The Blessed State Of The Righteous Dead

Revelation 14:13

In describing the Revelation that was shown to him, John heard words of comfort.... Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the
Lord from now on.’” - Rev 14:13a. “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.” - Rev 14:13b. What else does the Bible say about the state of the righteous dead...? What else does the Bible say in regards to the intermediate state, that period from the moment of one’s death until the resurrection of the last day? The answer depends upon what covenant was in force. But in both testaments we find words and imagery that suggests a condition of blessedness for the righteous dead.

Consider what we find during the Old Covenant. We can find word’s that comforted. The death of God’s saints was precious in His sight - Psa 116:15 “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” The death of the righteous was rest and peace, confronting evil no longer - Isa 57:1-2 “The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; he enters into peace; they rest in their beds who walk in their uprightness.” -- Such words hinted of a blessed condition of the righteous dead in OT times.

We find imagery that consoled in the Old Covenant. The beggar Lazarus was consoled and comforted - Lk 16:19-22 ‘"There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried,” 25 “But Abraham said, 'Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish.” The reference to Moses places this during the Old Covenant - Lk 16:29-31 “But Abraham said, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.' And he said, 'No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.' He said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.'" Jesus’ account accords somewhat with Greek concepts of Hades. The Greek conception of Hades was that of a locality receiving into itself all the dead, but divided into two regions, one a place of torment, the other of blessedness. - ISBE. Greeks referred to the place of torment as Tartarus; Peter did also - 2 Pe 2:4 “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;”. Jews viewed the place of blessedness where Abraham was as Paradise - Barnes. Jesus later promised the thief that he would be in Paradise - Lk 23:43 “And he said to him, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."’ Which between His death and ascension must have still been in Hades. For after His death Jesus descended to Hades - Ac 2:27 “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption.” Yet after His resurrection He had still not ascended to Heaven - Jn 20:17 “Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" -- The story of Lazarus and the promise to the thief on the cross illustrates the blessed state of the righteous at that time.

While the Old Covenant was still in effect, little was revealed about the state of the righteous dead. We now live under the New Covenant, where more is revealed and the blessedness is even greater. We find words of comfort used as Paul viewed his impending death as a departure, using “a metaphor drawn from loosing from moorings preparatory to setting sail” (Thayer) - 2 Ti 4:6 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.” Peter used the Greek word exodos (translated “decease”), meaning “exit”, the same word used to describe the Exodus of Israel from Egyptian bondage - 2 Pe 1:15 “And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.” Paul wrote of death as a gain, something far better than living - Ph 1:21,23 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” – “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” He looked forward to being with Christ, at home with the Lord - Ph 1:23 “I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”; 2 Co 5:6-8 “So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Paul described the righteous dead as asleep in Jesus , yet living with Him, and coming with Him - 1 Th 4:13-14 “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.”; 5:9-11 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Paul described Paradise as now in the third heaven (the presence of God!) - 2 Co 12:1-4 “I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise--whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows-- and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter.” Could the location of Paradise have changed from Hades to heaven? Many believe that such occurred at the ascension of Christ, as suggested in Ep 4:8-10 “Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)” -- Death for the righteous now promised something far greater!

Also in the New Covenant we find imagery that consoles. Jesus made promises that clearly refer to the eternal state, after the Judgment. We will examine these promises in part two of our lesson.

The Promise of New Heavens and a New Earth - Part Three

Having now reviewed the prophecies of God and Jesus as found in Isaiah and Revelation, let’s summarize what is “The Promise Of New Heavens And A New Earth”... As perceived by men in relation to heaven itself some believe it has nothing to do with heaven, but only the church today. Many believe it to be a metaphor of heaven itself, in which we will spend eternity. Yet the eternal dwelling place of the redeemed, the New Jerusalem, is depicted as being separate from the present dwelling place of God (i.e., heaven). “...the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.” - Re 3:12. “... the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God” - Re 21:2. “... the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God” - Re 21:10. As depicted, the eternal destiny of the redeemed is not our spending eternity with God in heaven (His current dwelling place), but God spending eternity with us in the New Jerusalem which comes down out of heaven (His current dwelling place) – see also Re 21:2-3,22-23; 22:3-5. This eternal heavenly city, which comes down out of heaven, is depicted in the context of the new heavens and a new earth - Re 21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”. Not in heaven itself, where God now dwells. But in a whole new order or spiritual state, where God will dwell with us!

