- "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, 14 to which he called you through our Good News, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Prayerful Observation:
Directly from these words we see that this choice of God is for the salvation which comes through hearing the Good News (the Gospel). This choice comes "through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth" (v 13). So, this choice takes place as individuals hear the truth, believe the truth and simultaneously receive the Holy Spirit who sanctifies the one who hears and believes.
As this choice takes place "through" belief in the truth, "the beginning" in verse thirteen refers to the moment of conversion, the beginning of a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), not the beginning of the creation of the world.
This is a choice by God of individuals, since the moment of belief takes place only in individuals.
So, individuals are chosen for salvation at the time of conversion, through sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth after hearing the Good News (the Gospel).
For More Information
If you would like more information on the subject of conversion, read "The Unabbreviated Conversion Corridor" in the appendix, (A7). In that page, you will see that we don't earn our salvation. But, you will also not see the false doctrine of predestination to damnation. There is a middle ground... a scriptural view. Click here to read.
For an in depth explanation of Ephesians 1:4, "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world', click here.
You may also read subchapter A6, titled "When God Chooses". It is very short and presents scriptures which reveal the following aspects to God's choices:
God's Choices Can Be
Individual or Group (Corporate)
Conditional or Unconditional
Resistible or Irresistible
Pre-Creation, Pre-birth, Pre-Conversion, Post-Conversion
To grant Salvation, Apostleship, Kingship, Adoption, Fruit, etc.
Links to Other Pages on Predestination
- What Does Acts 13:48 Mean? As many as were appointed to eternal life believed
- What Does 2 Thessalonians 2:13 Mean? God chose you from the beginning for salvation
- What Does Ephesians 1:4 Mean? Chosen Before the Foundation of the World
- What Do Revelation 13:8 and 17:8 Mean? Names written BEFORE the foundation of the world in the book of life