“Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble“
for if you do these things
“These things” are the character qualities of verses 5-7. This phrase occurs five times in following verse seven. They always refer to the qualities listed in verses 5-7.
“Do” means to practice. We must practice our salvation (Joshua 1:8; John 13:17; James 1:22). God expects us to do the things listed in verses 5-7. But it takes work to develop character qualities.
Do you work at those virtues for your life? We must get in shape spiritually. It takes exercise to develop spiritual muscle. Many Christians carry a great amount of spiritual flab. They cannot run the Christian life very well. They cannot gain momentum.
you will never stumble
“Stumble” means literally fall. We will not become a wretched Christian if we keep the character qualities of verses 5-7. The New Testament often uses “stumble” for the carnal Christian. “Stumble” means to “fall” out of fellowship. God makes every provision to keep His children from failing. When we make our salvation real in our lives, God will keep us from stumbling spiritually.
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,
And to present you faultless
Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
To God our Savior,
Who alone is wise,
Be glory and majesty,
Dominion and power,
Both now and forever.
Amen” (Jude 24-25).
Principle:
There is no need to constantly stumble in our spiritual lives because God will provide for us if we appropriate His grace.
Application:
The “fall” of this verse is not the fall from salvation, for we cannot fall out of salvation. But we can fall from reward and fall into sin. Christians can also fall into disrepute. We can bring criticism upon Christ. We can be a liability to His cause instead of an asset. We can fall out of fellowship. When we do, we invite the chastening of God upon our lives. God may take us to the woodshed and we have no one to blame but ourselves.
Everyone who starts the Christian life will finish in heaven. But how we finish is the true question. Will we finish stronger than we began? We finish well when we get a prize at the end. If we receive no rewards, then we have not finished well. What will your status be in heaven?
Some Christians are spiritually shipwrecked for most of their lives. Though they have not lost their salvation, they have lost effectiveness in their spiritual lives. There is no need to constantly stumble.
However we will surely stumble if we look at other Christians. When we tailgate a car ahead of us, we risk smashing into it. When we follow other Christians too closely, we risk smashing into their weaknesses and following their failures. Inevitably, we will get hurt if we follow other Christians too closely. They may stop suddenly spiritually. Other Christians are frail and fall just like us.
“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent” (Revelation 2:5).
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