As perceived by men in relation to the present heaven and earth. Some believe the “new” heavens and earth are the old purified and renovated, including amillenialists like Barnes, B.W. Johnson, Hoekema, and Kistemaker. Some arguments in favor are:

1) The Greek word kainos (new, 2 Pe 3:13; Re 21:1) does not mean new in time or origin, but new in nature or quality.

2) Renewal over annihilation seems to be supported by Paul in Ro 8:19-22.

3) A supposed analogy between the new earth and the resurrected bodies of believers.

4) If annihilation instead of renewal, then Satan would have won a great victory.

Others believe the “new” heavens and earth are a new creation altogether, such as Hailey. Some arguments in favor are:

1) The Hebrew word bara (create, Isa 65:17) is the same word used to describe the initial creation of the heavens and earth - cf. Gen 1:1; Isa 40:26.

2) Jesus said, “heaven and earth will pass away” - Mt 24:35.

3) The Hebrew writer refers to “the removal of those things that are being shaken” (for example, heaven and earth) - He 12:26-27.

4) Peter tells us concerning the present heavens and earth:

a) The heavens will pass away, be dissolved, being on fire - 2 Pe 3:10, 12.

b) The elements will melt with fervent heat - 2 Pe 3:10, 12.

c) The earth and the works in it will be burned up - 2 Pe 3:10.

5) John describes the present heavens and earth:

a) As “fled away” - Re 20:11.

b) Had “passed away” - Re 21:1.

Some are uncertain, such as Coffman (and myself):

“We confess our inability to find any certainty on this question.”

“It is not really necessary for us to know exactly what may be meant by this promise.”

One may be uncertain whether the old heavens and old earth will be renovated by fire, in preparation as an eternal dwelling place or annihilated by fire, to be replaced by a totally new eternal dwelling place. Yet one can be certain that in some way there will be new heavens and a new earth for God has promised it - 2 Pe 3:13 “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” And God cannot lie! - Ti 1:2 “in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began”; He 6:17-18 “So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise the unchangeable character of his purpose, he guaranteed it with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled for refuge might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.” How then should we live in view of this promise? Hear the words of Peter...

“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by

Him in peace, without spot and blameless;” - 2 Pe 3:14

Are we looking forward to those things described by Peter and John? Even more important, are we being diligent to be found prepared for when Jesus comes again...?

The Promise of New Heavens and a New Earth - Part Two

In continuation of this lesson we are going to examine more of what Isaiah wrote, and what has been promised about a new heavens and a new earth, by Jesus, and prophesied in Revelation.

The final chapters of Isaiah (60-66) concentrate on the glory to come for restored Zion. I believe much of this section was fulfilled with the inauguration of the Messianic age in the first coming of Christ. Isaiah may have also looked forward to the future glory of Zion (spiritual Israel, i.e., the church) to be experienced at the culmination of the Messiah’s reign at the end of time, following the resurrection and final judgment - Isa 11:1-4 “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.” If so, Isaiah framed his description of the new heavens and new earth in terms to which the Babylonian captives could easily relate. Thus I tend to favor Coffman’s perspective of both an immediate and remote fulfillment. The immediate fulfillment pertained to the first advent of Christ. The remote fulfillment pertains to the second advent of Christ. When Peter said “according to His promise”, I believe he had reference to the promise made in Isaiah, first written to provide great hope to Israel facing Babylonian captivity. To Christians in the first century facing persecution, a similar prophecy concerning new heavens and a new earth was written to them...

Let’s now examine what has been promised about a new heavens and a new earth, by Jesus, and prophesied in Revelation. The present earth and heaven are no more - Re 20:11 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.” Note that at the Day of Judgment they have “fled away”; there was found “no place for them”. John saw a new heaven and new earth - Re 21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.” For the first heaven and first earth had “passed away” and there was also “no more sea”.

Let’s look at some of the interpretations of Revelation. Some believe it is a depiction of the church today. Following the persecution by the forces of Satan in the first couple of centuries a picture of the church purged and purified by suffering is depicted. Others believe it is a depiction of the eternal state of the redeemed. “Peter and John were both writing of the final judgment and what should follow, rather than of the church today, purged and purified by suffering.” - Homer Hailey, A Commentary on Revelation, p. 406. “John’s prophecy in this vision was about things beyond the final judgment (20:13)... From Peter and John’s position in time, the destiny of the redeemed after the final judgment stands in contrast to this present era of the church age.” - Harkrider, ibid.

