THE ATTRACTION OF MAKING SURE (3 OF 10)
by Richard Laue
Scripture: II PETER 1:10-18
This content is part of a series.
The Attraction of Making Sure (3 of 10)
Pastor Richard Laue
II Peter 1:10-18
First, in our study of II Peter we found that we all have "like precious faith." We have obtained this faith "by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ."
Second, we have been given "exceedingly great and precious promises. Through these we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
Third, "we are to give all diligence to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love."
Fourth, we are to be "even more diligent to make our call and election sure."
Many believers have struggled over this doctrine of election and have great difficulty with it. Consequently, many ignore it. Whole denominations refuse to believe it, but the great Apostle says, "Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble."
For years I had difficulty with this doctrine, but I decided not to ignore it, but to study it all the more. While doing that, it came home to my heart that I was not called to explain it, but to believe it and preach it. Then the truth came home to my heart.
Consider this: A man said to his wife, "Why did God make you so beautiful, yet so dumb?" His wife said, "God made me beautiful so you could love me, and me so dumb so I could love you."
That in a way is like election. God made us the way He wanted us to be. Some of us He made beautiful, some not so beautiful, some down right homely. But it's His call, His choice, His decision. If He would have let me make myself, I would definitely gone for some radical changes. But it's not my call.
This is the way it is with election. It is His call; His choice; not yours, not mine. Paul explained it like this:
Romans 9:20-21 ... "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Why have yo ...
Pastor Richard Laue
II Peter 1:10-18
First, in our study of II Peter we found that we all have "like precious faith." We have obtained this faith "by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ."
Second, we have been given "exceedingly great and precious promises. Through these we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."
Third, "we are to give all diligence to add to our faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love."
Fourth, we are to be "even more diligent to make our call and election sure."
Many believers have struggled over this doctrine of election and have great difficulty with it. Consequently, many ignore it. Whole denominations refuse to believe it, but the great Apostle says, "Be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never stumble."
For years I had difficulty with this doctrine, but I decided not to ignore it, but to study it all the more. While doing that, it came home to my heart that I was not called to explain it, but to believe it and preach it. Then the truth came home to my heart.
Consider this: A man said to his wife, "Why did God make you so beautiful, yet so dumb?" His wife said, "God made me beautiful so you could love me, and me so dumb so I could love you."
That in a way is like election. God made us the way He wanted us to be. Some of us He made beautiful, some not so beautiful, some down right homely. But it's His call, His choice, His decision. If He would have let me make myself, I would definitely gone for some radical changes. But it's not my call.
This is the way it is with election. It is His call; His choice; not yours, not mine. Paul explained it like this:
Romans 9:20-21 ... "But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'Why have yo ...
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