“Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, etc.” (2 Peter 1:5-6)

If you want the assurance you’re saved, biblically sanctioned evidence is how you live. As John the Baptist said, “Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance” (Matthew 3:7-8). The Greek word translated “worthy” is axios, which means “self-evident proof”. The Apostle Paul used the same Greek word translated “befitting” in his description of saints: “They should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance” (Acts 26:20). For more on this subject, click here.

Living for God looks like this: “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love… For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble” (2 Peter 1:5-11).

Take care that your faith is saving faith - that it’s not a mere belief of doctrine, but a faith which keeps you submitted to the Lordship of Christ. That’s what the word translated  perseverance in the scripture means, to stay under the Lordship of Christ in trials. Self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love ... when you exhibit these heavenly virtues, you’ll have biblically sanctioned evidence your salvation is real. If you’re not “giving all diligence”, lukewarmness and doubting, naturally, go hand-in-hand.

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