“But we are bound to give thanks always 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.”
(2 Thessalonians 2:13)
As Paul reflects on the salvation and spiritual growth evident in the Thessalonian believers, his heart overflows with gratitude. “We are bound to give thanks to God always for you,” he writes, because he sees in them the fruit of their belief in the truth of the Gospel and the sanctifying work of the Spirit. These fellow believers were not only dear to Paul, but more importantly, “beloved of the Lord,” and that designation compelled him to praise God continually on their behalf.
Paul’s gratitude is fueled by his by deep theological conviction. He rejoices that these saints were “chosen… from the beginning” for salvation. He knew they had been brought into the family of God not by chance or effort, but by God’s sovereign and gracious election. Thomas Manton rightly observed, “The only original cause and motive of election is God’s love and grace in Christ.”[1] This was all the more reason to worship and give thanks.
Note in our text how salvation is accomplished: “… through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.” Election does not operate apart from the transforming work of the Spirit or the human responsibility of believing the gospel. These believers had been set apart by the Spirit and had embraced the truth of Christ, and Paul was grateful that their lives bore real evidence of being chosen by God.
This passage also calls all Christians to a similar response. We are to be thankful for our brothers and sisters in the Lord, not only for their kindness or friendship, but because they, too, are trophies of sovereign grace. Their salvation, like our own, is the result of God’s eternal purpose in Christ. So we are to love them as Christ has loved us, and to rejoice that we share in the same redemption, the same Spirit, the same hope.
The apostle John writes, “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren” (1 John 3:14). Love for the people of God is both the fruit and evidence of saving faith. Every believer we meet is one whom the Lord has loved from eternity, called in time, justified by faith, and destined for glory. They are part of the same family, part of the same inheritance, part of the same body. To give thanks for them should not only be expected—it is commanded.
And so we pray, and we give thanks, and we walk together in love until the day we are gathered into the fullness of our salvation, every one of us a witness to the mercy and election of God.
Contemplation:
- Thankfulness for the Elect. When I consider the believers around me—those in my church, my friends in the faith, and even those I don’t know personally—I must see them not only as people but as those whom God has chosen from the foundation of the world. That truth should stir my heart to praise because it reminds me that salvation is not an individual pursuit but a shared grace. I want to love the family of God more and give thanks for the work of grace I see in their lives.
- Confidence in God’s Sovereignty. The doctrine of election is hard to grasp at times, and yet it is a solid foundation for trust. I don’t have to understand why God chose me—only that He did. So when I begin to doubt or struggle with my own unworthiness, I must return to this truth: salvation is not of me, but of the Lord. My hope is not in my strength, but in His eternal purpose. That keeps me from despair and leads me back to worship.
- Evidence of Election. Though I cannot see my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life, I can examine the fruit of salvation in my life. Am I being sanctified by the Spirit? Do I believe the truth? Do I love the brethren? These are the marks Paul rejoiced in when he observed the Thessalonians. I want my life to reflect that same evidence as a testimony of the grace already given to me by God.
- The Family of God. I often take the church for granted. But every believer is someone God set His eternal love upon. When I remember that, it helps me overlook offenses, show patience, and cultivate real love. These are not just acquaintances of mine; they are the chosen of God, my brothers and sisters in Christ. I want to be more thankful, more gracious, more connected to them, knowing we will spend eternity praising our Redeemer together.
Prayer (Supplication):
O most gracious and sovereign Lord, I come before You with earnest supplication, deeply aware of the mercy that has been extended to me and to all who are in Christ Jesus. You are the One who chooses from the foundation of the world, who calls in time, who justifies by grace, and who sanctifies by Your Spirit. I acknowledge that this work is entirely Yours, and I humbly plead with You to continue that gracious work in me.
Father, help me never lose sight of the glory of Your election. Let me not treat it as just a point of doctrine, but as the ground of my assurance and a cause for ongoing thanksgiving. Guard my heart from pride, from speculation, and from confusion. Keep me grounded in Your revealed will and let me marvel in what You have made known. Teach me to trust in Your goodness, rest in Your justice, and rejoice in Your mercy.
I ask that You deepen in me a true love for the brethren. Let my heart be filled with warmth and affection for those You have called. Make me quick to give thanks for Your work in their lives. Let me see in their faith and fruit the evidence of Your hand. And when I struggle to love, when I am tempted to division or indifference, remind me of the love You have shown me and compel me by it.
Sanctify me by Your Spirit, O Lord. I do not want to remain stagnant in my walk. I long to grow in holiness, to put away sin, to walk more closely with You. Reveal to me those areas where I grieve Your Spirit. Convict me where I compromise. Strengthen me to pursue righteousness. And let the Word dwell in me richly and do its sanctifying work day by day.
And Lord, I plead not only for myself but for all my brothers and sisters in Christ. May Your Spirit continue to work in them mightily. Guard them from the evil one. Uphold them in trials. Make their faith firm, their love sincere, and their witness bright. Let Your church shine in this dark world, and may we all, as members of one body, grow up together into the image of Christ.
Finally, may the doctrine of Your electing grace never become a cold truth to me. Let it fuel my worship, my gratitude, and my service. You chose us not because of anything in us, but solely for the praise of Your glory. May my life reflect that praise, and may Your church ever sing of the grace that called us out of darkness and into Your marvelous light.
In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Further Scripture References for 2 Thessalonians 2:13:
1 Peter 1:2; Eph. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:4; Jer. 31:3; Acts 13:48.
[1] Thomas Manton, The Complete Works of Thomas Manton, vol. 3 (London: James Nisbet & Co., 1871), 104.
