitful. It doesn't say "make sure ye are elect". It says "make.... election sure"

5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;

7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.

8 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.

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.

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

 

[delizzle]

If one has already "obtained like precious faith" and is one of the "brethren", he is a born again, saved individual and, of course, he is already one of the elect. Correct? So if he is already elect, why does he need to make his "election" sure?

2 Peter 1:1 1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:.....................................................................................................................................................................10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

I think the NIV is a little clearer on the issue.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5‭-‬11 NIV

The passage is basically saying that you are saved by your faith. However, if you don't add these practices (v5-7) you will be "ineffective and unproductive". You must be effective and productive to confirm your calling to others. After all, James stated that faith without works is dead. We are not saved by works. Rather, we do works because we are already saved. If you claim to be saved (elect) and have nothing to show for it, you will not receive a "rich " welcome into heaven. It doesn't say that you will never be welcomed at all.

However, you bounce this off of the passages where Jesus says that trees which do not bear fruit will be destroyed, that's another story.