Be Diligent

"Give diligence to make your calling and election sure." -II Peter 1:10 [KJV]

Without election there had been no Saviour given: no salvation wrought out: no promises made: no Spirit sent: no sinners effectually called to be saints: no love from God to comfort them; nor any heaven open to receive them. O how do poor sinners fight against their own mercies, when they call in question and reject the electing love of God. 

But, says one, I tremble to think, if I should not be one of the elect, what a dreadful thing would that be? Not at all more dreadful, but just the same, as if there had been no election. But what kind of argument is this, against any truth? Suppose a profane sinner says, if there is a hell, and I should be one of the damned, what a dreadful thing would that be? What does this prove? People are apt to stand in nature and self, and judge of the truths of God. Hence they have hard thoughts of a God of love. 

Behold, I shew unto you a more excellent way: far better to give diligence, to make your election sure, than to cavil and dispute about what is a plain article of Christian faith. Disputes seldom promote love; but assurance of our election will. Your fear and trembling, lest you should not be one of the elect, is a sure evidence, that you are not stupid and thoughtless about salvation. It is “with fear and trembling you are called to work out your own salvation, remembering it is God who worketh in you, both to will and to do, of His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12.) By His grace, study diligently to make your election sure. There is no election to salvation, but in Christ. 

Sinners are chosen: justified; sanctified, and saved in Him, with an everlasting salvation. The faith of God’s elect, cordially receives and embraces these truths, and lives upon Christ, to enjoy the comfort of them. Such a believing soul, cannot but breathe out its sighs, and send up its prayers for the Holy Ghost to bear witness with his Spirit, that he is a child of God. Says St. Peter, prove the sincerity of these, and that your heart is in earnest, to enjoy this assurance, by giving diligence. Self-love may excite a desire after comfort. But if faith works by love, to the truths of God, it will make you diligent in the ways of God. 

O the unspeakable joy, when the comforting Spirit bears witness to the soul, of the Father’s love in Jesus: that I am a child of God, through faith in Christ, that my sins are pardoned through His blood, and my person justified in His righteousness. This is glory begun below, by a heaven of love, possessing the sinner’s soul. Then he says, “I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.” -Galatians 2:20

 

Thou Life of lives, 

Life of my soul, 

Me quicken ev’ry day; 

O let not sloth my pow’rs control, 

Not let me ever stray.

 

-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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