Romans: Election, Israel, and Covenant Mercy

A Cause To Celebrate - Part 2 of 2

Transcript: AI Transcript

Professor: John Weaver

Subject: New Testament Studies

Genre: Sermon

Dictation Name:

Date: 2021-08-17

Synopsis: In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his exposition of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, emphasizing that believers have a cause to celebrate because of God's sovereign work in salvation. He explains that God's divine choice (election) flows through the divine channel of sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, and is realized through a divine calling by the gospel. This results in a divine character that stands fast and is established by God. The sermon underscores that salvation is entirely of God, from election to glorification, and that true believers will persevere and demonstrate godly character.

[John Weaver] Well let's open our Bibles today to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and Lord willing we will cover the second part to a cause to celebrate. I will take a few minutes and review from last week but I want you to look in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 beginning there with verse 13 and we'll read through verse 17. The Apostle writes, but we're bound to give thanks all the way 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. Where unto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, Stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, which has loved us and has given us an everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. As I pointed out last week, causes are prevalent.

[John Weaver] Causes are everywhere. And of course, there are some causes that are very good, some that are very bad. There are some causes that are biblical and of course some that are unbiblical. But there is a truth that needs to be emphasized when we talk about a cause. And that truth that needs to be emphasized is this, if we want divine help, if we want God to speak to us and to help us, lead us, direct us, and protect us, then we need to make sure that it's not just our that is holy, just, and right, but that we ourselves are also holy, just, and right. In other words, God is not going to help us in an evil and unjust cause. Moreover, God is not going to help us when we are evil and unjust and wicked and unclean ourselves.

[John Weaver] For instance, if you would hold 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, but turn back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 23. Because in this passage, God has given instruction to his people as they are about to embark upon war.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to pay close attention to what he said, and I will emphasize this again after we read the scripture. But look in Deuteronomy chapter 23, beginning there with verse 9, and we'll read through verse 14. God says, when the host, that is, when the army, goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing. So he's saying, look, it's not just the cause that has to be right, you have to be right as well. Moreover, he said in verse 10, if there be among you any man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness, that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp. He shall not come within the camp. So once a man is unclean, and he's talking about ceremonially, He has to go out of the camp, watch verse 11, but it shall be when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water, and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again. In other words, he has to be ceremonially clean to come back into the camp.

[John Weaver] Nothing unclean or impure is to be in the camp. Then he says in verse 12, thou shalt have a place also without the camp, where thou shalt go forth abroad. So he's talking about an outhouse. He's talking about a latrine. He's talking about a bathroom. Watch verse 13. And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon, and it shall be when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back, and cover that which cometh from thee. Why? Not just for sanitation. Verse 14. For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee." So God then demands not just a holy cause, but a holy people and a clean people as well. So if we want God's divine help, we need to make sure that we ourselves are holy and clean and pure and not just simply our cause as well.

[John Weaver] In other words, our actions and our attitudes must be holy. And we demonstrate the sincerity and genuineness of our faith by our obedience and adherence to the Word of God. It's only then that we can plead some of those pleas that David gave in the book of Psalms. I read them to you last week. For instance, Psalm 35 in verse 1, where David said, plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive against me.

[John Weaver] Fight against them that fight against me. So he's asking God to plead his cause. And then in Psalm 35 in verse 23, He said, stir up thyself and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord. And then finally, in Psalm 43 in verse one, he said, this judge me, oh God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. And then he said, oh, deliver me from the unjust and the deceitful man. So if we want God to help us, not only must our cause be right, but we must be right as well.

[John Weaver] Now, in referring to these causes, You remember this is the second part of the message, a cause to celebrate. And I gave you last week what the word celebrate actually means. It means, number one, to observe a day or to commemorate an event with ceremonies or festivities. Number two, to make known publicly and to proclaim. Number three, to praise widely and to present as a favorable, widespread, and favorable public notice. And then fourthly, to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies. So putting those things together, to celebrate literally means to commemorate, to observe, to make known publicly, to praise widely, and to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies. So last week we looked at the very first cause to celebrate, and that is found in 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 13, that is a divine choice.

[John Weaver] Because in this passage, the word of God says this, but we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brother and beloved of the Lord, because, there's the cause, God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. Now, I'm not going to re-preach the message that I preached last week, but if you'll remember, I told you Actually, there are four types of election in the Bible. There's the national election where God chose Israel.

[John Weaver] He did not choose the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Hittites. He chose Israel. And then secondly, there was a vocational election where he chose the Levites. He could even be more specific. He chose Aaron to be the high priest. And not just any Levite could be the high priest. But the Levites and the Levites alone were around the tabernacle and the temple. And then thirdly, there was the Messianic election, where in Isaiah 42 and verse 1, God chose his son Jesus Christ to be the Messiah. And then when you get to verse 13 of 2 Thessalonians 2, there is a soteriological election, that is, an election unto salvation, because that's what he said. We're bound to give thanks all the way to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. So I've pointed out that when you pause and you think about this, that God chose us, it is a flesh withering and soul humbling thought. Because the next question that should pop into your mind would be this, why would God choose me?

[John Weaver] And when you examine your life, and you examine your thoughts, and you examine your hearts, and you know the sin and the wickedness that abounded in you, You know how unrighteous, how ungodly, how unholy you really truly were and are. And you understand how easily and freely and readily you transgressed the law of God. You were iniquitous. You were the one who was in rebellion. And you did all of these things just simply to fulfill the lust of your flesh. It's just that simple.

[John Weaver] And you look down at yourself and you think, wow. Look at all the sins I've committed and yet God in His infinite grace and mercy looked down through eternity and chose you to salvation anyhow. Knowing your sin, knowing your rebellion, knowing your wickedness, He still chose you.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you something. I want you to turn back just a few pages to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and look if you would please at verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 9. Note what the Bible says. We're still talking about this divine choice, a divine choice. He said in verse 9, For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. Look at that very carefully. For God hath not appointed us to wrath.

[John Weaver] Now the word appointed is the Greek word tithyme, which means to appoint, to fix, to establish, to cause to stand, to set forth and to ordain. So you could read it like this, for God hath not ordained us to wrath. God has not appointed us to wrath. God has not established us for wrath. God has not caused us to stand for wrath. No. But notice if you would, he said, in verse 9, for God hath not appointed us to wrath. And the Greek word for wrath is the word orge, which literally means wrath, anger, vengeance, indignation, and it speaks of punishment. So he says, for God hath not appointed us to wrath, thankfully no, but he said, in verse 9, he has appointed us to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] And you remember last week I said this, and you must remember this, had God not chosen some to be saved, none would be saved. There's no one that deserves salvation. All of us were sinners, wicked, and rebellious. And the Bible in Romans 9 and verse 29, the Apostle Paul is quoting Isaiah and he says this, and as Isaiah said before, except the Lord of the Sabbath had left us a seed, we should have been made as Solomon had been made like into Gomorrah. So if God had not chosen some to be saved, none would be saved.

[John Weaver] So the very first cause to celebrate It's what I called a divine choice. If you would look back in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 13, here's the second point, and this is where I want to start today, and that is a divine channel. So verse 13 says this, but we're bound to give thanks always to God for you, brother and beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation. Now here's a divine channel.

[John Weaver] through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. The channel through which our Sovereign's divine choice flows to fruition is through the channel of sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

[John Weaver] Now there are many people that really misunderstand and pervert the clear teaching of the Word of God, especially on salvation. Most people do not understand that election is indeed the foundation of salvation, but it is not salvation of itself. It is unto salvation. And what I mean by individuals perverting the word of God on this particular doctrine, I've heard people say, well, if I'm one of the elect, I'm going to be saved regardless. If I'm one of the elect, I'm going to be saved anyhow.

[John Weaver] Nothing I can do, no reason to do anything. If I'm an elect, I'm going to be saved anyhow. Well, I always like to answer that with this. Nobody's going to be saved anyhow. Anybody who's ever saved is going to be saved God's how. And God's how is through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth.

[John Weaver] Now listen to me very carefully. No one can have any evidence that he is one of God's elect except through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. All of those whom God has chosen, He chooses through this channel. In other words, His choice flows through this channel to them. So if you have not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, if you have not been convicted and converted by the Holy Spirit, if you have not been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, If you do not believe the truth, then you do not belong to Him. You're not of His.

