Sure Salvation

Intro

Text - 2 Peter 1.10-15

2 Peter 1:10–15 NKJV

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 12 For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. 13 Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15 Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.

Title - Sure salvation

Series - Lessons from 2 Peter

Background

Peter was exhorting the saints to “verify their salvation”

2 Peter 1.10-11

verify - make sure it is true

salvation - called and chosen, supplied with entrance into the kingdom of our Lord

He expressed his concern of the saints’ salvation

2 Peter 1.12-15

by reminding them of “these things’ while he was alive

by ensuring that they will always be reminded even when he was gone

He gives a testimony of his own “calling and election”

2 Peter 1.16-18

the gospel was not based on “cunningly devised fable”

he was an eyewitness of the power and coming of Christ!

The Main Point

It is every Christian’s responsibility to “verify” his own salvation

NOT - save yourself

John 6.27 - labor for the food that endures to everlasting life

Philippians 2.12 - work out your own salvation with fear

Our salvation is verifiable!

there are ways to check whether we are saved or not

there are ways to secure one’s salvation

Sermon Points

To verify one’s salvation, one must go to the very source: the gospel that one has received and believed.

What kind of gospel did you receive?

why ask this question? because there are so many kinds of gospel today.

The true gospel is not based on cunningly devised fables

2 Peter 1:16 NKJV

16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

fable - myth, a narrative that not based on real events

Peter was not preaching a made-up story

The true gospel is a confirmation of prophecies foretold

2 Peter 1.19 - part a, we have the prophetic word confirmed

Examples

Matthew 2.23 - fulfilled as it spoken by the prophets...

Acts 3.21 - God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets…

2 Peter 3.2 - mindful of the words spoken by the prophets…

Revelation 10.7 - as He has declared to his servants the prophets

What constitutes a “false gospel”?

a false gospel is something that the apostles did not “witness” or “bear witness to”

a false gospel is something that the prophets did not foretell!

Are you “paying attention” to that gospel?

Why ask this question? Because there are those who started with the true gospel, only to be sidetracked to another gospel later on.

2 Peter 1:19 NKJV

19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;

heed - pay attention

The true gospel is only effective if you stay with it!

1 Cor 15.1-2 - if you hold fast

hold fast that word…

The true gospel must be “heeded”

heed - grk. PROSECHO, pay attention to

Example - Hebrews 2.1 - give heed…lest we drift away

The true gospel must be heeded “as a light that shines in a dark place.” (2 Peter 1.19)

true gospel gives light

true gospel separates you from darkness

The true gospel must be heeded…UNTIL “the day dawns”

you don’t let go of the light that you have while it is dark

BY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE PROPHECY CONFIRMED, WE ARE VERIFYING OUR SALVATION! WE ARE CHECKING ON IT EVERYDAY!

Conclusion

How does your faith stand against the pressures of this age?

How do you verify your salvation?

CHECK IT EVERYDAY!