How sad it is that so many baptized believers never feel secure in their salvation. Some Christians go through life never really knowing whether they will go to hell or heaven. However, one needs to make his or her “calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:11).
The word “calling” is from the Greek word klesis, which means “a call, calling, invitation.” The Greek word for “election” is ekloge, which means “election, choice, the act of picking out, choosing.” “Calling and election” is God’s call and choice of you (Matthew 22:14; 1 Corinthians 1:9; James 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:14). The Christian can make sure of his salvation by diligent work.
Christians have the assurance of the faith. “For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day” (2 Timothy 1:12 NKJV). This “assurance” is “forever” (Isaiah 32:17). “And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end” (Hebrews 6:11). Christian hearts are assured before Jesus Christ (1 John 3:19). “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God” (1 John 5:13).
How can we know that we have assurance of salvation? Peter wrote, “If you will do these things you will never fall” (2 Peter 1:10). If you do these things? What things? If we incorporate the Christian graces into our lives, we will never fall (2 Peter 1:5-7). We must possess those qualities and be growing in them (2 Peter 1:8).
A glorious entrance awaits the faithful child of God. What is the end of a life of growing in these Christian graces? The Christian will be richly supplied with an entrance into the eternal kingdom (Romans 6:22; 2 Timothy 2:10-12; 1 Peter 1:3-9). Heaven is the reward of a life given to growing in the Christian graces.
When this life is over and each of us stands in the presence of the blessed Lord, will we hear the thrilling words, “Well done good and faithful servant… enter into the joys of your Lord… Come, ye blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:21, 34)? Will we be clothed in the beauty of Christ Himself to live throughout eternity in perfect happiness and joy?
