Six Facts About Salvation

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 "13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14 He called you to this through our gospel, so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

This passage teaches us six wonderful facts about our salvation.

1) God saves us because He loves us.  Verse 13, "brothers and sisters loved by the Lord."  God loves you.  He feels deep affection for you.  He wants what is best for you.  This love is unearned, unfailing, and unconditional.  He loves us not because we are worthy, but because He is love.  He created us to be objects of His love.  You can't make God love you more, nor love you any less.  His love is not small.  He sent His Son to die for your sins, and those of the whole world (Jn 3:16).

2) God chose to save us from the beginning.  Verse 13, "from the beginning God has chosen you for salvation."  From the very beginning, before the creation of the universe, God knew that sin would come into the earth.  And He chose to save us.  Not only us, but everyone.  God chose to save the entire world through Christ (Jn 3:16).

3) We are saved through sanctification by the Spirit.  Verse 13, "through sanctification by the Spirit."  Salvation is only possible through the Holy Spirit.  He opens our eyes and hearts, giving us the ability to understand and respond to the gospel.  This can be called prevenient grace, or grace that goes before salvation (Jn 6:44).  When we trust in Christ, the Spirit gives us a new heart (regeneration).  He delivers us from the power and slavery of sin.  Then the Holy Spirit begins the lifelong process of sanctification, delivering us from presence of sin.

4) We are saved through belief in the truth.  Verse 13, "and through belief in the truth."  God has chosen everyone for salvation, but only those who believe in the truth are saved.  Salvation is conditional.  The Holy Spirit gives us the ability to accept Christ, but God's grace is not irresistible.  We must choose to receive and believe in Jesus (Jn 1:12).  We are not saved through mere belief, but through belief in the truth.  The truth about God and Christ.

5) God calls us to salvation through the preaching of the gospel.  Verse 14, "He called you to this through our gospel."  By "preaching," I mean the proclamation of the gospel, not a sermon.  Every Christian is called to proclaim the gospel to the lost (evangelism).  It is only when someone hears and believes in the gospel truth that they are saved.  God does His saving work through His sinful messengers.  Amazing!

6) Through salvation we obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Verse 14, "so that you might obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."  When we turn to Christ in faith for salvation, God promises us the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.  What is this glory?  It is an eternal, perfect, glorious body that will be given to believers when Christ returns (Phil 3:20-21).