So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away.
Parallel translations
- WEB Therefore, brothers, be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.
- KJV Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
- BSB Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble,
- NKJV Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
- NASB Therefore, brothers and sisters, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choice of you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Believers are urged to be diligent to confirm their calling and election, for doing these things keeps them from stumbling. It matters because a growing, fruitful life gives assurance of genuine salvation.
Overview
Calling and election are God's sovereign work, yet believers confirm them experientially by pursuing the virtues just described. Peter does not teach that we earn salvation but that godly fruit gives evidence that our faith is real. Such diligence produces steadfastness and guards against falling away.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 24
- 2 Pet 3:17You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.
- Luke 6:47–49Everyone who comes to me, and hears my words, and does them, I will show you who he is like.
- Heb 6:11We desire that each one of you may show the same diligence to the fullness of hope even to the end,
- 1 Jn 3:19–21And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him,
- Ps 121:3He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.
- 2 Pet 1:5Yes, and for this very cause adding on your part all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence; and in moral excellence, knowledge;
- Mic 7:8Don’t rejoice against me, my enemy. When I fall, I will arise. When I sit in darkness, Yahweh will be a light to me.
- Matt 7:24–25“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man, who built his house on a rock.
- Ps 112:6For he will never be shaken. The righteous will be remembered forever.
- 2 Tim 2:19However God’s firm foundation stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let every one who names the name of the Lord depart from unrighteousness.”
- Ps 62:2He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress — I will never be greatly shaken.
- Rev 22:14Blessed are those who do his commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city.
- 1 Pet 1:2according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.
- Ps 62:6He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress. I will not be shaken.
- Isa 56:2Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Sabbath without profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”
- 1 Th 1:3–4remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
- 2 Th 2:13–14But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;
- 1 Pet 1:5who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
- Rev 3:10–11Because you kept my command to endure, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, which is to come on the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
- Ps 37:24Though he stumble, he shall not fall, for Yahweh holds him up with his hand.
- Rom 8:28–31We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.
- Acts 20:24–25But these things don’t count; nor do I hold my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to fully testify to the Good News of the grace of God.
- Heb 6:19This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and entering into that which is within the veil;
- Ps 15:5he who doesn’t lend out his money for usury, nor take a bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be shaken.
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Original language
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