(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, (10) But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: (11) Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. (12) For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. (13) Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
I pray the Reader to mark, one by one, the blessedness of this most precious portion of scripture, with which the Apostle begins this paragraph; and then, under divine teaching, he will discover, in the blessed fruits is follow from what the Apostle hath said, how causes produce effects; and not effects give birth to causes.
And, first. Who hath saved us. Here is the divine glory, as set forth, independent of any motive, or cause whatever, but his own sovereign will and pleasure. God saving his people, with an everlasting salvation. No moving cause, no procuring cause, no assisting cause. Here is not a word said of either. Who hath saved us. It is spoken of, as a thing already done. And this, as we shall perceive, when we analyze the verse, as a given principle, given us in Christ Jesus, before the world began. Compare what is here said, with those scriptures. Ephesians 1:4-5; Romans 9:11; John 17:6; Titus 1:1-2
Secondly. Now comes the effectual calling of the saved. For thus it is written. Who hath saved us, and called us. So then, salvation, or the predestinated purpose of God, of the Church to salvation in Christ, is before calling. A most plain, palpable, and decided proof, that nothing of creature-worth, or creature-ability, are taken into the account. But calling is the effect, and not the cause of salvation. For so the charter of grace runs. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate, to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the first-born among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified, and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8:29-30
Thirdly. The Church is said to be saved, and called, with an holy calling. Not any holiness in the Church, or from foreseeing holiness in the Church; for it is immediately added, not according to our works. It could not be according to our works, for the saving is said to have been before the world began. Neither could it be from any works after, for when the Church is quickened, in every individual member of Christ's mystical body; the sinner is said to he quickened, that was before dead in trespasses and sins. Ephesians 2:1. Neither could it be from the prospect of anything to be wrought of holiness in us, after grace is received; for this scripture saith, that it was God's purpose, and grace given us in Christ Jesus, and that before the world began. Hence, every testimony bears a beautiful correspondence to all the other parts of scripture, that grace, and salvation, are all of God, not of man. We are saved by grace through faith; and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9. Hence, the Apostle, in another place observes, that it is not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. Titus 3:5-6
Fourthly. The Apostle, having thus laid down all the grand particulars, of being first saved, then called; and called with an holy calling, even his holiness which called; and in his holiness, in whom we are called; next runs up the whole of the blessedness of the Church, to Him in whom the Church is holy, and in whom made blessed; by declaring, that all this was done by God's purpose, and grace, in giving the Church to Jesus, and giving, all our holiness, and blessedness, in Jesus, and to be received by us from Jesus; before the world began. And thus manifesting the several express, and distinct personal acts, of the Father's purpose, grace, and gifts; the Son's holiness, in which the Church is saved, and made holy; and the Spirit's calling, and regenerating mercy, in rendering the whole effectual, for grace here, and glory forever. Reader! pause, and contemplate the preciousness of this scripture, and see, whether the sense of it doth not bring the soul upon the knees, to cry out, with the Apostle: thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15. And while the impression is warm upon your mind, then observe what Paul hath said in the following verses, and enquire, whether his conclusion, must not be the natural, and unavoidable conclusion, of every regenerated child of God? Hath not Christ brought life and immortality to light, by his Gospel, which teacheth such precious things? Must not Paul, nay, must not every man, taught as Paul was, and through grace brought into the same views, and confirmed in the same Truths; declare, that he knows whom he hath believed? Can there be anything like a yea and nay Gospel, in these solemn assurances of Jehovah? And can an assurance that He, who hath saved, and called from the first, without works, will cause his grace to be doubtful as to the end? Will any man dare to reprove, for comforting God's elect with such assurances; and call it unscriptural, and highly dangerous, to teach them, what God hath in his holy scriptures taught them, that they shall never perish, wham he hath so saved, and so called? Oh! the preciousness of those sweet scriptures! Yea, let God be true, but every man a liar. Romans 3:4. And may that God, that hath commanded his servants saying, Comfort ye, comfort ye, my people, saith your God, Isaiah 40:1, comfort them himself, against all those, who would make the hearts of the Lord's people sad, whom the Lord hath not made sad; and confirm his word unto his servants, wherein he hath caused us to hope. May his saving, and calling purposes, given to them in Christ Jesus, before the world began, be followed up, by establishing them, as the Apostle was, in the truth, as it is in Jesus! And may every truly regenerated child of God shout aloud, with the same holy triumph as Paul did, for his confidence in Christ is the same: I know whom I have believed; and am persuaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him, against that day.