"Make Your Calling And Election Sure" - 3

Okay then; now, if you have been following this blog for any length of time, you might have gathered that I have made 'much-to-do' about the difference between the 'forgiven believer' and the 'glorified believer'. And, as has already been established, we have all been given the same Grace; the only problem with the believer that is just forgiven, is that he has not yet experienced the 'Fullness of God's Grace'. So, why is this important and relevant to 'Making our Calling and Election Sure'? Well, for the most part, for the 'Knowledge of God'; which is knowledge that is gained through experience. As Peter describes here in the first half of 2 Peter 1, that through the 'Knowledge of God' we become partakers of 'Divine Nature'; and as already mentioned, we have all been given the same ability to 'partake'; the problem is, that not all partake. And as I mentioned upon the opening of this Book, Peter was writing this epistle to address false and misleading teachings that were being spread in the church. Now, for those that do not know, we are responsible for our own salvation; in other words, we cannot blame being mislead on those that have done the misleading. That is why we must be diligent to experience the 'Knowledge of God' for ourselves; which is meant specifically for us, as individuals, to experience; otherwise, we are gaining the knowledge from an outside source, which could be misleading. The word 'sure' is from the Greek word 'Bebaios' which means fixed, sure, certain. Figuratively that upon which one may build, rely, or trust; and in the New Testament, it is not used of persons but objects; and it is that which does not fail or waiver; it is immovable, and on which one may rely. The 'object' on which we are to build is 'the Knowledge of God'; of which can only come through a personal experience of God's Grace. And, we are to experience this Grace by walking in, and walking out the qualities of the Holy Spirit (virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, charity) that have been brought into our lives, and are now part of who we are in Jesus Christ. These are the qualities that are added to our faith, because they are the bases of our faith; and if we lack these qualities, then we have forgotten who and what we are in Jesus Christ. The reason that this is so critical within our lives are twofold: on the one hand, we will know, based upon 'the Knowledge of God', what is the 'Present Truth' within our own lives; and, on the other hand, we will come to realize, based upon 'the Knowledge of God', what is false from without... "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in 'the Knowledge of Him': the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the Hope of His Calling, and what are the Riches of the Glory of His Inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His Power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His Mighty Power." (Ephesians 1:17-19)