WE ARE NOT IN HEAVEN YET

"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-13)

Devotion 17 of 37

MAKING YOUR CALLING AND ELECTION SURE

In the discussion of salvation or any of its glorious aspects, it is essential that we speak in words that the Holy Spirit teaches. The Scriptures, written by holy men as they were moved along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet 1:21), declare the mind of the Lord. They introduce us to His "eternal purpose," and declare how His love compelled Him to provide "so great salvation." Sin is defined in the Scriptures. Exceeding great and precious promises are articulated in them. The "whole duty" of man is affirmed, as well the power to do it.

There is also another essential need served by the Scriptures. They provide a spiritual nomenclature–a set of terms and expressions that convey the precise nature and content of salvation. The Holy Spirit often took common words, but gave them unique meanings that carried with them conceptions pertaining to salvation. Some of those words are "faith," "hope," "love," Lamb," "body," and "heavenly." There are also teachings, couched in inspired words, and pregnant with meaning and power.

Holy men were always careful HOW they stated the truth. This was according to God's good pleasure. A cardinal statement of this fact is found in the second chapter of First Corinthians. After declaring God had, by the Spirit, revealed the things He has prepared for those who love Him, the Apostle said he declared what had been revealed. "This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words" (1 Cor 2:13, NIV). The subject before us is a marvelous example of this: Making your calling and election sure.

"And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 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 Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:5-10).

This is what the Spirit said, and this is the way He said it. He searches the deep things of God, and is not lacking in the ability to precisely articulate our involvement in this great salvation. These words are addressed to those who have "obtained like precious faith." The multiplication of grace and peace is declared to be for them, as well as all things that pertain to life and godliness. Exceeding great and precious promises have been given to them, by which they participate in the Divine nature (vs 1-4). I cannot imagine more wonderful and thorough advantages being given.

The Spirit affirms salvation involves activity on our part. We have obtained faith, but now we must "supplement" that faith with various spiritual traits. Among them are virtue, or moral excellence (the ability to choose the good and refuse the evil), knowledge, self control, endurance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and the kind of love God had for us.

Without any fear of contradicting any facet of the Divine nature, or salvation itself, the Spirit declares, "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ" (NASB). There should be no need to comment on uselessness and unfruitfulness in the knowledge of Christ. With precision, the Spirit says these graces keep us from the condition stated. Some may feel usefulness and fruitfulness occur automatically–that there is no chance of them NOT being found in a "Christian." But that is not what this text says–a text authored by the Spirit of God.

The matter does not stop there. The Spirit knows nothing of any purported impossibility of landing in this state. With soul-arresting solemnity He says, "But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins" (NIV). The Spirit is not speaking of a pretender, but of someone "cleansed from his past sins." He does not say a person so cleansed can never "forget" his cleansing. Men may say this, but the Spirit does not, and He "searches the deep things of God."

If one chooses to believe this person has the promise of eternal life, then we need some statement from the Living God that affirms this is the case. We need some promise of good to the nearsighted and the blind, and those who have forgotten they were cleansed from their old sins.

There is no need, however, to engage in such an effort–to try and find where God has promised such people will "dwell in the house of the Lord forever." The Spirit gives us the proper conclusion, delivering us from any contrived deduction. "Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you" (NASB).

And what will we do with such powerful expressions: "be all the more diligent," and "make certain about His calling and choosing you"? Will we quickly repair to a belief-system to see if the words agree with our perception of salvation? Will we ask if they mean we can "lose our salvation?" Is it proper for anyone to take these words of God–crystal clear in every major translation–and set about to affirm what they do NOT mean? From whence does such a tendency come?

Far better, indeed, to believe these words–to believe it was necessary for them to be spoken, and that they were spoken precisely, and in full harmony with the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. Be up and diligent to make your calling and election sure. Do not ask whether it is sure to you or sure to God! God needs no help in this matter, for "the Lord knoweth them that are His" (2 Tim 2:19). Be sure the graces mentioned are not only in you, but are "ABOUNDING" in you – that is what the Spirit says. God has supplied you with the resources to do it, and will ensure your "labor is not in vain in the Lord" (1 Cor 15:58).

You and I are not in heaven yet. Until we are, we need words like this–words that the Holy Spirit teaches. Real believers receive the Spirit's word with gladness. It is a good word.

PRAYER POINT: Father, I thank and praise You through Jesus for pointing our what I am to do. I thank You for providing a way by which usefulness and fruitfulness will be realized, and uselessness and unfruitfulness can be avoided.

-- Tomorrow: DISSOLVING of DOUBTS --
Monday: LABORING TO ENTER REST --