(Vs. 10) The primary concern of every believer should be to make sure of his calling and election of God. We cannot look into God's Book of Life nor into His eternal decrees, so how are we to know that we are chosen to life?
1. By our calling. "Whom He predestinated, He called." If we can find that we have been called to Christ by God's Spirit, we may conclude that we are chosen to salvation. A close examination of ourselves will reveal whether or not we are called of Christ Jesus (II Cor. 13:5). Have I been called out of the darkness of tradition, ceremony, self-righteousness, and sin to the light of the knowledge of God in Christ Jesus (II Cor. 4:6)? Is Christ my LIFE, my ALL, my LORD? (I Cor. 1:30.)
2. By the presence of the aforementioned graces–faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity. He that is without these spiritual graces has reason to doubt his election of God.
3. If I seek first the kingdom of God–if I am determined to win Christ and be found in Him–if to be called of God and accepted in the Beloved is my diligent concern–if to grow in His grace and the knowledge of Christ is my primary object, I shall never fall–not that I shall never sin nor that I shall never fall into sin (for there is no man that lives and sins not), but I shall never totally fall from the mercy and grace of God in Christ.
(Vs. 11) These who are diligent and dedicated in the faith of Jesus Christ shall have an abundant supply of grace and strength to carry them through the duties and trials of this life; and when this life is ended, they shall have a triumphant and glorious entrance into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord. (Jude 24-25; Eccles. 3:14.)
(Vs. 12-13) If ministers are negligent in their work of preaching, teaching, rebuking, exhorting, and encouraging, it can hardly be expected that the people will be diligent in examination of faith and grace.
1. We need to be taught by our pastors and teachers all that God has been pleased to reveal.
2. We need to be reminded of what we already know (lest we forget) in order to improve our knowledge and to reduce our knowledge to practice.3. We need to be continually established in the belief of the truth that we be not shaken by every wind of doctrine or false teacher who comes our way. Peter says, "As long as I live in this tent of flesh, I will stir you up to faith and godliness by preaching."
(Vs. 14) The body is but the tabernacle of the soul. It is a weak and frail tent and must soon be put off as we take off our clothes at night. The nearness of death makes the apostle diligent in the business of eternal life. The Lord had told Peter of his martyrdom (John 21:18-19).
(Vs. 15) Peter's ambition was that the people to whom he preached CONTINUE in the doctrine of Christ after he was taken away from them. We cannot guarantee the steadfastness Of any assembly after the present leaders die; but we can be faithful in laying a good foundation, building there on gold, silver, and precious stones and praying that God will keep Christ ever before our children.
(Vs. 16-18) The gospel of Christ which the apostle preached to them (the incarnation of Deity–Christ, the Messiah, the God-man, the anointed Redeemer of His people) was not some fable or story handed down to the apostle. He says, "I was an eyewitness of His majesty. I was with Him on the Mount of Transfiguration when the Father spoke and said, 'This is My beloved Son–hear ye Him.' I was there when Moses (the law) and Elijah (the prophets) appeared with Him and talked with Him about His sacrifice on the cross." (Matt. 17:1-6; Luke 9:30-31).
(Vs. 19) We have a better foundation and a more sure evidence of Christ and the gospel than an eyewitness account of His glory, and that is the Old Testament Scriptures and the New Testament revelation given by the Holy Spirit in Peter's day. A man's testimony is to be received only if it is according to the Scriptures (Isa. 8:20). The Word of God is the final test of every claim or creed (I Cor. 15:1-4). You do well to take heed to the Scriptures and weigh every man's word accordingly (Acts 17:11).
(Vs. 20) No Scripture prophecy is of a man's own opinion, but it is a revelation of the mind of God. We search the Scriptures, not to prove what we think is right, but to find out what God says is right.
No Scripture can be interpreted in the light of human wisdom, but only in the light of other Scripture and by the Holy Spirit Who is the Author. The apostles in the New Testament epistles constantly made reference to the Old Testament to prove their doctrine.
(Vs. 21) All Scripture (Old Testament and New Testament) came into being by the will of God. Men of God wrote as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit to write. The Bible is verbally inspired or God-breathed! (II Tim. 3:16-17.)