2 Peter - Verse-by-Verse Biblical Exegesis

very moment that Christ is received by faith. What his actual state may be is quite
another matter … The student cannot fail to notice that the Divine order, under grace, is
first to GIVE the highest possible standing, and then to exhort the believer to maintain a
state in accordance therewith. The beggar is lifted up from the dunghill and set among
princes (1 Sam. 2:8), and then exhorted to be princely ... All believers are intended to
bring their character into perfect conformity to the position which is his the instant of his
conversion. He grows in grace, indeed, but not into grace. (C. Scofield)
Is not the election to eternal life already fixed? Was it not decided before the foundation
of the world? Yes. Was it not of God’s sovereignty, before the doing of ought, good or
evil, on our part? Yes. It is of calling and election, then, to something else that the apostle
is here speaking. He is speaking in reference to the kingdom of Christ. It is a calling and
election of those previously elected to eternal life, and already righteous by faith in
Christ. To this kingdom believers have a call. The choice by Christ of some for this
kingdom is according to works. Believers are the more called to diligence concerning
this, by a consideration of the future results of such diligence. Our election to the
kingdom depends upon it. A sense of self-interest, then, is to quicken our steps. (R.
Govett)
Election and calling are and remain God’s redemptive acts. God elects man in eternity
(Eph. 1:4) but calls him in time (Rom. 8:30). Man does not call or elect himself. God
alone decrees man’s election and calling … Calling is not merely an invitation; it is a
royal command which man must obey. And election is evidence of God’s grace and love
toward man. Man, then, must take possession of his election by exercising the virtues
Peter outlines in verses 5-7. (S. Kistemaker) If we are bringing forth the sevenfold fruit
which issues out of the root of faith, we may be sure that our faith is true and living ...
The life of obedience and spiritual diligence tends to deepen continually the
consciousness that the divine power is with us, giving us all things needful for life and
godliness, and so to make our calling and election sure. (B. Caffin) To “make our calling
and election sure” means to guarantee by adding to our faith the character qualities of
1:5-7 that our calling and election will achieve their intended aim. (J. Dillow)
The Greek word for stumble means “to trip up” or “to experience a reversal.” Certainly
one who is maturing in Christ will not trip up in his spiritual life as readily as one who is
immature and nearsighted. (K. Gangel) So there we have in effect the gifts and calling
which are both of God, and which “are without repentance” (Rom. 11:29), without
anything tentative about them, without any possibility of His changing His mind about
them. The gifts are secured to us by providential overruling of our genetic heritage
whereby we are equipped constitutionally to fulfill some specific role to which we are
elected – for election is not only to salvation. I believe that Peter is speaking of election
in this sense here … For how could we possibly fail if we are fulfilling the role which
God has called us to fill, and using the talents with which He has endowed us? (A.
Custance)
The immediate context seems to define the sureness as a bulward against falling, and not
a subjective confidence to the heart that one is saved … The result of doing these things