Make your calling sure

“Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:10-11
This is one of those verses that can be easily misunderstood. Peter is not advocating either salvation or sanctification by works. We aren’t saved by God for a ‘test-drive’ period, after which He decides if He wants to keep us or not. Rather, making our election sure is for our own benefit, so that we know that we are truly saved and born again.
Peter says we will know this, and never fall, ‘if we do these things’. What things is he referring to? The qualities listed in the previous verses: faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love (2 Pet. 1:5-7). The Christian walk should be just that – a journey of character development, conforming more and more to the image of Christ. We mustn’t settle for ‘just’ being saved – we ought to press on to maturity (Heb. 6:1). Then we have the promise that we will be warmly welcomed into eternity and receive rewards.