Paul's Exhortations & Instructions to Brother Timothy 2nd Letter Volume 7

Paul tells Timothy to Never be Ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ Part 2

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,  KJV

The reality of Timothy's and our salvation should be enough, i.e. more than enough to remove all of the assaults and attacks from the devil to make us ashamed of the Gospel of Christ and of its sole/singular method or way of saving the souls of sinfully lost human beings. So, now Brother Paul reminds Timothy and us of this fact and of the nature of the Gospel that is received in the inner man and inner woman of every sinner who trust our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, first with these words, "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began," (2 Timothy 1:9) (KJV). Paul wants Timothy and we true believers today and of every era and generation to be always aware of the mighty power that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how it can reach into the soul of any sinner (no matter the nature or the severity of the sin) and push aside that 'old nature' and transplant an entirely 'new nature' in the inner man or inner woman and create a new race of humanity (the Christian). The little English phrase at the very beginning of this verse 'who hath saved' is translated by the Greek word sozo which means to save, that is, deliver or protect (literally or figuratively): - heal, preserve, or make whole. In other words, salvation is attributed, ascribed, and has its sole/singular authority in the purpose and plan of God the Father.

When Paul writes 'and called us with an holy calling', he speaks of the effectual (that is, capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect) calling of God the Father through God the Holy Spirit to every true son and daughter of God. Here is what Dr, John Gill had to say concerning those of us who have been called by God to salvation, "There is a salvation previous to calling: there is a temporal salvation; a special providence attends the elect of God, as soon as born; God's visitation in a very special manner preserves their spirits; they are kept from many imminent dangers, and some of them from the grosser immoralities of life; and there is a chain of providences, as the fixing of their habitations, bringing to such a place, and under such a ministry, with various other things, ways and methods, which lead on to the effectual calling: and there is a preservation of them in Christ Jesus, antecedent to calling, Jude 1:1. God had a mind to save some; He pitched on His own Son to be the Saviour of them; He put those persons into His hands, where they are safely preserved; so as not to be damned, and everlastingly perish, notwithstanding their fall in Adam, their original corruption, and actual transgressions, until called by grace: yea, that spiritual and eternal salvation, which is by Jesus Christ, is before calling; this was resolved upon from eternity; a council of peace was formed; a covenant of grace was made; a promise of life given; persons were fixed upon to be saved; a Saviour was appointed, and blessings of grace were put into His hands; and all according to an eternal purpose."

When Paul writes 'not according to our works', he means that there is nothing any saved sinner did to earn his or her salvation in Jesus Christ through the Gospel of Grace. Works of righteouness which many sinful men and women are doing all over this globe (mistakenly thinking that they are earning favor with God or a higher power as some say) do not have any merit whatsoever in them before the Throne of God, I repeat no merit whatsoever. The so-called 'good person' (apart from Jesus Christ) does not exist on this planet now or ever, remember what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church in Rome speaking of all humanity, "As it is written, None is righteous, just {and} truthful {and} upright {and} conscientious, no, not one. No one understands [no one intelligently discerns {or} comprehends]; no one seeks out God. All have turned aside; together they have gone wrong {and} have become unprofitable {and} worthless; no one does right, not even one!" (Romans 3:10-12) (Amplified Bible). In other words, the elect of God are not the elect because they are a better group of human beings than all the rest, not at all, but they are the elect because God the Father knew every sinner who would turn to our Lord Jesus Christ before He ever laid the foundation of the world, He is Omniscient (dah!), its not complicated, for He did not choose some to be saved and then damned to hell the rest, that's not election. When Paul writes 'but according to His own purpose and grace', he means that God the Father does not receive counsel from the holy angels or have any of them vote on what He should or should not do in the running of His universe or in the saving of the souls of lost men and women on the earth.

The English word 'purpose' is translated by the Greek word prothesis meaning (as used here) a setting forth, that is, (figuratively) proposal (intention). The English word 'grace' is translated by the Greek word charis meaning (as used here) graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual. In other words, the intentions and plans of God the Father (that being the adoption of sons and daughters) moves Him to respond to a sinner who crys out for salvation/deliverance and His grace or graciousness (which He is abundantly rich in) is the power that springs forth from Him to cause every sinner who comes to the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ to be changed or better yet transformed, that is, to be given a completely different form or appearance, as it is written, "See what [an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named {and} called {and} counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him. Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes {and} is manifested, we shall [as God's children] resemble {and} be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is. And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless)." (1 John 3:1-3) (Amplified Bible). Here is what the JFB Commentary had to say concerning the purpose and grace of God the Father given that makes each of us His adopted sons and daughters, "'The origination of salvation was of His own purpose, flowing from His own goodness, not for works of ours coming first, but wholly because of His own gratuitous, electing love [Theodoret and Calvin].' Grace given us in His everlasting purpose, regarded as the same as when actually accomplished in due time."

Finally, when Paul writes 'which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began', he means that this grace was already prepared, planned, and purposed for everyone of the elect of God before there was ever any world or any human beings in the world. Some will argue that this sounds like God the Father is playing favorites, but this is not true, if we just go back and re-read what the Apostle Paul wrote to the Church @ Rome Romans 3:10-12, then we see that God shows mercy to those who believe Him and come to Him as He has prepared, the cross of Jesus Christ, just as Paul declared to the Church @ Ephesus with these words, "Even as [in His love] He chose us [actually picked us out for Himself as His own] in Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy (consecrated and set apart for Him) and blameless in His sight, {even} above reproach, before Him in love. For He foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted (revealed) as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased Him and was His kind intent]--[So that we might be] to the praise {and} the commendation of His glorious grace (favor and mercy), which He so freely bestowed on us in the Beloved." (Ephesians 1:4-6) (Amplified Bible). Note: "God the Father because He is Eternal and Omniscient sees the past, present, and the future (which He made by the way) all at the same instant, therefore, before He ever made anything (Genesis 1:1), He knew everyone of us human sinners who would trust Christ Jesus our Lord and be born again into His eternal family as adopted sons and daughters, that is, when I was a forming embryo in my Mother's womb I was already God the Father's adopted son according to His eternal knowledge (Romans 4:17), even though for many years I ran as fast and as far away from God as I could, but He could run just a little faster than me (lol), just as He declared to the Prophet Jeremiah with these words spoken to him, 'Then the word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated {and} set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.' (Jeremiah 1:4-5) (Amplified Bible)."

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…