2 Peter 1:10

In view of what Peter had just said (2 Peter 1:3-9), it was imperative that his readers make the proper moral response. They would give evidence that they were genuine Christians by doing so. The evidence of divine nature in a person demonstrates his or her salvation. Conversely if a person gives no evidence of having the divine nature his or her salvation is in doubt as others observe that one. By adding the seven virtues, other people could see the divine nature more clearly in the Christian who added them. This would make God’s calling and election of him or her clearer to everyone.

"All Christians have been called and selected, otherwise they would not be Christians, but they must ’work out their own salvation’ (Phil. Ii. 12)." [Note: Bigg, p. 261.]

"The Christian who progressively develops these virtues in his life will grow steadily. This growth will be obvious proof that he has been elected by God." [Note: Barbieri, p. 100.]

"The Christian life is not a list of propositions or a tight theological system; it is a vital relationship to a resurrected Lord. The commandments He gave us and the theological systems we devise as an understanding of those propositional truths exist only to help us live in a vital relationship with Christ day by day as we follow Him as Lord." [Note: Paul A. Cedar, James , 1, 2 Peter, Jude, p. 213.]

Another reason for adding these virtues is that by doing so we can walk worthy of the Lord without stumbling along the way (cf. Jude 24). Loss of salvation is obviously not in view here. Peter said we might stumble, not fall unable to rise again.

"We do not stumble when we are giving attention to where we are stepping. We stumble when we become preoccupied with other things and do not pay attention to where we are going." [Note: Ibid.]

Neither is this verse saying that our assurance of salvation rests on our good works. Our assurance of salvation rests on the promise of God that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as Savior has eternal life (John 3:16; John 5:24; Romans 5:1; Romans 8:38-39; 1 John 5:11-13).

"This passage does not mean that moral progress provides the Christian with a subjective assurance of his election (the sense it was given by Luther and Calvin, and especially in seventeenth-century Calvinism) . . ." [Note: Bauckham, p. 190.]

"Nowhere in the Bible is a Christian asked to examine either his faith or his life to find out if he is a Christian. He is told only to look outside of himself to Christ alone for his assurance that he is a Christian. The Christian is, however, often told to examine his faith and life to see if he is walking in fellowship and in conformity to God’s commands." [Note: Joseph C. Dillow, The Reign of the Servant Kings, p. 288. Cf. pp. 295-99. His twelfth and thirteenth chapters on faith and assurance, pp. 271-91, and self-examination and faith, pp. 293-310, are helpful. See also Hodges, 2:2:3.]

What "make certain about His calling and choosing you" does mean is that by pursuing Christian growth we give evidence that He really did call and choose us. The uncalled and unchosen have no desire to become useful and fruitful by growing in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Peter 1:8).