[John Weaver] You are an alien and a stranger. Now, how can I say that? Well, hold 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8 and verse 9. And I'll show you some other verses, but look in Romans chapter 8 and verse 9. Here the Apostle Paul makes this so clear, I do not see how it could be misunderstood. In Romans 8 and verse 9, the Bible says this, and he's talking to these Roman Christians, but you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit. So once we're saved, we're in the spirit. I can explain why. He said, if so, be that the spirit of God dwell in you. And that's the answer. Because once you're saved, the Holy Spirit of God resides in you. Now, if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he's none of his. Isn't that clear? Isn't that plain? If any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. So this is why I'm saying, if there is no sanctification of the Spirit in your life, if there is no belief of the truth in your life, then you do not belong to Christ.

[John Weaver] It is the Holy Spirit of God who regenerates, who convicts, who converts, who draws, who enlightens, who illumines, who imparts, who leads, who guides, who directs and quips. And if you're not indwelled by the Holy Spirit, then, of course, you do not belong to Him.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you some other verses. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, and look, if you would please, at verse 8. Just trying to show you The truth, if any man have not the Spirit of God, he is none of his. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, notice if you would please verse 8, because in this passage the Word of God says this, He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given us of his Holy Spirit. Did you see that? It is God who has also given us, that is a believer, of his Holy Spirit. And then if you would turn on over your Bibles to 1st John Hebrews James 1st and 2nd Peter and then 1st John notice 1st John chapter 3 and verse 24 1st John 3 verse 24 the Bible says and he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him and he in him hereby we do know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he had given us so we know that we abide in him by the Spirit which he had given us and it's the Holy Spirit who enables us to be obedient now look in 1st John 4 and verse 13 here he says this hereby

[John Weaver] know we that we dwell in him and he in us because he has given us of Spirit. And so when you read the Bible you'll find that the Holy Spirit is a witness to us and the Holy Spirit is also a witness in us. So the sanctification of the Spirit refers then to his work upon us and his work in us. It is only the gift of the Holy Spirit, it's only his work that draws us to Jesus Christ. He leads us, he draws us, He opens our eyes. He illuminates us.

[John Weaver] He enlightens us to understand truth. Now, let me point something out. The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 2 and verse 13, this divine channel is through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. So let me put it to you very plainly. You cannot divorce these two concepts. If someone is sanctified by the Spirit, then he does indeed believe the truth. If someone believes the truth, he is indeed sanctified by the Spirit. In other words, you cannot separate them, you cannot divorce them.

[John Weaver] So let me show you. Look in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 2, just back a few pages. 1 Thessalonians, then you have 1 and 2 Thessalonians, it's forward. And then you're going to 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, or 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 24. I'm sorry, 2 Timothy. I keep saying Thessalonians. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 24. Here it is. And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient. So why then must a pastor be apt to teach, patient here's why in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves if God Peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will So here's the first question When are men recovered out of the snare of the devil? according to verse 25 is when they acknowledge the truth. When the men acknowledge the truth, and that is when God gives them repentance.

[John Weaver] So I want you to understand, there is no acknowledging of the truth without repentance. Repentance is the gift of God, according to Acts chapter 5 and Acts chapter 11. But notice if you would, all of those that God gives repentance to, acknowledge the truth. There's never going to be any recovery from the enemy unless we acknowledge the truth.

[John Weaver] Now, it is not just our salvation, but it is also our sanctification that comes by knowledge of the truth. So if you will turn back in your Bibles to the Gospel of John, the fourth book in the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Look in John 17 and verse 17. This is the high priestly prayer of our Lord. And I want you to notice what he says. He's praying, and in this prayer, John 17 and verse 17, our Lord says this, sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth. This is why I'm telling you, you cannot separate the work of the spirit and belief of the truth. When the Spirit of God works in you, you believe the truth. If you believe the truth, the Spirit of God has worked in you. Now look, if you would, in verse 19 of John 17. Our Lord said, And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. Well, we know that Jesus Christ is truth incarnate. The Bible is truth.

[John Weaver] The Spirit is truth. God is a God of truth. So very clearly then, sanctification as well as salvation comes through acknowledging of the truth.

[John Weaver] Now, if you would turn, hold the book of John, we're coming right back there, but turn to the book of Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2, on over past 1st and 2nd Thessalonians and Hebrews, James, 1st Peter, go to Hebrews chapter 2. And look, if you would, please, beginning there at verse 10. We're still talking about sanctification of the spirit and belief in the truth, but watch this. Hebrews 2, verse 10, for it became him, that is the Lord Jesus Christ, for of whom are all things and by whom are all things in bringing many sons unto glory to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

[John Weaver] For both he that sanctifies, and they who are sanctified are all of one. For which cause he's not ashamed to call them brethren. For he that sanctified the Lord Jesus and they who are sanctified are all of one.

[John Weaver] Now let me ask you a question. I had said earlier you cannot divorce the sanctification of the Spirit from belief in the truth. Jesus Christ is the sanctified one. Is there any possibility that he might disbelieve the word of God? Is there any possibility he might acknowledge some error or some heresy? And the answer is absolutely not. So you have to remember that Jesus Christ is truth incarnate and it is only by Jesus Christ that we're saved and sanctified. It is only by the Spirit of God that we're saved and sanctified as well.

[John Weaver] Now, it must be made clear once again, I'm going to ask you to turn back to the book of John chapter 3 this time, let me make this exceedingly clear to you. When we're talking about acknowledging the truth, we're not simply talking about giving mental assent to the truth. We're not merely talking about someone nodding in agreement. We're not merely talking about someone who gives assent to a number of historical facts and reality. No. Believing the truth according to this passage means far more than mental assent. It means that truth has so permeated our minds and permeated our understandings that truth is our life. We not only believe the truth, listen to me carefully, we do the truth. that is we know it we apply it we obey it so watch in John 3 beginning with verse 19 our Lord says and this is the condemnation that light is coming to the world and men love darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil we understand that verse 20 for everyone that doeth evil, hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

[John Weaver] Note if you would now, for everyone that doeth evil, he doesn't just believe it, he actually does it. He hates the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. Now watch verse 21. But he that, what? Doeth the truth, cometh to the light that his deeds may be made manifest that they are wrought of God." Now I want you to note what he's talking about. He said, but he that doeth truth cometh to the light. Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The Bible of course is the light written. He that doeth truth is not afraid of light. He's not afraid of light. He's not afraid of facing reality. He's not afraid of truth.

[John Weaver] Now, you remember what David said in Psalm 116, verse 10. He said, I believed, therefore have I spoken. In other words, we actually act out what we genuinely, truly believe. We end up doing what we believe. So the man who does not believe the truth, he does evil because he believes evil. And he doesn't want to have anything to do with truth. He doesn't want to have anything to do that will expose his wickedness. But on the other hand, our Lord is saying, he that does the truth is the man who's willing to come to the light.

[John Weaver] Now, the word doeth there is the Greek word poieo, and it literally means to bring forth, to cause, to work, to perform, to carry out, and to fulfill. So he says, he that is carrying out the truth, he that is doing the truth, he is bringing forth the truth, He is fulfilling the truth. He doesn't care anything about the light. I mean, He's willing to be exposed because everything is true. It's kind of like one man said, if you always tell the truth, you don't have to remember everything that you said previously. And that's true.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look back at verse 19. I'm sorry, verse 21. He says, but he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest. Are you watching? That they are wrought in God. We do the truth. Listen carefully. We do the deeds. And those deeds manifest, make known, reveal that whatever we do in truth is wrought of God. In other words, God did it.

[John Weaver] So let me put it to you like this. If there is ever a godly motive in you or godly act, if there's anything that's biblical and true and right and gracious and glorious in you, God put it in you. Because it's not in us by nature. And so therefore, When we have been sanctified by the Spirit, He's worked in our lives, and we have acknowledged the truth, we're willing to do the truth, and that revelation or that manifestation of truth just reveals the fact that our works are wrought of God.

[John Weaver] You remember that passage in Philippians 2 in verse 13? For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do His good pleasure. So if God put the will in you, He's going to put the to-do in you. So anything that you are willing to do, and anything you do that is right, holy, just, and glorious, God put it in you.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to hold 2 Thessalonians, but I want to show you another verse. I could quote it, but I want you to see it. Look in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 26. Isaiah 26. And look if you would please at verse 12. Isaiah 26 and verse 12. Wonderful, wonderful passage. Look at what he says. Isaiah 26 and verse 12. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us. Why? For thou hast also wrought all our works in us. Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us. Why? For thou also has wrought all our works in us.

[John Weaver] So it is true there is a divine choice. But that divine choice flows through and by and in the channel of sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. You cannot separate. You cannot divorce. the sanctification of the Spirit in belief of the truth. So the man who's been sanctified by the Spirit, that is, the Spirit of God has worked in him and he believes the truth. And the man who believes the truth believes it because the Spirit of God has worked in him.

[John Weaver] Now, if you will look back in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, that brings us to another question. Here's a question that needs to be answered. How does one receive or come to the sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth? Well, that answer is given to us in verse 14. Let's read 13 and 14 together. He said, we're bound to give thanks all the way to God for you, brother and beloved of the Lord, because God has from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. Now, here it is. Here is a divine calling where unto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, there are several truths in verse 14 that we need to understand. The first truth is this, we should note the author of this call. The Bible said, he has called you by our gospel. The author is none other than the sovereign God of heaven and earth. Calling in the Bible is ascribed to God the Father. Let me show you. If you would turn to your Bibles, hold this passage, please, but turn to 1 Corinthians 1. Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians 1. Look in verse 9, and you might as well mark this passage.

[John Weaver] We'll come back here a little bit later just so I can emphasize something else in it. But look in 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 9. The Bible says God is faithful, we're talking about God the Father now. God is faithful by whom you were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. God is faithful by whom you were called. It is God the Father who does the calling. Okay? God is the author of this call. If you would look in your Bibles, The first Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 7. First Thessalonians chapter 4 and verse 7.

[John Weaver] You're going to see this again. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. But notice, it is God that has called us. But God, or for God, hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. And if you'd go back in your Bibles to 2nd Timothy, over just a few pages from 2nd Thessalonians, 2nd Timothy chapter 1, look at verses 8 and 9. We read it last week, but I want to emphasize something else this week. Look at it. Paul writes, Timothy says, Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor me his prisoner. But be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, so we're talking about God, who has saved us and called us with a 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. Note, if you would, it is God who has called us with a holy calling.

[John Weaver] Now, if you would turn right on over to first Peter, Hebrews, James, 1st Peter. Notice if you would, chapter 1 and verse 15. Here's a verse that practically everyone can quote. And we've never ever thought about it. 1st Peter 1 verse 15. But, as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation. Did you see what he said? But as He who hath called you is holy. That's God the Father. As He is holy, be holy in all manner of conversation. But it is God that has done the calling. Then if you look in 1 Peter 2 and verse 9, you'll see it again. 1 Peter 2 and verse 9.

[John Weaver] But you were a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. So, when the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 14, where into he called you the author of our call unto salvation is God the Father himself. Wow! That brings me to the second truth.

[John Weaver] What is the means of that calling? Look in verse 14. Where do we call you by our gospel? The word gospel, of course, refers to the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ, the good news of his salvation, the good news of his work. Other gospel is the person and work of Jesus Christ. It's not just facts about Christ. It is Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to turn, if you would, to 1 Corinthians chapter 1, because I want you to see something about this gospel. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, beginning there with verse 18, 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 18, look at what the Bible says. For the preaching of the cross, which is the gospel? The preaching of the person and work of Jesus Christ. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.

[John Weaver] But unto us who are saved, it is the power of God. So what is the preaching of the gospel to those who are perishing? It's foolishness. They don't have time for it. They'd rather go skiing. They'd rather go fishing. They'd rather go bowling. They'd rather do anything rather than rather cut grass. It's foolishness to them.

[John Weaver] Now, skip down, if you would please, to verse 21. Look at what the Bible says. For after that, in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. No wonder the Apostle Paul said in Romans 1 in verse 16, For I am not ashamed of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Why? For it is the power of God and the salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

[John Weaver] Now, let me show you something. I want you to turn back to 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. Not 2 Thessalonians, but 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. And I want you to look at verse 5. Because you see, in the preaching of the gospel, There's that sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth that works together in this as well. So he says in first Thessalonians one in verse five, for our gospel came not only in word only, but also in power and in the Holy ghost and in much assurance, as you know, what matter of men we were among you for your sakes. Wow. He said, for our gospel came down to you in word only, but also in power. and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes."

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to understand that God is the author of this call. The preaching of the Word of God, the Gospel, is the means of this call. And if you'll look back in your Bibles, 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 13, here's the third truth of verse 14. Weren't you he also called you by our gospel, here it is, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. When God calls us unto salvation, It is an effectual call. It actually works. That's what he says, where to be called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. There are actually two different calls that are mentioned in the Bible. There is that outward external call, which is the public preaching of the Word of God. Then there is that inward, secret, effectual call, which is the work of God alone. Now pastors may call outwardly, externally, vocally, but that's all we can do.

[John Weaver] I can tell you your duty, I can tell you your obligation, I can tell you your responsibility, but I can't save you. Okay? Only God can do that. So what I do is outward, it's external, it's vocal. Okay. What God does is inward and secret and effectual. I'll give you a good clear illustration. Years ago, I was preaching in South Carolina. It was Sunday morning and the building was packed.

[John Weaver] And right in the middle of my sermon, there's a man about halfway back, he screamed, he shrieked, and he began saying, Oh God, I'm lost, I'm lost. And he got up from the pew and he ran straight to the pulpit where I was standing and preaching, and he fell on his knees and put both his arms around my feet. And all he would say is, oh God, I'm lost. I'm lost. And he's crying. And here I am in the middle of my sermon.

[John Weaver] So I looked at the pastor of the church. I said, if you don't mind, if you would take a couple of men and take him into a side room and tell him about the person and work of Jesus Christ, I said, then I will finish my sermon. And so they took him inside. And I finished preaching and the Lord was very gracious that day. And a number of people were saved. I do genuinely believe.

[John Weaver] But after the service was over, he came out and I mean, he was just grinning from ear to ear. And he's a preacher. He said, I just want to tell you, God saved me. He said he saved me. And I'm so thankful. And so here's what I did. Brother Gary, I asked him, I said, let me ask you a question.

[John Weaver] Now, what was it that I said that got you under such conviction? You know, I was thinking, well, if it worked one time, it'll work again, you know. He looked at me. He said, you want me to lie to you or tell you the truth? I said, I want the truth. He's a preacher. I heard very little of what you said. He said, you were short circuited.

[John Weaver] He said, God himself was speaking to me. And that's the truth. That's the difference between the public preaching of the Word of God and that secret effectual call of God. So here, those whom God calls, they actually obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now let me show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 6. John chapter 6. And as you look at this passage, I want you to see what this effectual calling really is. Look in John 6 and verses 44 and 45. Here it is. John 6 verse 44. Look at what our Lord says. No man can come unto me except the Father which has sent me draw him and I will raise him up at the last day.

[John Weaver] It is written in the prophets and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me.

[John Weaver] Now let's look at verse 44. Our Lord says, No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." This is that effectual call. God draws us. He doesn't drag us. He draws us.

[John Weaver] Now, please pay attention to this word, can. No man can come unto me. So, if Steve asks me, Pastor, can I play your piano? My response would be, You have my permission if you have the ability to do so. Can is a term of ability. May is a term of permission. So our Lord is saying no man has the ability, no man has the power, no man has the ability to come savingly to Him unless the Father draw him. Okay. Well, how does God draw us? Well, look in verse 45. It is written in the prophets, and they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard and hath learned of the Father cometh unto me." God teaches. God opens our eyes. He enlightens our minds.

[John Weaver] He illuminates us to the truth. He releases our will from its bondage to sin. He draws us tenderly and savingly to Jesus Christ. He shows us the wickedness of our sins, the just deserts of our sins, and he shows us the glorious remedy for our sins, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he draws us. And our Lord said, every man that had been taught of the Father, every man that has been taught comes unto me. It's effectual. It doesn't fail.

[John Weaver] So, you have here a perfect illustration. Now, he said again, in verse 14, where unto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

[John Weaver] Now, the word obtaining is the word peripoiesis, and it literally means a purchased possession. It means coming into, obtaining, and possessing a certain thing.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 1, and let me show you about this possession that we have obtained the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is he talking about? Well, if you look in 1 Peter chapter 1 and verse 3, The Word of God says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which, according to His abundant mercy, hath begotten us again into a lively hope, or a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Well, let's see, we're going to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is that?

[John Weaver] To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, watch, who are kept by the power of God, through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time." Note, if you would, that inheritance is already ours. What is going to stop us from receiving that inheritance? And the answer is, nothing. Because we are kept by the power of God, He says, very plainly, through faith unto salvation. ready to be revealed in the last time. So clearly, nothing is going to hinder us.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 1. I told you we would come back there. I want you to look at verse 9 again, 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 9, just so that I can emphasize something else. Look at this. We're talking about the calling. The author is God the Father. The means is through the gospel, and it is an effectual call. It actually works.

[John Weaver] It brings us to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so here in 1 Corinthians 1 and verse 9, the Bible says, God is faithful, by whom you were called, look, unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord. So this calling actually culminates in the fellowship with his son the Lord Jesus Christ so it's a calling that actually genuinely works now so let's put it like this he chose us so we chose him he loved us so we love him he called us and we came to him he taught us and we learned and we understood he loved us first and therefore He gets all the honor and all the glory of our salvation.

[John Weaver] Now, I want you to go back to 2 Thessalonians 2 because here's one last question I want to ask you. How do we know that we have been savingly called? Well, the answer is a divine character. You've had a divine choice, a divine channel, a divine calling. Now, in verses 15 through 17, there is a divine character. Watch. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught either by word or our epistle.

[John Weaver] Now, our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father, which have loved us and given us a neverlasting consolation, and good hope through grace, comfort your heart and establish you in every good word and work. Now, I want you to look in verse 15, the word therefore. Therefore is a conclusion based upon what Paul has written and said previously. And in the immediate context, he is talking about a divine choice. He's talking about a divine channel. He's talking about a divine calling. which ultimately results in and culminates in a divine character. Now look what he says, therefore brethren stand fast. And then he said and hold the traditions and that word traditions is also translated as ordinances in the Bible. So he says hold the traditions or ordinances which you have been taught whether by word that is orally by them at that particular time Or, he says, by our epistle, that is the written word of God. Now, what he's trying to give us here is this truth, that grace and mercy always produces a godly character.

[John Weaver] Always. You remember that passage in 2 Corinthians 5 verse 17, Therefore for any man being Christ, he is a new creature. Old things pass away, behold, all things become new. You cannot be saved and remain the same. You cannot acknowledge the truth and remain in error. You cannot be saved and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and remain in sin and wickedness. What did the Apostle Paul say in Romans chapter 6? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

[John Weaver] God forbid that is perish the thought. Don't even think about that. Because when God saves you, He changes you. He begins to produce in you a godly character. Now that godly character is not necessarily built overnight. Clearly it's not. It takes years. It takes a lifetime to build character. But the truth of the matter is, He gives us the character to stand fast in what we have been taught. He gives us the character to stand fast in His truth and in His Word.

[John Weaver] We do not give in. We do not give up. We do not give out. We do not quit. We stand fast. We do not pitch in the towel. We do not give way to discouragement. We do not give way to desperation. We do not give way to depression. No, no, no, no. We just stand fast. That's what he's saying. That is that divine character that he builds in us through his word and through his truth and by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit of God. Now, listen to this.

[John Weaver] 1 Corinthians 16, verse 13. Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit ye like men, be strong. How about this one, Galatians 5 and verse 1, where he says, Stand fast in the liberty where the Christ hath made you free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Stand fast, he said. Philippians chapter 1 and verse 27, Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ, in that whether I come and see you or else be absent, I hear of your affairs, and that you stand fast in one spirit. Therefore, he said in Philippians 4 and verse 1, Therefore, my brethren, my dearly beloved, my longed for in the Lord, my joy and my crown, stand fast in the Lord. And then, of course, 1 Thessalonians 3 and verse 8, for now we live if we stand fast in the Lord.

[John Weaver] In other words, the point I'm trying to make is there is a godly character that is developed in us that is not going to make us quit and give up and give out. It's kind of like the truth of 1st John 2 and verse 19, where he said, they went out from us, that it might be made manifest that they were not of us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us.

[John Weaver] So the proof that we have ever savingly believed is we continue to believe The proof that we've ever savingly repented is we continue in repentance. And the truth that God preserves us is evidenced in our perseverance.

[John Weaver] Now look at what he said finally in verse 16 and 17. He said, Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God even our Father, which hath loved us and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. Watch what he's going to do for us. Comfort your hearts. establish you in every good work and work." What? Have you ever stopped to think about what he said? He's saying God, the Almighty God, is going to comfort our hearts and establish us in every good word and work.

[John Weaver] You know what that means? It means we cannot fail. It means we cannot be stopped. We will overcome. Why? because of a divine character that is wrought in us by divine calling, a divine channel, and a divine choice. Everything is built and based upon God himself. He gives us this everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. So my question is this, do we have a cause to celebrate?

[John Weaver] And the answer is yes. We have a cause to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a cause to praise God the Father. We have a cause to praise God the Holy Spirit. And if we cannot celebrate and rejoice in the salvation that he is so graciously provided in Jesus Christ, our understanding is very deficient in the Word of God. Because If you do nothing but meditate upon 1 Thessalonians 5 and verse 9, for God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ. Wow! God could have rightly condemned us for our sins and our rebellion. But instead of appointing us to wrath, he appointed us to the obtaining of salvation through Jesus Christ the Lord.

[John Weaver] I believe that I can be thankful for that. I believe that I can celebrate that fact. I believe that I can rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ and all that he's done for us. And I believe that he will receive all the honor and all the glory for everything in our lives. He deserves it. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. And Lord, I pray that You would indeed enable us to celebrate the salvation that is in Jesus Christ, our Lord. May we see His greatness, His glory, His goodness, His graciousness, and may we rejoice in Him and in Him alone. Thank you for working in us. Thank you for changing us. Enable us, Father, to stand fast in the faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

[John Weaver] so so

A Cause To Celebrate - Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	pkqwymjkBJM
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Election, Israel, and Covenant Mercy
Genre	Sermon
Date	2021-08-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 123: A Cause To Celebrate — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	83

Formatted Transcript

Introduction and Review

Weaver reviews the previous sermon, emphasizing that God requires not only a holy cause but a holy people, as illustrated in Deuteronomy 23:9-14. He reiterates the meaning of 'celebrate' and the first cause: divine choice.

Well, let's open our Bibles today to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, and Lord willing, we will cover the second part to "A Cause to Celebrate." I will take a few minutes and review from last week, but I want you to look in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 13, and we'll read through verse 17. The Apostle writes,

Scripture Reading — 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

"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. Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, which has loved us and has given us an everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."

As I pointed out last week, causes are prevalent.

Causes are everywhere. And of course, there are some causes that are very good, some that are very bad. There are some causes that are biblical and, of course, some that are unbiblical. But there is a truth that needs to be emphasized when we talk about a cause. And that truth that needs to be emphasized is this: if we want divine help, if we want God to speak to us and to help us, lead us, direct us, and protect us, then we need to make sure that it's not just our cause that is holy, just, and right, but that we ourselves are also holy, just, and right. In other words, God is not going to help us in an evil and unjust cause. Moreover, God is not going to help us when we are evil and unjust and wicked and unclean ourselves.

For instance, if you would hold 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, but turn back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 23. Because in this passage, God has given instruction to his people as they are about to embark upon war. Now, I want you to pay close attention to what he said, and I will emphasize this again after we read the scripture. But look in Deuteronomy chapter 23, beginning there with verse 9, and we'll read through verse 14. God says, "When the host"—that is, when the army—"goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." So he's saying, look, it's not just the cause that has to be right; you have to be right as well. Moreover, he said in verse 10, "If there be among you any man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp. He shall not come within the camp.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:9-14

" So once a man is unclean—and he's talking about ceremonially—he has to go out of the camp. Watch verse 11: "

But it shall be when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water, and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again." In other words, he has to be ceremonially clean to come back into the camp.

Nothing unclean or impure is to be in the camp. Then he says in verse 12, "Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, where thou shalt go forth abroad." So he's talking about an outhouse. He's talking about a latrine. He's talking about a bathroom. Watch verse 13: "And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon, and it shall be when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee." Why? Not just for sanitation. Verse 14: "For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee." So God then demands not just a holy cause, but a holy people and a clean people as well. So if we want God's divine help, we need to make sure that we ourselves are holy and clean and pure, and not just simply our cause as well.

In other words, our actions and our attitudes must be holy. And we demonstrate the sincerity and genuineness of our faith by our obedience and adherence to the Word of God. It's only then that we can plead some of those pleas that David gave in the book of Psalms. I read them to you last week. For instance, Psalm 35, verse 1, where David said,

Scripture Reading — Psalm 35:1, 23; 43:1

"Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive against me. Fight against them that fight against me."

So he's asking God to plead his cause. And then in Psalm 35, verse 23, he said, "Stir up thyself and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord." And then finally, in Psalm 43, verse 1, he said, "Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation." And then he said, "O deliver me from the unjust and the deceitful man." So if we want God to help us, not only must our cause be right, but we must be right as well.

Divine Choice (Review)

God chose believers to salvation from the beginning, a humbling truth that highlights His grace despite human sinfulness. This election is the foundation of salvation.

Now, in referring to these causes, you remember this is the second part of the message, "A Cause to Celebrate." And I gave you last week what the word "celebrate" actually means. It means, number one, to observe a day or to commemorate an event with ceremonies or festivities. Number two, to make known publicly and to proclaim. Number three, to praise widely and to present as favorable, widespread, and favorable public notice. And then fourthly, to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies. So putting those things together, to celebrate literally means to commemorate, to observe, to make known publicly, to praise widely, and to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies. So last week we looked at the very first cause to celebrate, and that is found in 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13: that is a divine choice.

Because in this passage, the Word of God says this: "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because"—there's the cause—"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation." Now, I'm not going to re-preach the message that I preached last week, but if you'll remember, I told you actually there are four types of election in the Bible. There's the national election where God chose Israel. He did not choose the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Hittites. He chose Israel. And then secondly, there was a vocational election where he chose the Levites. He could even be more specific: He chose Aaron to be the high priest. And not just any Levite could be the high priest. But the Levites and the Levites alone were around the tabernacle and the temple. And then thirdly, there was the Messianic election, where in Isaiah 42, verse 1, God chose his Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Messiah. And then when you get to verse 13 of 2 Thessalonians 2, there is a soteriological election, that is, an election unto salvation, because that's what he said: "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." So I've pointed out that when you pause and you think about this, that God chose us, it is a flesh-withering and soul-humbling thought. Because the next question that should pop into your mind would be this: Why would God choose me?

And when you examine your life, and you examine your thoughts, and you examine your hearts, and you know the sin and the wickedness that abounded in you, you know how unrighteous, how ungodly, how unholy you really truly were and are. And you understand how easily and freely and readily you transgressed the law of God. You were iniquitous. You were the one who was in rebellion. And you did all of these things just simply to fulfill the lust of your flesh. It's just that simple. And you look down at yourself and you think, "Wow. Look at all the sins I've committed, and yet God in His infinite grace and mercy looked down through eternity and chose you to salvation anyhow. Knowing your sin, knowing your rebellion, knowing your wickedness, He still chose you."

Now, let me show you something. I want you to turn back just a few pages to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and look, if you would please, at verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 9. Note what the Bible says. We're still talking about this divine choice, a divine choice. He said in verse 9, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." Look at that very carefully. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath."

Now the word "appointed" is the Greek word *tithēmi*, which means to appoint, to fix, to establish, to cause to stand, to set forth, and to ordain. So you could read it like this: "For God hath not ordained us to wrath. God has not appointed us to wrath. God has not established us for wrath. God has not caused us to stand for wrath." No. But notice, if you would, he said in verse 9, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath." And the Greek word for "wrath" is the word *orgē*, which literally means wrath, anger, vengeance, indignation, and it speaks of punishment. So he says, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath"—thankfully, no—but he said in verse 9, "He has appointed us to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."

And you remember last week I said this, and you must remember this: had God not chosen some to be saved, none would be saved. There's no one that deserves salvation. All of us were sinners, wicked, and rebellious. And the Bible in Romans 9, verse 29, the Apostle Paul is quoting Isaiah and he says this: "And as Isaiah said before, 'Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we should have been made as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah.'" So if God had not chosen some to be saved, none would be saved.

So the very first cause to celebrate is what I called a divine choice. If you would look back in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13, here's the second point, and this is where I want to start today: and that is a divine channel. So verse 13 says this: "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." Now here's a divine channel:

Divine Channel: Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth

Election flows through the channel of the Spirit's sanctifying work and belief in the truth. These two are inseparable; one cannot have evidence of election without them.

"through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." The channel through which our Sovereign's divine choice flows to fruition is through the channel of sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Now there are many people that really misunderstand and pervert the clear teaching of the Word of God, especially on salvation. Most people do not understand that election is indeed the foundation of salvation, but it is not salvation of itself. It is unto salvation. And what I mean by individuals perverting the Word of God on this particular doctrine: I've heard people say, "Well, if I'm one of the elect, I'm going to be saved regardless. If I'm one of the elect, I'm going to be saved anyhow. Nothing I can do, no reason to do anything. If I'm an elect, I'm going to be saved anyhow." Well, I always like to answer that with this: Nobody's going to be saved anyhow. Anybody who's ever saved is going to be saved God's how. And God's how is through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

Now listen to me very carefully. No one can have any evidence that he is one of God's elect except through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. All of those whom God has chosen, He chooses through this channel. In other words, His choice flows through this channel to them. So if you have not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, if you have not been convicted and converted by the Holy Spirit, if you have not been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, if you do not believe the truth, then you do not belong to Him. You're not of His. You are an alien and a stranger. Now, how can I say that? Well, hold 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8, verse 9. And I'll show you some other verses, but look in Romans chapter 8, verse 9. Here the Apostle Paul makes this so clear, I do not see how it could be misunderstood. In Romans 8, verse 9, the Bible says this—and he's talking to these Roman Christians—

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:9

"But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit."

So once we're saved, we're in the Spirit. I can explain why. He said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:9

"If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you."

And that's the answer. Because once you're saved, the Holy Spirit of God resides in you. Now,

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:9

"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

Isn't that clear? Isn't that plain? If any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. So this is why I'm saying, if there is no sanctification of the Spirit in your life, if there is no belief of the truth in your life, then you do not belong to Christ.

It is the Holy Spirit of God who regenerates, who convicts, who converts, who draws, who enlightens, who illumines, who imparts, who leads, who guides, who directs, and equips. And if you're not indwelled by the Holy Spirit, then, of course, you do not belong to Him. Now, let me show you some other verses. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, and look, if you would please, at verse 8. Just trying to show you the truth: if any man have not the Spirit of God, he is none of his. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, notice if you would please verse 8, because in this passage the Word of God says this:

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 4:8

"He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given us of his Holy Spirit."

Did you see that? It is God who has also given us—that is, a believer—of his Holy Spirit. And then if you would turn on over your Bibles to 1 John—Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, and then 1 John—notice 1 John chapter 3, verse 24. 1 John 3, verse 24: the Bible says, "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we do know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." So we know that we abide in him by the Spirit which he hath given us, and it's the Holy Spirit who enables us to be obedient. Now look in 1 John 4, verse 13. Here he says this: "Hereby

know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." And so when you read the Bible, you'll find that the Holy Spirit is a witness to us and the Holy Spirit is also a witness in us. So the sanctification of the Spirit refers then to his work upon us and his work in us. It is only the gift of the Holy Spirit, it's only his work that draws us to Jesus Christ. He leads us, he draws us, he opens our eyes. He illuminates us. He enlightens us to understand truth. Now, let me point something out. The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13, this divine channel is through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. So let me put it to you very plainly: you cannot divorce these two concepts. If someone is sanctified by the Spirit, then he does indeed believe the truth. If someone believes the truth, he is indeed sanctified by the Spirit. In other words, you cannot separate them, you cannot divorce them.

The Inseparability of Spirit and Truth

Using John 3:19-21 and other passages, Weaver argues that believing the truth means doing the truth, not mere mental assent. True belief results in godly living, which is wrought by God.

So let me show you. Look in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 2—just back a few pages. 1 Thessalonians, then you have 1 and 2 Thessalonians, it's forward. And then you're going to 2 Timothy chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 24. I'm sorry, 2 Timothy. I keep saying Thessalonians. 2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 24. Here it is:

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 2:24-26

"And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient."

So why then must a pastor be apt to teach, patient? Here's why:

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 2:24-26

"in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

So here's the first question: When are men recovered out of the snare of the devil? According to verse 25, it is when they acknowledge the truth. When the men acknowledge the truth, and that is when God gives them repentance.

So I want you to understand, there is no acknowledging of the truth without repentance. Repentance is the gift of God, according to Acts chapter 5 and Acts chapter 11. But notice if you would, all of those that God gives repentance to acknowledge the truth. There's never going to be any recovery from the enemy unless we acknowledge the truth.

Now, it is not just our salvation, but it is also our sanctification that comes by knowledge of the truth. So if you will turn back in your Bibles to the Gospel of John, the fourth book in the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Look in John 17, verse 17. This is the high priestly prayer of our Lord. And I want you to notice what he says. He's praying, and in this prayer, John 17, verse 17, our Lord says this: "Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth." This is why I'm telling you, you cannot separate the work of the Spirit and belief of the truth. When the Spirit of God works in you, you believe the truth. If you believe the truth, the Spirit of God has worked in you. Now look, if you would, in verse 19 of John 17. Our Lord said, "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." Well, we know that Jesus Christ is truth incarnate. The Bible is truth.

The Spirit is truth. God is a God of truth. So very clearly then, sanctification as well as salvation comes through acknowledging of the truth. Now, if you would turn—hold the book of John, we're coming right back there—but turn to the book of Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2, on over past 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Hebrews, James, 1 Peter—go to Hebrews chapter 2. And look, if you would please, beginning there at verse 10. We're still talking about sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth, but watch this. Hebrews 2, verse 10: "For it became him"—that is the Lord Jesus Christ—"for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." For he that sanctifieth—the Lord Jesus—and they who are sanctified are all of one. Now let me ask you a question. I had said earlier you cannot divorce the sanctification of the Spirit from belief in the truth. Jesus Christ is the sanctified one. Is there any possibility that he might disbelieve the Word of God? Is there any possibility he might acknowledge some error or some heresy? And the answer is absolutely not. So you have to remember that Jesus Christ is truth incarnate, and it is only by Jesus Christ that we're saved and sanctified. It is only by the Spirit of God that we're saved and sanctified as well.

Now, it must be made clear once again. I'm going to ask you to turn back to the book of John chapter 3 this time. Let me make this exceedingly clear to you. When we're talking about acknowledging the truth, we're not simply talking about giving mental assent to the truth. We're not merely talking about someone nodding in agreement. We're not merely talking about someone who gives assent to a number of historical facts and reality. No. Believing the truth according to this passage means far more than mental assent. It means that truth has so permeated our minds and permeated our understandings that truth is our life. We not only believe the truth—listen to me carefully—we do the truth. That is, we know it, we apply it, we obey it. So watch in John 3, beginning with verse 19. Our Lord says, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." We understand that. Verse 20: "For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."

Note if you would now, "For everyone that doeth evil"—he doesn't just believe it, he actually does it—"hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Now watch verse 21: "But he that"—what?—"doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought of God." Now I want you to note what he's talking about. He said, "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light." Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The Bible, of course, is the light written. He that doeth truth is not afraid of light. He's not afraid of light. He's not afraid of facing reality. He's not afraid of truth.

Now, you remember what David said in Psalm 116, verse 10. He said, "I believed, therefore have I spoken." In other words, we actually act out what we genuinely, truly believe. We end up doing what we believe. So the man who does not believe the truth, he does evil because he believes evil. And he doesn't want to have anything to do with truth. He doesn't want to have anything to do that will expose his wickedness. But on the other hand, our Lord is saying, he that does the truth is the man who's willing to come to the light.

Now, the word "doeth" there is the Greek word *poieō*, and it literally means to bring forth, to cause, to work, to perform, to carry out, and to fulfill. So he says, he that is carrying out the truth, he that is doing the truth, he is bringing forth the truth, he is fulfilling the truth. He doesn't care anything about the light. I mean, he's willing to be exposed because everything is true. It's kind of like one man said, "If you always tell the truth, you don't have to remember everything that you said previously." And that's true.

Now, I want you to look back at verse 19—I'm sorry, verse 21. He says, "But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest." Are you watching? "That they are wrought in God." We do the truth. Listen carefully. We do the deeds. And those deeds manifest, make known, reveal that whatever we do in truth is wrought of God. In other words, God did it.

So let me put it to you like this: If there is ever a godly motive in you or godly act, if there's anything that's biblical and true and right and gracious and glorious in you, God put it in you. Because it's not in us by nature. And so therefore, when we have been sanctified by the Spirit, he's worked in our lives, and we have acknowledged the truth, we're willing to do the truth, and that revelation or that manifestation of truth just reveals the fact that our works are wrought of God. You remember that passage in Philippians 2, verse 13?

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:13

"For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

So if God put the will in you, he's going to put the to-do in you. So anything that you are willing to do, and anything you do that is right, holy, just, and glorious, God put it in you.

Now, I want you to hold 2 Thessalonians, but I want to show you another verse. I could quote it, but I want you to see it. Look in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 26. Isaiah 26. And look if you would please at verse 12. Isaiah 26, verse 12. Wonderful, wonderful passage. Look at what he says. Isaiah 26, verse 12: "Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us." Why? "For thou hast also wrought all our works in us." Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us. Why? For thou also hast wrought all our works in us.

Divine Calling: The Author, Means, and Effect

God the Father is the author of the effectual call, which comes through the gospel. This call is inward and secret, drawing sinners to Christ and resulting in obtaining His glory.

Now, if you will look back in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, that brings us to another question. Here's a question that needs to be answered: How does one receive or come to the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth? Well, that answer is given to us in verse 14. Let's read 13 and 14 together. He said, "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." Now, here it is. Here is a divine calling: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."

Now, there are several truths in verse 14 that we need to understand. The first truth is this: we should note the author of this call. The Bible said, "He has called you by our gospel." The author is none other than the sovereign God of heaven and earth. Calling in the Bible is ascribed to God the Father. Let me show you. If you would turn to your Bibles—hold this passage, please—but turn to 1 Corinthians 1. Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians 1. Look in verse 9, and you might as well mark this passage.

We'll come back here a little bit later just so I can emphasize something else in it. But look in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 9. The Bible says, "God is faithful"—we're talking about God the Father now—"God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 1:9

" God is faithful, by whom you were called. It is God the Father who does the calling. Okay? God is the author of this call. If you would look in your Bibles, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 7. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 7.

You're going to see this again. "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." But notice, it is God that has called us. "But God"—or "For God"—"hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." And if you'd go back in your Bibles to 2 Timothy—over just a few pages from 2 Thessalonians—2 Timothy chapter 1, look at verses 8 and 9. We read it last week, but I want to emphasize something else this week. Look at it. Paul writes to Timothy, says, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God"—so we're talking about God—"who hath saved us, and called us with a 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." Note, if you would, it is God who has called us with a holy calling.

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:8-9

Now, if you would turn right on over to 1 Peter—Hebrews, James, 1 Peter. Notice if you would, chapter 1, verse 15. Here's a verse that practically everyone can quote. And we've never ever thought about it. 1 Peter 1, verse 15: "But as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." Did you see what he said? "But as he who hath called you is holy"—that's God the Father. As he is holy, be holy in all manner of conversation. But it is God that has done the calling. Then if you look in 1 Peter 2, verse 9, you'll see it again. 1 Peter 2, verse 9:

"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." So, when the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 14, "whereunto he called you," the author of our call unto salvation is God the Father himself. Wow! That brings me to the second truth. What is the means of that calling? Look in verse 14: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel." The word "gospel," of course, refers to the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ, the good news of his salvation, the good news of his work. The gospel is the person and work of Jesus Christ. It's not just facts about Christ. It is Jesus Christ.

Now, I want you to turn, if you would, to 1 Corinthians chapter 1, because I want you to see something about this gospel. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, beginning there with verse 18. 1 Corinthians 1, verse 18: look at what the Bible says. "For the preaching of the cross"—which is the gospel, the preaching of the person and work of Jesus Christ—"for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.

But unto us which are saved, it is the power of God." So what is the preaching of the gospel to those who are perishing? It's foolishness. They don't have time for it. They'd rather go skiing. They'd rather go fishing. They'd rather go bowling. They'd rather do anything—rather cut grass. It's foolishness to them.

Now, skip down, if you would please, to verse 21. Look at what the Bible says: "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. No wonder the Apostle Paul said in Romans 1, verse 16,

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Now, let me show you something. I want you to turn back to 1 Thessalonians chapter 1—not 2 Thessalonians, but 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. And I want you to look at verse 5. Because you see, in the preaching of the gospel, there's that sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth that works together in this as well. So he says in 1 Thessalonians 1, verse 5: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes." Wow. He said, "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes."

Now, I want you to understand that God is the author of this call. The preaching of the Word of God, the gospel, is the means of this call. And if you'll look back in your Bibles, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 13—here's the third truth of verse 14: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel"—here it is—"to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." When God calls us unto salvation, it is an effectual call. It actually works. That's what he says: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." There are actually two different calls that are mentioned in the Bible. There is that outward, external call, which is the public preaching of the Word of God. Then there is that inward, secret, effectual call, which is the work of God alone. Now pastors may call outwardly, externally, vocally, but that's all we can do.

I can tell you your duty, I can tell you your obligation, I can tell you your responsibility, but I can't save you. Okay? Only God can do that. So what I do is outward, it's external, it's vocal. Okay. What God does is inward and secret and effectual. I'll give you a good clear illustration. Years ago, I was preaching in South Carolina. It was Sunday morning and the building was packed.

And right in the middle of my sermon, there's a man about halfway back, he screamed, he shrieked, and he began saying, "Oh God, I'm lost, I'm lost." And he got up from the pew and he ran straight to the pulpit where I was standing and preaching, and he fell on his knees and put both his arms around my feet. And all he would say is, "Oh God, I'm lost. I'm lost." And he's crying. And here I am in the middle of my sermon.

So I looked at the pastor of the church. I said, "If you don't mind, if you would take a couple of men and take him into a side room and tell him about the person and work of Jesus Christ." I said, "Then I will finish my sermon." And so they took him inside. And I finished preaching and the Lord was very gracious that day. And a number of people were saved, I do genuinely believe.

But after the service was over, he came out and I mean, he was just grinning from ear to ear. And he's a preacher. He said, "I just want to tell you, God saved me. He said he saved me. And I'm so thankful." And so here's what I did. Brother Gary, I asked him, I said, "Let me ask you a question.

Now, what was it that I said that got you under such conviction?" You know, I was thinking, well, if it worked one time, it'll work again, you know. He looked at me. He said, "You want me to lie to you or tell you the truth?" I said, "I want the truth." He's a preacher. "I heard very little of what you said." He said, "You were short-circuited. He said, "God himself was speaking to me." And that's the truth. That's the difference between the public preaching of the Word of God and that secret effectual call of God. So here, those whom God calls, they actually obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now let me show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 6. John chapter 6. And as you look at this passage, I want you to see what this effectual calling really is. Look in John 6, verses 44 and 45. Here it is. John 6, verse 44: look at what our Lord says. "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." Now let's look at verse 44. Our Lord says, "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." This is that effectual call. God draws us. He doesn't drag us. He draws us.

Now, please pay attention to this word "can." "No man can come unto me." So, if Steve asks me, "Pastor, can I play your piano?" My response would be, "You have my permission if you have the ability to do so." "Can" is a term of ability. "May" is a term of permission. So our Lord is saying no man has the ability, no man has the power, no man has the ability to come savingly to Him unless the Father draw him. Okay. Well, how does God draw us? Well, look in verse 45: "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." God teaches. God opens our eyes. He enlightens our minds.

He illuminates us to the truth. He releases our will from its bondage to sin. He draws us tenderly and savingly to Jesus Christ. He shows us the wickedness of our sins, the just deserts of our sins, and he shows us the glorious remedy for our sins, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he draws us. And our Lord said, "Every man that hath been taught of the Father, every man that has been taught comes unto me." It's effectual. It doesn't fail.

So, you have here a perfect illustration. Now, he said again, in verse 14, "Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Now, the word "obtaining" is the word *peripoiēsis*, and it literally means a purchased possession. It means coming into, obtaining, and possessing a certain thing.

The Effectual Call Illustrated

Weaver shares an illustration of a man converted under preaching, highlighting the difference between the outward call of the preacher and the inward, effectual call of God.

Divine Character: Standing Fast and Being Established

The result of God's saving work is a divine character that stands fast in the faith, holds to apostolic teaching, and is comforted and established by God in every good word and work.

Now, I want you to go back to 2 Thessalonians 2 because here's one last question I want to ask you: How do we know that we have been savingly called? Well, the answer is a divine character. You've had a divine choice, a divine channel, a divine calling. Now, in verses 15 through 17, there is a divine character. Watch. "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." Now, I want you to look in verse 15, the word "therefore." "Therefore" is a conclusion based upon what Paul has written and said previously. And in the immediate context, he is talking about a divine choice. He's talking about a divine channel. He's talking about a divine calling, which ultimately results in and culminates in a divine character. Now look what he says: "Therefore, brethren, stand fast." And then he said, "and hold the traditions"—and that word "traditions" is also translated as "ordinances" in the Bible. So he says, "hold the traditions" or "ordinances which ye have been taught, whether by word"—that is, orally by them at that particular time—"or," he says, "by our epistle"—that is, the written Word of God. Now, what he's trying to give us here is this truth: that grace and mercy always produces a godly character.

Always. You remember that passage in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." You cannot be saved and remain the same. You cannot acknowledge the truth and remain in error. You cannot be saved and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and remain in sin and wickedness. What did the Apostle Paul say in Romans chapter 6? "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid"—that is, perish the thought. Don't even think about that. Because when God saves you, He changes you. He begins to produce in you a godly character. Now that godly character is not necessarily built overnight. Clearly it's not. It takes years. It takes a lifetime to build character. But the truth of the matter is, He gives us the character to stand fast in what we have been taught. He gives us the character to stand fast in His truth and in His Word.

We do not give in. We do not give up. We do not give out. We do not quit. We stand fast. We do not pitch in the towel. We do not give way to discouragement. We do not give way to desperation. We do not give way to depression. No, no, no, no. We just stand fast. That's what he's saying. That is that divine character that he builds in us through his Word and through his truth and by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit of God. Now, listen to this.

1 Corinthians 16, verse 13: "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." How about this one: Galatians 5, verse 1, where he says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Stand fast, he said. Philippians chapter 1, verse 27: "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit." Therefore, he said in Philippians 4, verse 1: "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord." And then, of course, 1 Thessalonians 3, verse 8: "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." In other words, the point I'm trying to make is there is a godly character that is developed in us that is not going to make us quit and give up and give out. It's kind of like the truth of 1 John 2, verse 19, where he said, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

So the proof that we have ever savingly believed is we continue to believe. The proof that we've ever savingly repented is we continue in repentance. And the truth that God preserves us is evidenced in our perseverance. Now look at what he said finally in verses 16 and 17. He said, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace"—watch what he's going to do for us—"comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." What? Have you ever stopped to think about what he said? He's saying God, the Almighty God, is going to comfort our hearts and establish us in every good word and work.

You know what that means? It means we cannot fail. It means we cannot be stopped. We will overcome. Why? Because of a divine character that is wrought in us by divine calling, a divine channel, and a divine choice. Everything is built and based upon God himself. He gives us this everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. So my question is this: Do we have a cause to celebrate?

