20161021 Friday, October 21 2016
2 Peter 01: Who Is Going To Be Elected?

by Wayne Blank
See also 1 Year Holy Bible Reading Plan

"Give diligence to make your calling and Election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall"

Many people in the democracies of the world become very involved in the elections of their particular nation. In a religious sense, some even go on to ask "Has God got your vote?" (see the Fact Finder question below)

But there's a much bigger and infinitely more important election to be concerned about - not of mere human politicians, or a rhetorical question of "Has God got your vote?" - but the question of Do you have God's vote? Salvation and eternal life are about the only vote that matters - God's Vote of Judgment.

The English-language word "elect" is used to translate the Hebrew and Greek words of the Holy Scriptures that describe those who have been, or will be, "elected," or chosen by God for a purpose - to become the "first fruits" of salvation (see The Harvests Of Salvation). They will be resurrected, or transformed if alive that day, into immortal spirit beings on the day of the Messiah's return (see The Feast Of Trumpets: The First Christian Salvation Day). They will then reign with Him for the 1,000 years (the "Millennium"), after which the resurrection of the rest of humanity will occur (Revelation 20:4-6).

"24:29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken: 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. 24:31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other." (Matthew 24:29-31 KJV)

"20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years." (Revelation 20:6 KJV)

What sort of righteous character will get you elected? (see also Strait And Straight and Which Way Is Right And Left?).

"1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:

1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,

1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." (2 Peter 1:1-11 KJV)

Beginning with conversion (see Your Conversion), the "election campaign," is a lifelong journey (see The Race Toward The Dawn Of The New World).

"1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; 1:14 Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Peter 1:12-21 KJV)

Fact Finder: What is the difference between "conservative" and "liberal" politicians if they don't obey the Law of the LORD?
See Is Iniquity Liberal Or Conservative?