Revelation was written to comfort persecuted Christians in Asia Minor - Re 1:4 “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,”. It describes events that would “shortly take place” - Re 1:1 “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,”, 3 “Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near.”; 22:6 “And he said to me, "These words are trustworthy and true. And the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, has sent his angel to show his servants what must soon take place."’, 10 “And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near.” Such Christians were assured that Christ would be victorious - Re 17:14 “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful."’

Christ would be victorious over the harlot, first supported by the beast and then devoured by it - Re 17:3 “And he carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness, and I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was full of blasphemous names, and it had seven heads and ten horns.”, 16 “And the ten horns that you saw, they and the beast will hate the prostitute. They will make her desolate and naked, and devour her flesh and burn her up with fire,”.

Christ would be victorious over the beast and the false prophet, puppets of Satan - Re 13:1-4 “And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads. And the beast that I saw was like a leopard; its feet were like a bear's, and its mouth was like a lion's mouth. And to it the dragon gave his power and his throne and great authority. One of its heads seemed to have a mortal wound, but its mortal wound was healed, and the whole earth marveled as they followed the beast. And they worshiped the dragon, for he had given his authority to the beast, and they worshiped the beast, saying, "Who is like the beast, and who can fight against it?"’, 11-12 “Then I saw another beast rising out of the earth. It had two horns like a lamb and it spoke like a dragon. It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed.”; 19:20 “And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur.”

Christ would be victorious over Satan himself, first by binding him for a long time - Re 20:1-3 “Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.” The Christians in Asia Minor were also comforted by scenes in the distant future, similar to how Isaiah comforted his contemporaries by looking to the future. The ultimate end of Satan - Re 20:7-10 “And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

The Christians in Asia Minor were also comforted by scenes of deliverance from condemnation at the Judgment - Re 20:11-15 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.” They were also comforted by the eternal blessedness of the heavenly city - Re 21:1-22:5.

Thus I favor the perspective espoused above by Hailey and Harkrider. John wrote of the final judgment and what was to follow. He depicted the destiny of the redeemed after the final judgment.

We will continue this lesson in part three. Having now reviewed the prophecies of God and Jesus as found in Isaiah and Revelation, let’s summarize what is “The Promise Of New Heavens And A New Earth”.

The Promise of New Heavens and a New Earth

2 Peter 3:13

In describing the events pertaining to the Day of the Lord, the apostle Peter depicts the destruction of the heavens and the earth - 2 Pe 3:7 “But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”, 10-12 “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!” He declares that we look for new heavens and a new earth - 2 Pe 3:13 “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”

The hope for new heavens and a new earth is based upon a promise; what promise has been made regarding such things...? One in the Old Testament, centuries before Peter’s statement - Isa 65:17 ‘"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind.”; 66:22 ‘"For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain.” One in the New Testament, possibly decades after Peter’s statement - Re 21:1 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.”

Since we are to “look” for such things (2 Pe 3:13, see above), let’s examine what has been promised about a new heavens and a new earth, as promised by God, let’s take a closer look at these promises. Going back to the text in Isaiah we find a detailed promise of new heavens and a new earth - Isa 65:17-25 ‘"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit. They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat; for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the LORD, and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together; the lion shall eat straw like the ox, and dust shall be the serpent's food. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain," says the LORD.”

This all nn conjunction with the promise of a new Jerusalem depicting long life, physical blessings, and peace among the wildlife. A brief reference to new heavens and a new earth is found in - Isa 66:22-24 ‘"For as the new heavens and the new earth that I make shall remain before me, says the LORD, so shall your offspring and your name remain. From new moon to new moon, and from Sabbath to Sabbath, all flesh shall come to worship before me, declares the LORD. "And they shall go out and look on the dead bodies of the men who have rebelled against me. For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh."’ This text is in conjunction with the preservation of Israel’s remnant depicting worship by the nations, torment of the transgressors.

Let’s now take a look at some of the interpretations of Isaiah. Some understand these promises to apply figuratively to Israel’s return from exile. “The passage before us is highly poetical, and we are not required to understand it literally.... The immediate reference here is, doubtless, to the land of Palestine, and to the important changes which would be produced there on the return of the exiles;” - Albert Barnes, Notes On The Bible, commentary on Isa 65:17. “I think it refers to the full conversion of the Jews ultimately; and primarily to the deliverance from the Babylonish captivity.” - Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible, commentary on Isa 65:17.

