2 Timothy 1:9 Study

2 Timothy 1:9 NASB
who saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was granted to us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

Our first issue of understanding is the meaning of "with a holy calling." Does this refer to being "called" into His kingdom, or being given a holy calling or ministry after we were saved?

For me, the phrase "He called us" rather than gave us establishes that our transfer into Christ is in view, rather than our ministry. I understand "who saved us and called us" refers to our transfer into Christ resulting in being saved.

Next, we were not called into His kingdom based on or according to our works, but according to His purpose and grace. Our being called into the kingdom was not based on the merit of our faith, but upon God's grace in crediting our faith as righteousness. His purpose of course was to choose for Himself a people for His own possession.

Next when was this purpose and associated grace established? From all eternity, referring to before the foundation of the world, before creation. God chose His Redeemer, His Lamb of God, before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20), and we were chosen corporately as the target group of His redemption plan as a consequence, thus we were chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4

So the plan to grant salvation by grace to those of God's choosing was established before creation, from all eternity, but we only received that grace when placed "in Christ Jesus." Thus the grace was granted from eternity and received by all of us when placed in Jesus Christ.

 

1) For me, the phrase "He called us" rather than gave us establishes that our transfer into Christ is in view, rather than our ministry. I understand "who saved us and called us" refers to our transfer into Christ resulting in being saved. This refers to what I believe scripture teaches God did and does! No need for evasion.

2) Our being called into the kingdom is based on God's election of us as individuals. The fact we can be transferred into the kingdom of God is indeed based on the righteousness, suffering and sacrificial death of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

3) Whoever calls (referring to a human individual) upon the name of the Lord (as determined not by the individual, but by God) shall be saved. Otherwise we have a Calvinist advocating for a works based salvation.

4) Did anyone say or suggest our faith is righteous? Nope. So more obfuscation. Our faith, if credited by God as righteousness, then by God's declaration becomes righteous, no matter how flawed was our effort. And, of course, if not credited by God, our human effort remains a filthy rag in the eyes of God.

 

Once again an obviously false and unbiblical claim is made, with non-germane verbiage.

1) For whom He foreknew refers to the corporate group targeted with His redemption plan.

2) And whom He predestined refers to the corporate group targeted with His redemption plan.

3) And who He called refers to those individuals God chose to redeem.

4) And those redeemed were also justified, and glorified.

5) God chooses to have mercy on individuals. And this choice is compassionate.

6) We agree, salvation does not depend on the person willing to be saved or doing things to be saved, but on God alone.

Ephesians 1:4 refers to God choosing His Redeemer and therefore corporately choosing those redeemed.

 

A corporate election results in a group of the same kind of person, i.e. redeemed believers, rather than specific individuals. Calvinisms must redefine the meaning of words to support false doctrine.