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2 Peter 1:10–15
“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10a).
When the eastern tribes of Israel built their great altar beside the Jordan, they were seeking to assure themselves that they and their descendants always would have a place among God’s people. Being built by Israelites with an unquestioned right to worship at the true altar, this riverside replica would stand for many years to symbolize the right of the people living around it to come before God. It would both silence questioners and quell their own doubts about their place in the covenant. It would help assure them of their ultimate security.
Like these Israelites, Christians want ultimate security. Indeed, it is for “safety” that believers flee to the “Savior.” But even after believing and trusting Christ, many Christians struggle with feelings of peril. They may wonder whether they are truly in a state of grace. And even if they are convinced that they are truly saved, they may fear that they somehow will lose the salvation they have been given. Such struggles are widespread in the church and are seriously debilitating to the Christian life. Therefore, we will pause for a few days in our studies in Joshua to examine this subject with the help of Dr. R.C. Sproul’s audio tape series Eternal Security.
The doctrine of eternal security (also known as the perseverance of the saints) is not a lofty theological matter. On the contrary, it is essential for our day-to-day spiritual well-being that we believe in our security in Christ; that is why Peter urges believers to “make your call and election sure.” But it can be a most daunting task to defeat the doubts that assail us. Satan constantly asks us variations on the very question the eastern tribes feared to hear from the westerners: “ ‘What have you to do with the LORD God of Israel?’ ” (Josh. 22:24b). He tells us that no one as sinful as we are could be truly saved. Plus, unbelievers sometimes ridicule us as hypocrites. Even fellow Christians may make us feel that we do not belong in the church. And Scripture itself can pose a problem, for its warnings and admonitions to endure seem to imply that believers can fall from grace.
However, the Bible clearly teaches that those who are in Christ are indeed eternally secure. Rightly understood, Scripture offers us magnificent assurances of our eternal security in Christ. Beginning with tomorrow’s study, we will look at some of these assurances.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
Do you struggle with fears of losing your salvation? Does your conscience condemn you, telling you a truly redeemed person would not do the things you do? Do you suspect you may have committed the unpardonable sin? Pray today that God will use the Scripture passages in this study to help you understand where you stand with Him.
for further study
- John 6:37
- John 10:28–29
- Romans 8:31–39
- 1 Corinthians 1:8
- 2 Timothy 1:12