The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Peter — Section 23

If we listen to him and cease to trust in our Father's care, labo □ rin"' more for the meat that perisheth than for that which endureth to everlasting life°; or if we indulge visions of spiritual pride, and tempt God by putting ourselves into perilous positions to which he has not called us,-then the doubts increase and vex the soul. But humble, earnest work for God deepens the Christian's assurance of God's love and choice. "I follow after," saiJ the holy apostle St. Paul, "if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus; " and again, "I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway." Therefore give diligence ; that very diligence is a sign of God's election. "No man can come to me," said the Lord," except the Father which hath sent me draw him;" and it continually deepens our trustfulness in that electing grace. 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. And we must try to live as men called of God and chosen unto everlasting life should live, in trustfulness and thankfulness, in the abiding sense of God's presence, in the persevering effort to please him in all things. 'l'he 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. ·while wa live thus we shall not stumble; for the godly consideration of our election in Christ doth not only "greatly establish and confirm the faith of eternal salvation to be enjoyed through Christ," but doth also "fervently kindle love towarils God;" there- fore Christian men, while by God's grace they are enabled to keep the faith of their election in Christ steadfastly before their eyes, must walk religiously in "good works, and will not fall unto sin. "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him ; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God." So long as we abide in the grace of that heavenly birth, in the faith of our election unto everlasting life, so long we cannot sin. It is when we are off our guard, when we are not "as men waiting for their Lord," that we fall away. 'l'hen all the more we ought to "give diligence to make our calling and elcctiou sure." 2. For future blessedness. The entrance into Christ's eternal kingdom shall be richly furnished to those who use all diligence to make their election sure. While we are preparing our hearts by bis gracious help, while we are striving to furnish the fair train of Christian graces to make that heart ready for him, we know that he is preparing a place for us in heaven, interceding for us, praying that where he is there we may also be. That entrance shall be richly furnished; with glory and with triumph shall the Christian soul enter into the golden city; there are the true riches-riches of blessedness beyond the reach of human thought, riches of knowledge, riches of holiness and joy aud love in the unveiled presence of God, who is rich in mercy, rich in power and glory and majesty, rich in tender and holy and unspeakable love for his elect. LESSONS. 1. God's bounty should stir us to show our thankfulness in our lives. His gifts are ii;reat, so ought our diligence to be great. 2. Our hearts are tho chosen temple of God; we must furnish that temple richly with Christian graces-its proper decorations. 3. By that holy diligence we are bidden to ma.ke our calling and election sure. 4. Lot us earnestly strive to do so, looking forward in faith to the great reward. Vers. 12-21.-Reasons/or diligence in his apostolic work. I. THE TIME IS SHORT. 1. We need continually to be aroused. \Ve may know all things necessary for salva- tion; we have known them, it may be, all our lives; we are firmly convinced of their truth; but we need to keep that knowledge vividly before our hearts, to bring it to bear upon the circumstances of our daily lives. Few of us have this recollectedness, this parsevering watchfulness; we need constant exhortation. St. Peter's readers had the knowledge of the gospel; they had heard it from St. Paul and his com- panions. St. Peter gladly acknowledges it-exhortation is better received when it is expressed in kindly terms. But he has a duty to perform; he felt, like St. Paul, that he was a debtor both to Jews and Greeks; that he must do bis utmost to preach the gospel of Christ, and to keep alivo the flame of holy love in those who knew the truth. So he wil! take nll opportunities o_f arousin~ those whom he is_addrcssing; he will never relax his efforts as long as he lives; he lmuws that they will always neeu the word of oxhortati~~; he knows that it will al ways be his duty to exhort thern.  THE SECOND EPISTLE GENERAL OF PETER. [cu. r.1-21.