2 Peter 1:10

2 Peter 1:10 ‘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;'

‘be all the more diligent' -‘zealous, eager, take pains, make every effort' (Arndt p. 763). ‘More'-more and not less! ‘make all the greater efforts' (Gspd); ‘Exert yourselves the more then' (Ber). The false teachers looked at the grace of God and said, ‘We don't have to try as hard, diligence isn't needed'. This was the wrong view. Great blessings mean that we need to make sure that we don't miss them! The Christian life is to be one of effort and diligence (Ephesians 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:15; Hebrews 4:11; Hebrews 12:15 ‘See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God..'; 2 Peter 3:14). ‘Because of God's wonderful gifts, because the use of those gifts leads to an increased knowledge of Christ, therefore they must the rather exert themselves.' (Green p. 73)

‘to make' -‘to make for yourselves' (Robertson p. 152); ‘make sure for yourself' (Green p. 74). We have. very essential role to play in our own salvation. We make the choice whether we will end up lost or saved. We are the one who determines whether we will grow or fall away.

‘certain' -‘firm, steadfast' (Vine p. 99), ‘to put God's Call and Selection of you beyond all doubt' (TCNT). ‘Making God's calling and selection of you “sure” (certain), is done by doing verses 5-7. Here is. thorough and decisive refutation of the doctrine of the impossibility of apostasy, and also the doctrine of predestination. It is impossible to make secure that which has never been in doubt.' (Woods p. 154)

‘His calling and choosing you' -God calls by the gospel message (2 Thessalonians 2:14). Seeing that the gospel is to be preached to every person (Mark 16:15), we must conclude that all are called. God then chooses us, when we accept His call (Matthew 22:14). Carefully note that the grace of God is not irresistible. Men may reject it (Galatians 2:21; 2 Corinthians 6:1). ‘the acid test of the genuineness of our faith is that either we make costly life changes on the basis of it, or we treat sin and judgment as irrelevant to. Christian.' (Lucas/Green p. 63)

‘for as long as you practice these things' -‘For as long as'-the language of freewill and choice. ‘Practice'-which demands effort, diligence, time! ‘These things'-the qualities mentioned in the previous verses. ‘As long as you keep working on the previous qualities'.

‘you will never stumble' -Carefully note the promise isn't that you will never sin (1 John 1:8). ‘Stumble'-to stumble so as the fall (Romans 11:11), to depart from the faith, go astray. ‘a Christian who is permanently devoted to following Jesus will never fall into the kind of error the false teachers had blundered into because of their blindness and short-sightedness.' (Lucas/Green p. 63)

Points to Note:

We can have assurance in our salvation! We can know that we are right with God at the present time. 2. Obviously, the verse doesn't endorse the idea of once-saved-always-saved. ‘The metaphor is drawn from the surefootedness of. horse.. life of steady progress should characterize the Christian.' (Green p. 74) 3. These verses also reveal that one doesn't have to jump from one false doctrine to another before they find the truth. Some almost try to argue that everyone believes something that is wrong, or everyone must wade long and hard through errors and misconceptions before they finally discover the truth.. don't see Peter advocating either idea.