Probably one of the most common questions which is asked of any minister is the question of assurance.
Can I know I’m saved? or some variation of that question has been asked by countless people; and it is a question which I know I am quite accustomed to.
It stands to reason, because there really is nothing in this world more important than our eternal destiny.
It is not something we want to leave to chance.
It is not something we want to “wait and see” about when our life ends.
NOTE: This question has quite a bit of history.
For centuries, it has been debated among Christians scholars as to whether or not a person can know for certain if they are one of the elect.
Some even go as far as to say that it is impossible to have assurance, and those who believe that they are certain are committing the sin of assumption.
This is most obviously a concern in the realm of those whose theology teaches that a person can “lose” his salvation.
The question that we should ask regarding assurance is not, “Can we lose our salvation?” because the answer is “no”.
The Bible is clear that we CAN and SHOULD live with the peace of assurance in regard to our salvation.
We don’t just “hope” that we have salvation, but we can “know” it.
1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”
For our text this morning, I have gone to the writings of the Apostle Peter.
In his second epistle, he provides for us a call to confidence and a methodology which can help us rest assured of our salvation.
2 Peter 1:10 “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”
Obviously, this passage is very important in regard to Reformed Theology because it uses very naturally the language of “calling” and “election”.
In RT, we believe that salvation is an act of God whereby He both chooses (elects) us and calls us to salvation with an effectual, internal calling which results in our responding with faith and repentance.
So, our goal in assurance is seeking to determine whether or not we have truly received that call in our hearts, and if we have genuinely yielded to it.
We are to “be diligent” to confirm these things.
Now, I want to look at this passage in its context, but before I do that, I want to address something about “confirming our salvation” which we need to realize.
There are false ways which people use to “confirm” their salvation, and they end up having false assurance.
The Universalist approach - The universalist says that he is saved simply because he exists. He is assured of his salvation because no one is going to be judged. Ultimately, he is justified by death.
The Legalistic approach - the legalist says that he can know that he is saved because he is in some way obedient to God and his obedience "earns" Gods favor. This is the "good person" confirmation.
The Anti-Lordship/Easy-Believism approach - this says that salvation comes in simply engaging in some form of Jesus accepting ritual; sometimes it is repeating a prayer, sometimes it is being baptized or confirmed. Ultimately, the idea is, "you got your ticket punched, you're good”.
So, how can we have assurance?
If universalism, legalism and easy-believism have all missed the mark, what is the right way to have confidence?
How do we make our calling and election certain?
To answer this, I want to go through the context of Peter’s admonition and see what he tells us should encourage our assurance.
He begins his letter with an introduction and reference to Christ as both God and Savior (Granville Sharp Construction).
He then begins to expound on the faith which he says we have obtained which is of equal standing with his own.
2 Peter 1:3-15 “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.
Peter is here expressing the reality of what faith in Jesus brings.
We have been given “precious and very great promises” which have allowed us to “become partakers of the divine nature”.
This does not mean that we have become divine.
This means that we have become participants in the Body of Christ, and Temples of the Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own”
Through this participation in the Divine Nature, we have been able to escape the corruption of the world.
This does not mean that we have become “sinless”.
But we have been given a new heart through having been born again.
We have been granted “all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence”
Ultimately, Peter is expressing to us the same thing which Paul teaches us in His epistles - that salvation is a gift from God.
Salvation is something that God grants, not something that we earn.
The word “granted” is used twice, in these two verses.
This is stressing the fact that salvation is something that God gives us, not something that we earn.
Assurance Begins with Understanding that Salvation is a GIFT we receive, not a reward that we earn.
At this point, Peter shifts his attention to the subject of how we can participate in our growth as Christians, which encourages our assurance.
[5] For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, [6] and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, [7] and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
We receive salvation by grace alone through faith alone.
But faith is not intended to be simply an internal assent to the truth, but rather it is supposed to cause us to want to do things which are pleasing to God.
Peter uses the word “supplement” (NASB “supply”, KJV “add”).
When we seek after those things which are virtuous, godly and loving, we are building up our faith.
We are adding credence to the reality that our confession is s true confession.
[8] For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
If a person confesses Christ, yet is not seeking godliness, what fruit is there in that confession?
If we are not seeking these qualities which Peter describes, ultimately our salvation is ineffective and unfruitful.
KEYWORD: “Increasing” We are not perfect when we get saved; but our sanctification - purification, bent toward Christlikeness - should be increasing. We call this “progressive sanctification”.
We often say, “I am not what I should be, but I am also not what I once was.” WHY —> Because I am being conformed to the image of Christ.
[9] For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.
