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This isn't my first trip around this block. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 supports predestination just as clearly as any other verse. It says nothing about salvation being the result of a process called sanctification. Or do you suppose the term, 'sanctification' only ever refers to that process we do go through in our lives as believers, and never to anything else, such as, for example, a direct result of regeneration by that same Spirit of God mentioned in verse 13? Sanctification also means being set apart, also, being freed from sin —not just growth in the things of God, in the pursuit of holiness.
First, 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 is talking about how the gospel calls us to... God has chosen us to salvation THROUGH the Sanctification of the Spirit (Holy living), and a belief of the truth.
“...God hath from the beginning
chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit
and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel,...”
(2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
Side Note: The gospel is mentioned clearly in 1 Corinthians 15:1-4.
You also have to understand that the gospel calls us and it does not force us or compels us to be a certain way. A sales person who calls you does not always convince you of what they are selling just because they called.
Anyways, Just look at the context in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14, and it proves that
Sanctification of the Spirit is in reference to holy living. Verse 12 gives us the polar opposite of what 2 Thessalonians 2:13 says. It states:
“That they all might be damned who believed not the truth,
but had pleasure in unrighteousness.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:12).
#1. Believed not the truth (vs. 12) (is pollar opposite of): Belief of the truth (vs. 13).
#2. Pleasure in unrighteousness (vs. 12) (is pollar opposite of): Sanctification of the Spirit (vs. 13).
Verse 16-17 also confirms this, as well. It states:
“...and hath given us everlasting consolation
and good hope through grace, Comfort your hearts,
and stablish you in every good word and work.”
(1 Thessalonians 2:16-17).
#1. Good hope through grace (vs. 16) = Belief of the truth (vs. 13).
#2. Every good word and work (vs. 17) = Sanctification of the Spirit (vs. 13).
Second, just because I choose someone does not mean they are saved. For example: Jesus answered them, “Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve? And
yet one of you is a devil.” (John 6:70). So just because Jesus chose Judas, does not mean Judas was saved in the end. Judas fell by his transgression (Acts of the Apostles 1:25). In fact, Judas being among the twelve was at one point in time a sheep.
“These twelve Jesus sent forth,...” (Matthew 10:5).
“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves.” (Matthew 10:16).
For example: It's like coach Rick choosing Bob for the football team. It does not mean Bob is going to win the game just because he was chosen to be on the team by the coach.
I wanted to stress the importance that God has chosen us to live a holy life. But that does not mean we will live a holy life. We have to fight the good fight of faith as a part laying hold on eternal life.
“Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:12).
Why would Paul tell us to fight the good fight of faith and lay hold on eternal life if that is an automatic thing of being Calvinistically elected or chosen by God?
Three, then there is 2 Thessalonians 2:10 (Which is the context of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
2 Thessalonians 2:10 blows away Calvinism to pieces. For it says:
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” (2 Thessalonians 2:10).
Paul says that those who perish are perishing because THEY received not the love of the truth. The verse does not say that they perish because they were not elected by God. Also, the verse says that they (those who perish) MIGHT be saved. In Calvinism: There is no “
might be saved.”
Here is another bonus verse that blows away Calvinism.
Jesus says in Luke 13:3,
“I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.” (Luke 13:3).
Jesus is giving a conditional statement here in that if they don't repent, they will perish.
The thing is that in Calvinism: The Non-Elect cannot repent, and the Elect are never in danger of really ever perishing. So either Jesus was not aware of Calvinistic doctrine or the Calvinist really does not really believe what our Lord actually taught in this particular instance.