I agree with everyone here, just to add on...
As we've already went over, we don't know who is and who is not the elect, we have to "endure to the end" (this is part of that hope we are talking about). But, the elect know the truth and we are confident of knowing who God is and His son Jesus Christ who He has sent.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
If we say that we do not know truth, we are judging ourselves out of our own mouths, so as the elect, we hope and are confident that we KNOW Jesus Christ, the Truth... and we say that we do.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (we know Him!!! after the spirit)
1Co 9:27 But I keep under my body, and bring [it] into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Rom 8:24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The prize is Jesus Christ in us, the Truth, that hope of glory. We are always pressing into Him. He has revealed himself to us and we continually commune with Him (eat His words) knowing more and more of Christ while our old man dies daily. Paul thought to be careful or he would be a "castaway", he hoped to be saved but had not as yet attained.
Mat 10:22 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Rev 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.
The three things that we know as being God's elect is to be 1. Called, 2. Chosen, and 3. Faithful... to the end.
We need to be diligent and remember and not take for granted who we are or we become like this parable.....
Luk 12:16 And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
Luk 12:17 And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
Luk 12:18 And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
Luk 12:19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, [and] be merry.
Luk 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
Luk 12:21 So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
laying up treasures for ourself is being self confident and not giving credit to God for ALL HIS WORK. It's His faith and His work in us. It's all of Him (I know all here believe this). It's the faith OF Christ and not of ourselves. I think that is one of the reasons Ray did such a huge study on the sovereignty of God and that we have no free will. I am so grateful God caused Ray to do that. EVERYTHING is of Him.
Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that [faith] not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Acknowledging this is all of God and not of ourselves, and Him having us to endure to the end, its only at the resurrection that we would have any absolute certainty that we are God's "very elect". But knowing Truth, we are not cocky or have a "self assured" attitued about things because we know that.... ALL IS OF GOD, and not of ourselves. But we are confident that what the Lord started in us, He will finish.
Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
We trust Him, rest in His ability to do it all. I love Rhy's attitude... God will work it out in all of us.
God's elect are not fearful or timid about confessing they know Him and His Word.
I have told my wife before when we discuss this stuff.... I'll say, "I know the Truth." and she says to me, "You don't know all truth". and my reply, "I don't know all truth and have all knowledge all at once at any given moment, but I know the Truth, I know Jesus Christ, His spirit". I know Him.
The elect know what He's about, know what He's doing in the earth (in me). As He is so are we. We are about our Father's business. We are the saviors of the world, right now, that's within us, and outwardly later. That's our calling, that is our lot. It's a hard road that seperates us from all of mankind, and they will hate us just for saying that "I know the truth". there is one way, one mindset, and that is the mind of Christ.
2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2Jn 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house (spiritual house), neither bid him God speed:
2Jn 1:11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.
I just wanted to add that tidbit. Hope it helps!