Understanding 2 Timothy 1:9

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" to our transfer into Christ resulted 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 choose 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.