2 Peter 1:10-11

¹⁰ Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;

¹¹ for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Anyone who does not understand that Peter’s audience was kingdom Jews but instead believes that he wrote to members of the Church, the Body of Christ, has to either explain these verses away or embrace bad theology. For example, the Calvinists enjoy using these verses as proof of their election. One extreme Calvinist pastor I heard referred repeatedly to the things listed in verses 5-7 as our “part” in salvation, which is simply salvation by works. If we have a part, then Christ’s death wasn’t sufficient in and of itself and we are all lost.

Guthrie (below) uses these verses to deny eternal security.

Confirm your call and election is the tension which runs right through the first letter. Christians are “chosen and destined by God the Father (1 Peter 1:2), and yet must conduct themselves “with fear and trembling” (1 Peter 1:17; cf. Philippians 2:12-13). So Peter even hints at the possibility that one can fall from grace. Guthrie, page 1253

Again, Guthrie is wrong. But at least he’s honest. If Peter was writing to us today, then these verses would make it clear that we could lose our salvation. If he was, but he wasn’t. I only included his quote to show how quickly one can get off base if they don’t understand the distinction between Paul and the twelve. The Philippians verses he cites are taken totally out of context and refer to sanctification, not salvation.

diligent (v.10) = being eager, being zealous, exert yourself, lit. be swift, speedy

calling (v.10) = invitation

election (v.10) = a choosing out, a selecting. Referring to God’s choice of Israel as his chosen people (Romans 9:3-5).

abundantly (v.11) = richly

While those saved under the kingdom gospel had eternal life, they did not enjoy the assurance of it, as we do today. (John 3:15-16; John 10:27-28; 1 John 5:13)

A man who’s released from prison after committing a serious offense is always given a probationary period to ensure that he’s fit to return to society. In similar fashion, the kingdom saints were placed on probation—it was required that they demonstrate they were indeed saved. … The Lord mad the following comments regarding deceivers, “Ye shall know them by their fruits.” A corrupt tree does not produce good fruit, and vice versa, a good tree doesn’t produce evil fruit (Matthew 7:12-20).

To this, Peter adds, “to make your calling and election sure.” How? “If ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” What things? Those things mentioned in the previous passages (2 Peter 1:5-7). Peter’s hearers could have the assurance of their eternal life if they simply abided in these things. Of course, the true believer would endure to the end.

The entrance here (v.11) is the way. Christ, of course, is the way! He has provided an entrance into the everlasting kingdom by virtue of His shed blood. Peter gives his countrymen some additional incentive to remain faithful to the end when he states that the way “shall be ministered unto you abundantly.” While all the kingdom saints will enter into the millennial reign of Christ, the entrance of some will be more glorious than others. Only those who heed the commands of Christ for Israel will hear the Lord say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy Lord” (Matthew 25:21). — Sadler, pages 185-186.

The election Peter referred to was the election of Israel to be God’s chosen nation, not the election of individual Jews to be saved. If God chose individuals to be saved, then there would be no reason for Peter to urge his hearers to make their election sure.