3904 38th Street NW Canton, Ohio 44718
330-492-5523 Fax: 330-493-7119
“Confidence In Our Salvation”
(II Peter 1:1-4)
I. Introduction.
A. The epistle we call II Peter was written to combat the
teachings, the beliefs, and the activities of certain
individuals who were a real threat to the Lord’s church.
In the very first lines of the letter, Peter makes some bold
assertions.
1. First, that one who is a Christian has “. . . escaped
the corruption that is in the world. . .” (II Peter 1:4).
2. Second, that one who is a Christian has been purged
(or cleansed) “. . . from his old (past) sins.”
(II Peter 1:9).
3. And, third, that one who is a Christian has the
responsibility of maintaining ethical goodness and
moral purity, which is all wrapped up in – all
leading to – the greatest of all virtues, love.
(READ II Peter 1:5-8).
B. Salvation is mankind’s acceptance of the promises of God.
It is God who cleanses us, God who forgives us, God who
saves us from the terrible consequences of sin. It is we
who accept cleansing, accept forgiveness, accept salvation,
and live to please, and honor, God. We are told to make
“. . . [our] call and election sure. . .” (II Peter 1:10). How?
By the way we live after we receive the gift of salvation.
C. The New Testament tells us that “election” and
“predestination” are involved in salvation.
-2-
1. Romans 8:29-30: “For whom He [God] foreknew,
He also predestined to be conformed to the image of
His Son, that He [Christ] might be the firstborn of
many brethren. Moreover whom He [God]
predestined, these He also called; whom He called,
these He also justified; and whom He justified,
these He also glorified.”
2. And, in Ephesians 1:4-5: “just as He [God] chose
us in Him [Christ] before the foundation of the
world, that we should be holy and without blame
before Him [God] in love, having predestined us to
adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself,
according to the good pleasure of His will.”
3. There are some who see in these verses – and other
related passages of scripture – the meaning that God
“elects” or “predestines” specific individuals for
salvation. The religious reformer John Calvin wrote that the number of people who will be saved
eternally by God has been fixed, and nothing people
may do in life can change their spiritual fate. We
are, arbitrarily, destined for salvation or
condemnation.
4. But, if that’s true, why would the Bible declare that
“. . . God shows no partiality” toward people
(Acts 10:34)? Or, why would Jesus teach that
people can choose their own destinies
(Matthew 7:13-14; broad way, narrow way; wide
gate; narrow gate)? Or why would Peter write, that
God is not “. . . willing that any should perish but
that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9)?
-3-
D. What God “predestined” was not that specific individuals,
but a certain group of people would have salvation. What
group? (“. . .those who have obtained like precious faith. . .
by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ,”
(II Peter 1:1).
1. We, as individuals, choose whether or not we are
“in Christ”, whether or not we have salvation and
eternal life, whether or not we “make [our] call and
election sure.”
2. (Illust.) Here’s how one man put the matter of
salvation:
“As we understand the term “election”, it has to do
with voting on a candidate. Well, in this case, you
are the candidate and the “office” in view is
salvation. God has voted for you; Satan has voted
against you. Now it is up to you to cast the
deciding ballot. You can either vote with God by
learning and obeying His Word, or you can vote
with the devil by remaining in your sinful ways. It
is your vote that swings the election.”
3. This simple explanation does make a crucial point:
our salvation is a choice. Once having made the
choice to be saved, to accept the gift of God’s
grace; we can be confident in our eternal destiny.
E. The scriptures make some basic statements on salvation:
God wants all people to be saved; the gospel is God’s call
to people to salvation and eternal life; a person who hears
and obeys the gospel is saved in their submissive response
to God’s offer of grace; a person who does not obey the
gospel remains in sin and condemnation.
-4-
F. We have God’s assurance that, if we obey Him, and take
that responsibility to maintain ethical goodness and moral
purity, we “. . . will never stumble [fall] (II Peter 1:10),
(then, READ verse 11).
II. God’s Promises.
A. As will all “. . . good gift[s] and every perfect gift . . .
[which] comes. . . from the Father. . .” (James 1:17), our
salvation has its origin in the generosity of God. Salvation
is His unmerited gift (grace) made possible because Jesus
died on the cross as a substitute for sinful people.
1. RE-READ verses 3-4 (II Peter 1). The people to
whom Peter addressed these inspired words were
baptized believers in Christ. But, they were also
people who needed reassurance concerning their
ability to live a Christ-like life and claim a home in
heaven. They, like us, needed confidence in their
salvation.
2. That confidence cannot be based on our own
strength, or goodness, or effort. How often do we
think we are strong, yet prove to be very weak,
spiritually? Our assurance has to have a firmer base
than mere self-confidence.
3. Peter doesn’t appeal to self in his effort to inspire
confidence in his hearers. He appeals to the
knowledge of God’s flawless record of keeping His
promises. That record is evident throughout the
scriptures. God always did – and does – what He
said He’d do.
B. God’s promises to His children are in the form of a
covenant. In a covenant there are mutual obligations. We
can be assured that God will honor His part of the
covenant. We are required to be faithful to our part as well.
-5-
III. Our Responsibility.
A. What is “our part?” To continue to grow in our spiritual
life; to give attention to our spiritual life.
B. We contribute nothing but obedience to our “re-birth” as
a child of God. Our salvation is in the completed mission
of Christ. We don’t contribute one thing to these
redemptive sufferings or that victorious resurrection.
C. We do, however, have the duty to grow in our likeness to
Christ in the evil environment of the world. The faith
which brought us to salvation has to be supplemented with
other “graces.” (Look again, at II Peter 1:5-7).
1. With faith as the foundation, we are to work on
“adding” “virtue” (goodness), which is moral
courage to do what’s right, “knowledge”, which
means a practical understanding of the will of God,
“self-control” (temperance), which means mastery
of our desires, “perseverance” (patience), which
means to face and endure difficulties in a positive
way, so as to turn them into opportunities,
“godliness” which means an attitude of submission
and reverence to God’s will, and “brotherly
kindness” which means an attitude of concern for
others.
2. We’re to crown all of these graces with “love”,
which means the willingness to put another’s
happiness or well-being above our own. It’s the
willingness to sacrifice ourselves for someone
else’s sake.
-6-
D. What a challenge Peter gives to his hearers. What
blessings come from growth in these qualities.
(verse 8; Re-Read). What assurance we have of our
salvation because of God’s promises and our spiritual
maturing.
E. Can we know we are saved? Of course, we can. Salvation
is not a mysterious gift given at the whim of a capricious,
irrational God. It’s not something granted to a few and
denied the rest of mankind. It is offered to everyone, and
everyone can know whether they have accepted the gift –
if you have, you are saved! If you have, you’re part of
God’s family, and such confidence gives that family
strength and boldness.
IV. Conclusion.
A. Have your turned from your sins and been buried with
Christ in the watery grave of baptism? Are you walking
in the light of divine truth, working on adding the Christian
graces to your character? If so, you are saved.
B. Our spiritual security is not conditional. Notice, Peter says:
“. . . if you do these things you will never stumble (fall).”
(II Peter 1:10). We are still saved by grace; we still have
continual cleansing by the blood of Christ (I John 1:9), we
have a means of knowing where we stand in our
relationship with God.
C. Confidence in our salvation makes the individual Christian
bold and successful. It makes the church strong.