Here is the key - if a person claims to believe in Jesus, but is not pursuing Christlikeness, even if he is saved, he will have no grounds for assurance.
A person may be saved… but there is no reason to have assurance if our faith is not causing a change in behavior.
Now, I want to make the point that I am not teaching legalism.
I am not saying that any of these qualities save us.
Nothing that we do can add one iota to our salvation; Jesus paid it all.
They do, however, encourage us that we have genuine faith.
Genuine faith produces genuine change; if we have no change, we have no reason to have confidence that we have faith.
QUOTE: Justin Martyr “Let it be understood that those who are not living by Christ's teachings are not Christians at all even though they might profess his teachings with their lips.”
This is why Peter goes on now to say…
[10] Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.
“These qualities” which he has outlined - virtue, knowledge, self control, steadfastness, godliness, brotherly affection and love - are what confirm to us that we possess a genuine faith.
These are similar to the “Fruit of the Spirit”.
Galatians 5:22-23 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”
Jesus told us that we know a tree by the fruit it bears.
Matthew 7:18-20 “A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. [19] Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. [20] Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.”
The context of Jesus’s statement here is false prophets, but this also can extend to anyone who is claiming to have genuine faith, but whose life is lived in constant rebellion to Christ’s commands.
If we practice “These Qualities” which Peter has outlined, he says we will “never fall”.
This is not indicating that a true believer can fall from grace, but that a person who rejects these qualities will fall into the “blindness” which he just described.
What good is it for a true believer to fall into blindness and despair?
He will have no confidence, no assurance and no power.
This is not what we want; we don’t want to fall into blindness and despair, but to live in the light of obedience.
[11] For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
How are we assured of entrance into the Kingdom? —> By faith in the work of Christ.
How can I be assured that I have genuine faith? —> If it is producing within me a desire for Him.
If I see the qualities that Peter has described in me, I can feel confident that God is working in me; and if God is working in me, then I can be confident that I am numbered among the elect.
If I do not see these qualities, I have reason for concern.
This is what Paul means when he tells us to “work out our salvation” (note: not work “for” our salvation).
Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, (13) for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.”
NOTE: If you are willing and working toward God’s good pleasure, the reason is that God is at work within you.
QUOTE: Ligonier Devotional “Although gaining assurance of salvation is not the primary reason why we do good works, we should not discount the assurance that comes as we live holy lives. As we seek to obey Christ’s commands, we can be sure that He is working in us.”
So, Peter tells us that our assurance that our calling and election are genuine comes from an understanding of the promises of Christ which result in a life which is marked by certain qualities.
These “qualities” of the Christian were so important to Peter, that he stresses that we need to be constantly reminded of them…
[12] Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. [13] I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, [14] since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. [15] And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.”
So, if someone asked me, “Pastor, I believe that I trust in Jesus, but I lack confidence in my salvation”, I would respond with the following:
Is your lack of confidence based on unbelief in the promises of God; do you not believe He will fulfill His promises?
Is your lack of confidence based on your imperfections; if so, you need to realize that you will never be perfect in this life, and that salvation is not attained by works.
Is your lack of confidence based on a lack of desire to obey Christ; if so, this is where we may have a genuine concern. Because while we will not be perfect in this life, true faith always accompanies a desire for obedience. A lack of desire for obedience is a lack of genuine faith.
This is Peter’s point… there are certain qualities which should accompany genuine faith.
And if you lack those — if you are not increasing in them — you have no reason to have any assurance.
CONCLUSION: I want to end with some very practical observations regarding salvation and assurance.
What are some reasons to be concerned about your salvation?
If you have never recognized your own sin, your deserving of God’s punishment, and your desperate need for a savior… then you should be concerned.
If you have no desire for Christ, His Word, fellowship with His people, prayer obedience to Christ… then you should be concerned.
If you are living in perpetual, unrepentant sin… then you should be concerned.
Likewise, here are some things which should not steal your confidence:
If you battle with sin daily, this should not steal your confidence; the battle is actually an indication of spiritual life; people who are dead spiritual love their sin, they live in their sin; they don’t battle it.
Christians live in the flesh, and it is a constant battle…
Galatians 5:17 “For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.”
If you have questions about your faith, this should not steal your confidence; we will not have perfect knowledge while still in this life, and we will always have questions.
Only in glory will we have all of our questions answered; until then we will have questions.
1 Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Ultimately, our assurance in salvation stems from knowing where it comes from.
Our salvation comes as a gift from God, which we receive through faith.
If we have received it, it will change our life.
So the question is, “Do we have a faith which has changed our lives?”
If so, I encourage you to be confident.
If not, I encourage you to examine your heart to see if the faith you “profess” is really the faith you “possess”.
