Security is His, Assurance is mine

Scripture Read:  2 Peter 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge; [6] and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness; [7] and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. [8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins. [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.

Application: Diligent:σπουδάζω spoudázō “zealous effort” Stumble: πταίω ptaíō  "to fall" Perhaps all that is being said is that stumbling or falling is not to be regarded as an end in itself. But perhaps there is a certain crescendo from stumbling to falling, for the one who stumbles may get up again, pull himself together and stand on his feet, or he may fall and lie on the ground. Falling as a possible result of stumbling is perhaps a figure for the eternal ruin which threatens to overtake the Jews through their stumbling.

Here is assurance of salvation – the issue of security is God’s doing – the issue of assurance is ours. How do I know I am chosen and called – by practicing the characteristics that are Christlike! You can do nothing to remove yourself from God’s grace – it is all His from beginning to end – but the only way we can go to sleep with the peace that we are His is if in our life we have a growing evidence of Christlike characteristics. Thanks Lord for this gift – to know but not to be lazy about it!