“But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ” (II Thessalonians 2:13-14). In these two verses we have the essence of the great scope of salvation. We see three major aspects of salvation; salvation is eternal, internal, and external. Notice first its eternal nature. Verse thirteen says, “Because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation.” Consistently through the Bible the doctrine of election is set forth as the starting point of salvation. Note such passages as II Tim.1:9, Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” And Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” God’s choice and redemption of His people was not an afterthought. Has it ever occurred to you that nothing ever occurred to God? The scripture affirms, “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.” Notice secondly salvation’s internal nature. Again I direct your attention to the text, “God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” What we observe here is an initial act in the heart of the sinner wherein we see the sovereign, irresistible, effectual work of God the Spirit as He quickens and brings to light the gospel of Jesus Christ, drawing the sinner out and apart from the world and creating faith within the heart. Observe thirdly the external aspect of salvation, “Whereunto He called you by our Gospel.” The word called means to call forth and signifies action. It carries the weight of a summons by a King, or as it would be in our day and time, a subpoena by a court of law. The action involved is one coming from a certain place to a certain place. The case before us is that of one coming to Christ. So we conclude, God the Father elected a people in eternity past, in time God the Son accomplished their redemption on Calvary’s Cross, in time God the Holy Spirit applies and sanctifies the truth of the cross in the heart of those chosen sinners and enables them by his power to come to Christ. John 6:37, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”
“Salvation is of God; Jehovah is his name; The Saviour shed His blood; The Lord of Life was slain; And by his own atoning blood, He made a precious way to God.” ~~Wm. Gadsby
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