God’s Choice of You 

Part 2 

But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.  And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  2 Thessalonians 2:13, 14 

We saw last week that God has chosen us who are in Christ not because of anything great we have or have not done but because of His love for us.  What a humbling thought it is to know that God loves the unlovable!  But how important it is for us to realize that God hasn’t poured out His love upon us just to give us a warm fuzzy feeling – O no! His love is much more than that!  God’s love for us has a purpose and direction as we see from the above passage of Scripture. 

“God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification…” 

God Himself has chosen to save us through His Son Jesus Christ.  Through Jesus Christ we are saved from the penalty or sin (justification), the power of sin (sanctification), and when He returns from the presence of sin (glorification).  God’s salvation to us is not passive – it is active and purposeful.  God doesn’t save us just so that we can rest secure in knowing that are sins are forgiven (though this is a wonderful blessing), He saves us so that we can be conformed into the image of Christ – so that we can realize and be all that we are through Him.  “Salvation through sanctification” implies that we are conforming to His holiness and truth.  This is a true sign of one who has been saved by Jesus Christ – their life changes and becomes Christ-like!  God loves you so much that He not only saves you from the penalty of your sin but He gives you the power over sin through His Word and His Spirit so that you can be holy!  This is why we can claim the promise that if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come (2 Corinthians 5:17).   

“And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

The salvation that God gives us is a wonderful journey of life on the road to glory – His glory!  O what a glorious and powerful god we have.  God takes us from the despair and death of our sin and gives us life through His Son Jesus Christ.  In the life that He gives us He gives us the grace and the power to live life as it was meant to be lived (in love, truth, and righteousness) so that we may gain the glory of Christ.  O what an awesome truth to think on that we will see, behold, and share in His glory – and all because of God’s great love for us! 

God’s great love makes saints out of sinners and a saint you are if you are in Christ.  Let His love control you and shape you to become all that He has made you to be in Christ and walk with Him on the road to His glory you chosen one of God.

By God's Grace ~ Through God's Word ~ For God's Glory!

Chuck Long

©God’sGWG
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