Give Diligence to Make Your Calling and Election Sure

In the first several verses of second Peter, the apostle speaks of the great and precious promises that have been given to God's people whereby we can escape the snares of this world (v3-4). He then goes on to make numerous exhortations to righteous living and the benefits of obedience (v5-8). He then turns his attention to the consequences of those who disobey such admonitions...

"But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:" (II Peter 1:9-10)

Possibilitarians

POSSIBILITARIAN (n.) - a super-denomination which encompasses the overwhelming majority of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. It is the belief that the death of Jesus Christ made salvation a possibility for all of humanity, but that salvation is only made an actuality for any individual when they ratify His work by either believing it or believing it and performing some additional act(s). They are often found engaging in vigorous theological debates regarding what beliefs or acts comprise the correct formula for eternal salvation, but are all in violent agreement that the blood of Christ alone, in and of itself, did not eternally save anyone, though they are often loath to admit it. The notion that the Lord Jesus Christ actually accomplished the salvation of his people apart from any actions on man's part whatsoever is highly offensive to all possibilitarians and they are known to stridently oppose it using any means at their disposal.

Plain Meaning, Right Division, and Feet Washing

I encounter a lot of Christians who insist upon the "plain meaning" method of interpreting the scriptures. They will often state things like,

You need to accept the 'plain meaning' of I John 2:2 - which says that Jesus Christ is the propitiation for the whole world. When you do that it is obvious that the atonement is universal. (common statement)

Do you see the Contradiction?

I found this statement under the heading of SALVATION on a variety of church websites...

Because people are unable to save themselves from their sinful condition, salvation is altogether the work of God. Neither good works nor self-improvement can make up for our sin. Salvation is the free gift of God. However, like any gift it must be received. This gift is received by faith, or by believing and trusting in Jesus Christ who died as our substitute that we might live. Through repentance from sin and faith toward God, we turn from our self-ruled life to trust in Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Do you see the contradiction lurking in this statement? This sort of error is found all over professing Christendom in our time. Many have been pickled in these contradictions for so long they they are utterly unable to see the issue. To draw that out more explicitly consider the following:

Christian Unity - Elder James Oliphant

"Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brother and to dwell together in unity." (Psalm 133:1)

The church suffers more from strife and confusion over matters which should be made matters of forbearance than from the opposition of outward foes. "If you bite and devour one another. Take heed that you be not consumed one of another." (Galatians 5:15) It is an honor to leave off strife (Proverbs 20:3) Where there is no talebearer strife ceases. (Proverbs 26:20) And where we are not troubled with a contentious spirit, we will not devour one another.

Resisting the Holy Ghost - Elder James Oliphant

"So the circumcision of heart referred to must be performed while they resist the Holy Ghost.
In this we see a strong statement of the doctrine of Primitive Baptists."

"You do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." (Acts 7:51) They did not so resist the Holy Ghost as to hinder the Holy Ghost from carrying out his designs. If we remember that the Holy Ghost is God the maker of all things and these that Stephen addressed were men. It is plain that so feeble a being as man could not hinder God in any of his works. I cannot conceive of a sinner resisting the act of God in regeneration. This is a creative work and I cannot think of a matter refusing to be created nor is there room to think of a sin or refusing to be created by Christ Jesus regeneration is a life giving work. I cannot think of Lazarus refusing to be made alive. Nor can I think of a sinner refusing to be created in Christ or of refusing to be made alive or of his refusing to receive eternal life. The text cannot mean that sinners refuse to be regenerated. The new birth is "not of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man" (John 1:13) and as it does not depend on the will of the sinner, it is plain the resistance here does not mean that sinners refuse to be quickened by the Holy Ghost.

Our Idea of Grace - Elder James Oliphant

"To the praise of the glory of His Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved." (Ephesians 1:6) Our ideas of grace correspond with our ideas sin. One who thinks himself good and deserving will have diminutive ideas of God's grace in his salvation and one who regards himself as a poor unworthy sinner will have the highest ideas of grace. The Savior said he to whom most is forgiven will love most. So he that sees himself as most unworthy will love most and he will have the most exalted ideas of grace.