Self Examination
II Peter 1:10,11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: {11} For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Phil 2:12 - Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
II Cor. 13:5 - Examine yourselves, see whether you are in the faith or not.
Why should I make this examination?
Because God commanded it.
Because comparatively few people will be saved.
Matt. 7:13-14 - Enter at the strait gate, because man will go in at the wide gate.
Matt. 7:22-23 - Because many people believe they are saved when they are not.
Because self-confidence, over-confidence, and misplaced-confidence will lead many to everlasting hell.
II Tim. 3:13 - Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse…
People will be fooled by self-styled religionists, who will lead them to eternal damnation.
How to make this examination.
Don’t go by what you think, or feel.
Our thoughts and feelings can and will seduce us into a false security about ourselves and our actions.
We must remember that just because we think a thing is good, doesn’t mean that God thinks it is good.
Don’t go by what others say about you.
Don’t go by your conscience, because it can be fooled (the corners worn off).
This examination is done only by the Word of God.
III. Verse 10.
A. Wherefore the rather, brethren.
1. Don't do like those people in verse 9, but rather like the people in verse 8.
2. He calls them brethren, for he does not doubt their salvation, and they continued efforts to serve God.
B. Give diligence to make your calling and election sure.
1. Diligence means to try to find out whether you are called and elected.
2. This is the personal responsibility of every person who believes they are saved.
3. Calling and election are two different things that are irreversibly linked together.
a. Calling is to make sure the Holy Spirit has drawn us to God; that we haven't been drawn by ourselves, friends, family, or Satan.
b. Eph. 1:4, Election is the choosing of God that He has made before the foundation of the world.
C. For if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
1. Col. 1:9,10 - When we are filled with the knowledge of God, we will walk worthy of His holy name, and be fruitful.
2. John 15:1-5 - When we abide with Christ like we ought to, we will bear much fruit to the glory of God.
3. This scripture is not talking about bearing these fruits so that we won't lose our salvation.
4. The word "fall" is referring to verse 9.
a. These people didn't lose their salvation.
b. They forgot the joy of being saved and serving God.
II. Verse 11.
A. The abundance entrance.
1. This is not an entrance into heaven.
2. If this was an entrance into heaven, it would mean salvation came because of our works.
B. Into the everlasting kingdom of Christ.
1. Satan has a kingdom on this earth.
a. Luke 4:5-8 - Satan promises Jesus all the kingdoms of this world if He will only fall down and worship him.
b. Rev. 16:10,11 - Satan's kingdom will be full of trouble.
c. Rev. 20:10 - Satan is finally cast into the Lake of Fire forever.
2. Christ also has a kingdom.
The present spiritual reality of God’s kingdom in our hearts will come only as we make our calling and election sure.
Psalms 72:8 - Christ shall reign from sea to sea. This shows Christ will reign on this present earth.
Rev. 21:1 - When there is no more sea, (in the eternal age) Christ will continue to reign in eternity.