13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. 14 To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13–14 (ESV)
The content of today’s text encompasses many themes and doctrines the Apostle Paul previously mentioned to the Thessalonian believers. Take note of the following outline and cross references.
For “we are obliged to give thanks to God always for you” see on 2 Thess. 1:3. For “brothers beloved by the Lord” cf. see on 1 Thess. 1:4. For “because God chose you” see on 1 Thess. 1:4. For “salvation” see on 1 Thess. 5:8, 9. For “sanctification” see on 1 Thess. 4:3, 7. For “belief” see on 2 Thess. 1:3, 4, 11; 1 Thess. 1:3. For “truth” see on 2 Thess. 2:10, 12. For “calling” see on 1 Thess. 1:5; 2:12; 4:7; 5:24. For “with a view to obtaining” see on 1 Thess. 5:9. For “glory” see on 1 Thess. 2:12. For “our Lord Jesus Christ” see on 1 Thess. 1:1.[1]
Why was Paul was grateful for the Thessalonians? To begin with, the Lord Jesus Christ loved them.
Second, the apostle was grateful for God the Father’s choosing them to be saved. The sovereignty of God in salvation is an often misunderstood and debated biblical doctrine. Some believers in Christ love it, while others reluctantly accept it. Still other believers hate and reject it. It has been a contested topic throughout church history and remains an intramural debate among Christians today.
The Apostle Paul stated to the Thessalonian believers God chose you. The word chose (εἵλατο; heilato) means to select for the purpose of special favor from, and by, the one who selects. Firstfruits (ἀπαρχὴν; aparchen) refers to the first portion of a harvest. It also means a foretaste of what is to come. It can also refer to a beginning. The beginning the apostle spoke of is salvation. To be saved (σωτηρίαν; soterian) means deliverance. In the context, the deliverance God provides for sinners is from the penalty, power and eventual presence of their sin.
Some theologians speculate God chose individuals for salvation because of some foreseen faith. This is known as Prescient View of election. The argument is God looked down the corridors of time and saw who would positively respond to the offer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Based upon this foreseen faith, God then chose to elect sinners unto salvation. This is a misunderstood interpretation of Romans 8:29. For God to foreknow means to foreordain and to love beforehand. The prescient view is also a denial of John 1:12-13 and Romans 9:14-16. It also fails to consider saving faith is a sovereign gift from God (Acts 1 3:48; Eph. 2:1-9; Phil 1>29; 2 Peter 1:1-2).
Third, the Lord’s love and the Father’s choosing would coincide with the sanctification by the Spirit. Sanctification (ἁγιασμῷ; hagismo) means to be set apart, consecrated, and dedicated to God. It also refers to personal holiness. The Holy Spirit sanctifies each believer in Christ as the believer grows in knowledge of God’s Word, prayer, and holy living (Phil. 2:12-13).
Finally, God’s choice of sinners unto salvation is for belief in the truth. The elected believer is to have an increasing trust in, commitment to, dependence upon and honor towards the Word of God.
“The Apostle gives us this information in the context of telling the Thessalonians that he ought always to thank God for them. In so doing, he gives us a remarkably full-orbed presentation of the Lord’s work in salvation that packs a lot of material in a concise form,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.
“First, we get a picture of the work of the three persons of the Trinity in redemption. Believers are chosen by “God,” Paul’s common way of referring to God the Father. We are loved by “the Lord,” Paul’s preferred name for God the Son. Finally, we are sanctified by the Holy Spirit (v. 13). Each of the persons of the Godhead is active in our salvation, yet we should not think of each of Them as performing a unique work in which the others do not participate. Note that we are loved by the Son (v. 13), and that Paul says elsewhere that the Father, in love, predestined believers in Christ for salvation (Eph. 1:3–10). Election to salvation is not the work of the Father alone, but the Son also loves us and thus chose us for redemption. By extension, given all that the Bible says about the Holy Trinity, the Spirit is also involved in predestinating God’s people to salvation.”
May we thank the Father, Son and holy Spirit for our salvation. Have a blessed day in the Lord.
Soli deo Gloria!
[1] William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of I-II Thessalonians, vol. 3, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 187
His Word Today 