Peter Barnes: The Plan of Salvation, 2 Timothy 1:9-10 (Sunday 28 June 2020 Morning Service, 9.00 a.m.)
God has saved His people and called them to a holy calling, either meaning that God’s calling is holy because He is holy, or that we are called to a holy life (as the NIV has it).
1. Salvation is not of our works. – 1:9b; Rom.3:20; 9:11; Eph.2:9; Tit.3:5; Ps.130:3. – Try to train a tiger to eat lettuce. Why doesn’t it work? Because of the nature of the tiger. It is a carnivore; it does not go for lettuce. We cannot climb to the moon o a ladder, nor get to God via works.
2. Salvation comes from God’s gracious election. – 1:9c. In the deepest sense, that which makes up for our works is not faith but God’s election. Calvin: ‘we can never truly grasp God’s goodness until we face the issue of election.’ See Eph.1:11. – George Whitefield: ‘I embrace the Calvinistic scheme, not because Calvin, but Jesus Christ has taught it to me.’ See Matt.11:25-26; John 6:44, 65. Do not ask yourself: ‘Am I elect?’ Ask yourself: ‘Am I a sinner?’ Who will worship the beast? Read Rev.13:8.
3. This is now made known through Christ who defeated death. – 1:10; John 11:25-26. What can ‘never die’ mean? Death looks like it wins every time, but not for the Christian – 1 Cor.15:55. Is that just bravado? Ned Kelly is supposed to have said: ‘Such is life.’ – Phil.1:21, 23. God takes death which is the terrible curse, the result of sin, and He makes it the greatest blessing, the avenue into everlasting life. – Calvin: ‘We are no better than they yet such was God’s good pleasure.’
Watch the service below.