Let's Go God's Way

• Adam Denoon
• Christian Living
• 0 comments
• September 18, 2015

2 Thessalonians 2:13 – 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:

What is God’s way? The whole Word of God is dedicated to explaining exactly what God’s way is: Redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ. II Thessalonians 2:13 on its own gives us a good example of how the redemption plan works. I want to focus on the last phrase of that verse: “God has…chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” To get an appreciation for what the Holy Spirit is saying, let’s break this down a bit.

CHOSEN

This is the Greek word aireomai and means “to lift up (pick out) for oneself.” This verse says that God picked us out for this purpose, to be saved. If you’re saved, then you’re the chosen of God—you’re His! He drew you out, pulled you close and claimed you as His own. What was your life like when He first called you? Even so, He still loved and chose you. How much more will He take care of you now that you are His?

SANCTIFICATION OF THE SPIRIT

This verse tells us that God uses two things to save us: sanctification and faith. To be sanctified means to be set apart from sin, and changed into the image of Christ. This verse also tells us what causes sanctification: the Holy Spirit. This is God Himself acting upon the believer to save him or her from the penalty of sin (past), the power of sin (present), and the presence of sin (future). This is God extending unmerited favor (grace) to undeserving man. Now, let’s take a look at the other thing—faith— which God uses to save us.

BELIEF OF THE TRUTH

The Bible describes the truth very clearly: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This truth of salvation by the blood was provided to all of mankind by God to “whosoever will” (Rev. 22:17). Yet, for the individual to be chosen, two things must be present and working: the sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth. All have been given the truth but not all believe the truth. Those who believe the truth will experience being set apart by the Holy Spirit.

The key is belief. The Greek word is pistis, and it essentially means “trust.” This is not referring to head knowledge or a mere acknowledgment, but a simple dependence. This is what it means to be a Christian—that you depend on the sacrifice. The sacrifice is both a person and an event, the Lamb slain, which makes the grace of God available to all. All it takes to enter in is to believe the truth. This is how we get in, this is how we stay in, and this is how we will finish the race—by faith.

GOD’S WAY

This is God’s way of salvation in all of its aspects. It is called “God’s prescribed order of victory.” By simply believing—being persuaded of and depending upon—the Cross, we receive the grace of God, and all its benefits. If I rely on anything other than the Cross, then I am not going God’s way.

Sinner, no matter the depth of your depravity, no matter how far you have gone, and no matter how much filth you have performed, you can go God’s way today and be instantly and totally washed white as snow. Just believe the truth; the price has already been paid for you. To my brothers and sisters in the Lord, let’s go God’s way for all things and watch what the Holy Spirit will do among us!

By Adam Denoon

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