1:10
So we are to make every effort to confirm our calling. We are saved by faith, we are saved by grace. It is all of God and not at all on our own merits. But the New Testament is absolutely clear that that in no way means that we do not make an effort. Here we are commanded to make every effort. There are pointless arguments between some Calvinists and Arminians. It is worth noting that the Bible itself has no problem whatsoever with God having chosen us and our making every effort, so neither should we. Note also the “therefore”. It is because “His divine power has given us everything ..”(v3) that we are to make every effort. God did not create us as automatons, and He did not save us a passive bystanders. He created us and He saved us to be something and to do something. He created and saved us with a purpose. Our lives are real, our decisions, attitudes and actions are real and they matter. So we should get on with it, knowing that we have been chosen by Him and supplied with every need. If we do that then we will never stumble. You can have a pointless argument about life if you wish, or you can live life in the power of the Spirit.
1:11
We will then receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom. False teachers like the Gnostics, and most other groups, play on people’s insecurities. We can be completely secure in Christ. The Bible is clear that we receive much now, but we will receive infinitely more in the future. We have the firstfruits of salvation, but there is much more to come. We should also be looking forward. Notice that it is the “eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ”. There are some who argue that claiming that Jesus is God was a much later development. Such people only demonstrate their own blindness. None of the New Testament makes an ounce of sense if Jesus is not God. Also the writings of the early church fathers shows that they clearly thought that Jesus was God and was to be worshipped. So people who say otherwise are simply wrong and foolish.
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