Thank you to John for this message
“We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you for salvation, through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” So the apostle Paul writes to the Christian believers in Thessalonica (2 Thessalonians 2:13).
This week we continue in the series “Steps on the Way of Holiness”, considering what is meant by “sanctification”. Paul’s words in 2 Thess.2:13 are wonderfully true not just for the first-century Thessalonians, but for all Christians in all ages, including us!
This verse speaks of God’s initiative, his purpose, and his method.
a) God’s gracious initiative
“From the beginning God chose you (us)”. Throughout the Bible we read of God choosing people, not because of their own merits but by his grace. The doctrine of “divine election” is perplexing to us, but also very comforting, and true to our experience. The Lord Jesus said to his disciples “You did not choose me but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit” (John 15:16).
b) God’s saving purpose
“…for salvation”. Left to ourselves, we are spiritually dead in sin, because of our rebellion against God. But in his love he wants us to be delivered from evil in all its forms. This salvation has 3 tenses: past, present and future. We have been saved from the penalty of sin; we are being saved from the power of sin; and we shall be saved from the presence of sin.
c) God’s loving method
“Through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth”. As we respond to God by trusting and obeying Jesus Christ, “the way, the truth and the life”, God works in our hearts and lives by his Holy Spirit. He consecrates us and assures us that we are his beloved children. He makes us more like Christ day by day, by bearing his fruit in our lives – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23).
