10 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (NIV)
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10 Therefore, believers, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you [be sure that your behavior reflects and confirms your relationship with God]; for by doing these things [actively developing these virtues], you will never stumble [in your spiritual growth and will live a life that leads others away from sin]; 11 for in this way entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly provided to you. (AMP)
Questions
● (v10). Who is Peter speaking to here? What is Peter urging them to do? How much effort do believers need to exert? What is the difference between calling and election? Who performs the calling and electing? What is the believers’ part? What happens when the believer exerts this effort? What is meant by the word “stumble”?
● (v11). What will believers receive if they exert this effort? Whose kingdom will believers be welcomed into?
● What is something from our passage or study you are challenged to ponder further this week?______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Suggested Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you that you have called me and elected me. You have done all the work in saving and redeeming my life. I know I am eternally secure in you. When I pursue and develop these godly virtues mentioned in this passage I confirm to the world and to myself that I have a loving relationship with you. I may stumble and sin at times, but I will not love my sin more than I love you. Thank you for the incredibly rich welcome into your eternal kingdom you have in store for me when I lovingly live out my life to reflect you to this world. Amen.
Calling
Romans 8:28-30. 28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. (NIV)
1 Corinthians 1:4-9. 4 I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. 5 For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— 6 God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. 7 Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. 8 He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (NIV)
Election
Ephesians 1:3-6. 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. (NIV)
Colossians 3:12 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (NIV)
The Brotherhood Mission Statement: “Discipling men of all ages in their pursuit of loving God with all their hearts, all their lives.”
The Brotherhood Vision Statement: “Engaging with the Word of God to equip and encourage The Brotherhood in pursuing God and blessing others.”