Some suggest a secondary if not primary reference to the church today. “but it cannot be doubted that, under this imagery, there was couched a reference to far more important changes and blessings in future times under the Messiah - changes as great as if a barren and sterile world should become universally beautiful and fertile.” - Barnes, ibid. “We conclude that...Isaiah’s new heavens and new earth are the present order under Christ (65:17), which followed the passing of the old heathen systems (34:3-4) and the

Jewish order (51:6,16)...” - Homer Hailey, A Commentary on Isaiah, Appendix B,

p. 539. “Isaiah used this...imagery when he prophesied of the new order that was to replace the Mosaic economy.” - Robert Harkrider, Revelation, Truth Commentary, p. 239.

Others suggest a secondary if not primary reference to the eternal state of the redeemed. “Isaiah 65:17-25 must also be understood as describing the final state of the redeemed” - Anthony Hoekema, The Bible and The Future, p. 178. “This passage (Isa 65:17 25)... does not need to be interpreted as describing the millennium, but makes good sense when understood to be an inspired picture of the new earth which is to come.” - ibid., p. 203. “‘The new heavens and the new earth,’ like many other prophecies has an immediate and a remote fulfillment, the first being the creation of ‘an utterly new environment’ in the first advent of Christ and the preaching of the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike. The remote and final fulfillment is yet to occur when God will shake the earth the second time, signifying its ‘removal’ (He 12:27), when the present earth and the works within it are ‘burned up’ (2 Pe 3:7-10), when the ‘elements shall melt with fervent heat,’ and when has arrived that final ‘day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.’ It is freely admitted that these sensational promises could all be interpreted figuratively; but this writer, along with many others, clings to the conviction that cosmic disturbances of the most tremendous and far-reaching nature are most surely associated with the final Judgment Day in the Word of God.” - James Coffman, commentary on Isa 65:17-25.

We will continue this lesson in part two. We are going to examine more of what Isaiah wrote, and what has been promised about a new heavens and a new earth, by Jesus, and prophesied in Revelation.

Make Your Calling and Election Sure - Part Two

2 Peter 1:10

“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”

But you should not stop with reflection on your initial call and election, for Peter’s admonition in our text (2 Pe 1:10) was given to Christians. You should also consider your ultimate call and election. Many are called, but few are chosen. Jesus taught this truth in several parables:

1) The Tares - Mt 13:41-43

2) The Wedding Feast - Mt 22:1-14

3) The Talents - Mt 25:24-30

4) The Vine And The Branches - Jn 15:1-2

Note the calling and election of the nation of Israel. Israel as a whole was called to be God’s people - Deu 7:6 ‘"For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” But their calling was conditional - Exo 19:5-6 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."’ And many individuals failed to live up to their calling - He 3:7-11 “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers put me to the test and saw my works for forty years. Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.' As I swore in my wrath, 'They shall not enter my rest.'", 16-19 “For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.” Similar is the calling and election of the church of God. The church as a whole are called to be God’s people - 1 Pe 2:9-10 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God's people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” Yet our calling and election as individuals is conditional - Ro 11:22 “Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.”; Re 2:4-5 “But I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.”, 10c “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” We can become hardened by sin and fall away - He 3:12-15 “Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. As it is said, "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."’ -- We have been called, but will we be chosen at the last day? - Mt 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

How do we make sure of our election by God? By being fruitful in the knowledge of Christ - 2 Pe 1:5-11 “For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

Adding to our faith such things as virtue, knowledge, self-control. Abounding in perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love. By growing in grace and knowledge - 2 Pe 3:17-18 “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

We can make our calling and election sure by being aware of the danger of apostasy; standing fast in the grace of Christ. By learning from the parables of Jesus. Not doing those things that offend, or practice lawlessness (Tares). Adorning ourselves with garments of righteousness (Wedding Feast). Utilizing what talents (abilities, opportunities) Christ has given us (Talents). Bearing fruit in our service to the Lord (Vine and Branches). -- Will your entrance into the kingdom be abundantly supplied? - 2 Pe 1:11 “For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”

It never hurts to ask oneself: “Have I truly responded to the gospel of Christ...?” Was I scripturally baptized into Christ for the remission of my sins? Was my baptism like those depicted in the examples of conversion in the Scriptures? Might I need to be re-baptized like those in Ephesus? It never hurts to ask oneself: “Am I growing in grace...?” Am I abounding in the knowledge of Christ? Am I utilizing what talents Christ has given me? Am I bearing fruit for Christ? With such questions, one seeks only to “Make Your Calling And Election Sure”. Paul expressed it this way:

“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves.” - 2 Co 13:5