CHOSEN TO SALVATION

Sunday Morning:  October 22, 2000

Text: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15  "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: 14. Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15. Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

ADDRESSING

2 Thessalonians 2:13-15  "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:

ELECT

1 Thessalonians 1:4  "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God."

BELOVED

Colossians 3:12  "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;"

GOD CHOSE

2 Thessalonians 2:13  "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:

MOSES CHOSE

Hebrews 11:25  "Choosing [airew] rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;"

NOT THE SAME WORD BUT SAME IDEA

Ephesians 1:4  "According as he hath chosen [eklegw, elected] us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:"

A SALVATION FOR THE SAVED

2 Thessalonians 2:13  "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:"

NOT CALLED TO BE SAVED

Acts 16:31  "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."

ONLY MANY ARE CALLED

Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

SAVED, THEN CALLED

2 Timothy 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,"

SO GREAT SALVATION

Hebrews 2:3  "How shall we escape (judgment), if we neglect (to produce the fruits) so great salvation (to enter the kingdom of heaven); which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them (the apostles) that heard him; "

SALVATION IN CHRIST FOR THE ELECT

2 Timothy 2:10-12  "Therefore I endure [upomenw] all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12. If we suffer [upomenw, endure], we shall also reign with him: if we deny (don’t endure) him, he also will deny us (we won’t reign with Him):"

SALVATION WITH GLORY

2 Thessalonians 2:14  "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

HOPE OF GLORY

Colossians 1:27  "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

SALVATION HOPED FOR

1 Thessalonians 5:8  "But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation."

ACQUIRED THROUGH FAITH

Hebrews 10:38-39  "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe [pistiv, faith] to the saving [purchasing] of the soul (life in the Kingdom)."

SALVATION ON THE BASIS OF FAITH

1 Peter 1:8-9  "Whom having not seen, ye love [present active]; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing [present active], ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9. Receiving the end of your faith (pleasing God, Heb 11:6), even the salvation of your souls (lives in the Kingdom of the heavens)."

WORK OUT SALVATION

Philippians 2:12  "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling."

THROUGH SANCTIFICATION AND FAITH

2 Thessalonians 2:13  "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 [not the Holy Spirit] and belief [pistiv, faith, firm conviction] of the truth:

FERVENT IN SPIRIT

Romans 12:11-12  "Not slothful in business [diligence]; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"

SPIRIT OF DILIGENCE

2 Peter 1:10-11  "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11. For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ."

THEREFORE, BRETHREN

2 Thessalonians 2:15  "Therefore, brethren, stand fast [present active], and hold [present active] the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle."

BE STRONG

1 Corinthians 16:13  "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit [act] you like men, be strong."

UNMOVEABLE

1 Corinthians 15:58  "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."

DON’T DRIFT AWAY

James 1:16  "Do not err [present active imperative], my beloved brethren."

BE AN EXAMPLE

Philippians 3:17-4:1  "Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample. 18. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19. Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21. Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."  4:1  "Therefore, my brethren, dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved."