Burt Groves

Everyone wants to succeed at something. The more important the goal, the more one wants to achieve it. Material goals soon lose their appeal; the best this world has to offer deteriorates with time. The Creator offers man, who was made in His image, divine acceptance here and heaven in the hereafter. The Holy Spirit promised, “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 1:10-11 KJV).

Does the above text teach that the saved cannot be lost? No! But it does declare that the saved need not be lost. Graciously God provides security for His children. The text addresses believers whose faith stands them in God’s grace (Romans 5:1-2) in contrast to dead faith (James 2:26). God approves one whose faith works lovingly (Galatians 5:6).

Consider the blessings enjoyed by those urged to make their calling and election sure. Having obeyed the gospel they were partakers of God’s nature.

Knowledge of the gospel, when obeyed, gives fellowship with God through the Lord Jesus Christ. “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life” (1 John 5:20). Clearly, knowing Jesus Christ is to have fellowship with Him or to be in Him. Penitent believers are baptized into Christ (Galatians 3 :26-27). All saints were sinners but have been translated into the kingdom of Christ (Colossians 1:13).

God develops in His children greater spirituality as they supply in their faith these attributes of Christ: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and love (2 Peter 1:5-7). This requires diligence on the part of disciples. Those who claim discipleship but neglect the great salvation drift to perdition unless they repent. Indeed, “How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…?” (Hebrews 2:3).

But the text is God’s formula for security. Having been delivered from sin one can enjoy the peace that passes the understanding of the wicked world. Jesus taught the same by employing the analogy of the shepherd and his sheep. As the Shepherd who gave His life for the sheep, He promised, “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand” (John 10:28). One who ignores context may declare that Jesus promised that those once saved could not be lost, but the previous verse must also be honored. Jesus declared, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: ” (John 10:27).

“Loving obedient faith” is the way Christians live. God’s will works only in those who obey Him. “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13).

How thankful God’s children must be for God’s grace that makes possible their faith and salvation that need never be lost. The faithful boast not in their works but in their Savior, His death, resurrection and ascension into heaven where He reigns at the Father’s right hand. Christians, let us always rejoice not in ourselves but in our Savior. Then with John of old, remembering His announcement, “I come quickly,” we can say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

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