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I. THE DIVINE ELECTION. "God hath from the beginning chosen you."

1. There is an "election according to grace" (Romans 11:5). It is not to be confounded with the calling, which is an effect of it. "Whom he predestinated, them he also called" (Romans 8:30). Our salvation is always traced to "his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began."

2. The date of the election. "From the beginning." It is "from the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4), and therefore does not rest upon the personal claims of individuals.

3. The means of the election. "In sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." The election is to the means as well as the end; it cannot take effect without the means. There is an objective as well as a subjective side in the sphere of the election.

(1) The sanctification of the Spirit. This is the objective side.

(a) It implies a spiritual change of nature. The Spirit applies the salvation, and regeneration is his first work.

(b) Sanctification is the evidence as well as the fruit of election.

(2) "The belief of the truth." This is the subjective side. Man is not passive in his salvation.

(a) As the Spirit is the agent, the truth is the instrument of salvation.

(b) The truth must be believed in order to salvation. As men are chosen to be saints, they are chosen also to be believers.

(3) The necessary connection between the sanctification and the belief. It might appear as if the belief of the truth ought to precede the sanctification of the Spirit. But there cannot be faith without the operation of the Spirit, while, on the other hand, the sanctification is "through the truth." The two are inseparably joined together.

4. The end of the election. "God hath chosen you to salvation."

(1) It is not an election to Church privileges.

(2) Nor to national privileges.

(3) But to salvation itself.

(a) This is salvation from sin and sorrow, death and hell.

(b) It is "the end of our faith" (1 Peter 1:9).

II. THE DIVINE CALLING. "Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." The election issues in the call.

1. The Author of the call. God. "There is one Lawgiver who is able to save and to destroy." He has the right to call and the power to call. Nothing but Divine power can save the soul.

2. The means of the call. "Our gospel." The ministry of the Word was the great instrument in the Spirit's hand of their conversion.

3. The end of the call.

(1) It was to obtain the glory of Christ. It was to be obtained, not purchased or wrought out by their personal righteousness.

(2) Believers are to share in the very glory of their Redeemer. - T.C.

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KJV: 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:

WEB: But we are bound to always give thanks to God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth;