13But we are bound to give thanks always 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: 14Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2: 13-14).
Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians contains a lot of evidence of God’s sovereignty. Sovereignty is really about causation and ownership. The Creator is over all of creation. His sovereign choices and election are described using words suggesting ownership. Words such as bound, chosen and called, reveal God’s role in salvation. The Creator’s sovereignty extends even to salvation. God chooses us from the beginning, even before we were born. This is not a new theme; we have seen it throughout our study of scripture over the past few months.
The method of the Creator’s sovereign selection is discussed in verse 14 as well. The method of selection is a calling to the Gospel. Therefore, those that are called by the Gospel believe the Gospel. Being called by the Gospel results in faith. Then after faith the work of the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. These processes are in the form of the covenant we have mentioned throughout our study, “We shall be His people and He shall be our God”. The Creator is the caller.
Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians contains a lot of evidence of God’s sovereignty. Sovereignty is really about causation and ownership. The Creator is over all of creation. His sovereign choices and election are described using words suggesting ownership. Words such as bound, chosen and called, reveal God’s role in salvation. The Creator’s sovereignty extends even to salvation. God chooses us from the beginning, even before we were born. This is not a new theme; we have seen it throughout our study of scripture over the past few months.
The method of the Creator’s sovereign selection is discussed in verse 14 as well. The method of selection is a calling to the Gospel. Therefore, those that are called by the Gospel believe the Gospel. Being called by the Gospel results in faith. Then after faith the work of the Holy Spirit sanctifies us. These processes are in the form of the covenant we have mentioned throughout our study, “We shall be His people and He shall be our God”. The Creator is the caller.
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