Conclusion: A Cause to Celebrate

Believers have every reason to celebrate and rejoice in the salvation God has provided, giving all glory to the Triune God for His gracious work.

And the answer is yes. We have a cause to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a cause to praise God the Father. We have a cause to praise God the Holy Spirit. And if we cannot celebrate and rejoice in the salvation that he has so graciously provided in Jesus Christ, our understanding is very deficient in the Word of God. Because if you do nothing but meditate upon 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 9—"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ"—wow! God could have rightly condemned us for our sins and our rebellion. But instead of appointing us to wrath, he appointed us to the obtaining of salvation through Jesus Christ the Lord.

I believe that I can be thankful for that. I believe that I can celebrate that fact. I believe that I can rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ and all that he's done for us. And I believe that he will receive all the honor and all the glory for everything in our lives. He deserves it. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. And Lord, I pray that You would indeed enable us to celebrate the salvation that is in Jesus Christ, our Lord. May we see His greatness, His glory, His goodness, His graciousness, and may we rejoice in Him and in Him alone. Thank you for working in us. Thank you for changing us. Enable us, Father, to stand fast in the faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.

Study Guide

Major Themes

Divine Sovereignty in Salvation

Summary: Salvation is entirely God's work, from election to calling to preservation, leaving no room for human boasting.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'He chose us, so we chose him. He loved us, so we love him. He called us, and we came to him... He gets all the honor and all the glory of our salvation.'

The Necessity of Holiness

Summary: God requires not only a just cause but a holy people; His help is contingent on personal purity and obedience.

Evidence: From Deuteronomy 23:9-14, Weaver emphasizes, 'God then demands not just a holy cause, but a holy people and a clean people as well.'

Inseparability of Spirit and Truth

Summary: Sanctification by the Spirit and belief of the truth cannot be divorced; true belief manifests in doing the truth.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'You cannot divorce these two concepts. If someone is sanctified by the Spirit, then he does indeed believe the truth.'

Effectual Calling

Summary: God's inward call through the gospel is effectual, drawing sinners to Christ and ensuring they obtain salvation.

Evidence: Weaver explains, 'When God calls us unto salvation, it is an effectual call. It actually works.'

Perseverance and Godly Character

Summary: True salvation produces a character that stands fast, holds to truth, and is established by God, evidencing genuine faith.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'The proof that we have ever savingly believed is we continue to believe... God preserves us is evidenced in our perseverance.'

Key Arguments

Election is unto salvation, not salvation itself

Summary: Election is the foundation, but it must be realized through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'Election is indeed the foundation of salvation, but it is not salvation of itself. It is unto salvation.'

No evidence of election without Spirit and truth

Summary: One cannot claim to be elect without the Spirit's work and belief in the truth; otherwise, they are not Christ's.

Evidence: Citing Romans 8:9, Weaver argues, 'If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.'

Believing the truth means doing the truth

Summary: True belief is not mental assent but active obedience; those who do the truth come to the light.

Evidence: From John 3:21, Weaver notes, 'He that doeth truth cometh to the light... he is bringing forth the truth, he is fulfilling the truth.'

God's call is effectual and inward

Summary: The outward preaching of the gospel is insufficient without God's inward, secret call that draws sinners to Christ.

Evidence: Weaver illustrates, 'What God does is inward and secret and effectual... God himself was speaking to me.'

Salvation results in a changed character

Summary: Grace produces a godly character that stands fast; one cannot be saved and remain unchanged.

Evidence: Weaver asserts, 'You cannot be saved and remain the same... When God saves you, He changes you.'

Scripture References

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

Context: Primary text of the sermon, outlining divine choice, channel, calling, and character.

Deuteronomy 23:9-14

Context: Used to show God's requirement for a holy camp and holy people, not just a holy cause.

Psalm 35:1, 23; 43:1

Context: David's pleas for God to plead his cause, conditional on personal righteousness.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

Context: God has not appointed believers to wrath but to obtain salvation, highlighting divine appointment.

Romans 9:29

Context: Unless God left a seed, all would be like Sodom; emphasizes necessity of election.

Romans 8:9

Context: If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him; evidence of salvation.

1 Thessalonians 4:8

Context: God gives believers His Holy Spirit; those who despise this despise God.

1 John 3:24; 4:13

Context: We know we abide in Him by the Spirit He has given us; the Spirit is a witness.

2 Timothy 2:24-26

Context: Repentance and acknowledging the truth are gifts from God, leading to recovery from the devil's snare.

John 17:17, 19

Context: Sanctification comes through truth; Jesus sanctified Himself so believers may be sanctified.

Hebrews 2:10-11

Context: Jesus, the sanctifier, and the sanctified are all of one; He is not ashamed to call them brethren.

John 3:19-21

Context: Those who do evil hate the light; those who do the truth come to the light, showing their deeds are wrought in God.

Philippians 2:13

Context: God works in believers both to will and to do His good pleasure.

Isaiah 26:12

Context: God ordains peace and has wrought all our works in us.

1 Corinthians 1:9

Context: God is faithful, by whom believers were called into fellowship with His Son.

1 Thessalonians 4:7

Context: God has called us not to uncleanness but to holiness.

2 Timothy 1:8-9

Context: God saved and called us with a holy calling, not according to works but His purpose and grace.

1 Peter 1:15; 2:9

Context: As He who called is holy, be holy; He called us out of darkness into marvelous light.

1 Corinthians 1:18, 21

Context: The preaching of the cross is foolishness to the perishing but the power of God to the saved.

John 6:44-45

Context: No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him; all taught by God come to Him.

Historical References

Illustration of a man converted during a sermon in South Carolina

Context: Weaver recounts a personal experience where a man under conviction was saved, illustrating the effectual call of God versus the outward preaching.

Important Quotes

God is not going to help us in an evil and unjust cause. Moreover, God is not going to help us when we are evil and unjust and wicked and unclean ourselves.

Significance: Establishes the principle that personal holiness is required for divine assistance, setting the stage for the sermon's emphasis on sanctification.

Election is indeed the foundation of salvation, but it is not salvation of itself. It is unto salvation.

Significance: Clarifies the relationship between election and salvation, countering misconceptions that election alone saves without the means of Spirit and truth.

Nobody's going to be saved anyhow. Anybody who's ever saved is going to be saved God's how. And God's how is through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

Significance: Emphasizes that salvation follows God's ordained means, not a passive presumption on election.

If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Significance: A direct scriptural quote (Romans 8:9) used to assert that the indwelling Spirit is essential evidence of belonging to Christ.

When God calls us unto salvation, it is an effectual call. It actually works.

Significance: Underscores the certainty and power of God's inward call in bringing sinners to salvation.

You cannot be saved and remain the same. You cannot acknowledge the truth and remain in error. You cannot be saved and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and remain in sin and wickedness.

Significance: Argues that true salvation necessarily produces a transformed life and godly character.

The proof that we have ever savingly believed is we continue to believe. The proof that we've ever savingly repented is we continue in repentance.

Significance: Connects perseverance with the genuineness of faith, a key point in the sermon's application.

Discussion Questions

How does the requirement for personal holiness in Deuteronomy 23 challenge our approach to seeking God's help in our causes?

Context: Weaver emphasizes that God demands a holy people, not just a holy cause.

In what ways might people misunderstand or pervert the doctrine of election, and how does this sermon correct those errors?

Context: Weaver addresses the misconception that election means one can be saved regardless of belief or obedience.

Why is it impossible to separate the work of the Spirit from belief in the truth, and what are the practical implications?

Context: The sermon argues that sanctification and truth are inseparable; true belief results in doing the truth.

What is the difference between the outward call of the gospel and the inward effectual call, and how should this affect our evangelism?

Context: Weaver illustrates the distinction with a personal story and explains that only God can save.

How does the promise of God establishing us in every good word and work provide comfort and motivation for perseverance?

Context: The sermon concludes with the assurance that God will comfort and establish believers, ensuring they stand fast.

Applications

Examine personal holiness

Summary: Believers must ensure their own lives are holy and pure, not just their causes, to expect God's help and blessing.

Evidence: Weaver states, 'If we want God's divine help, we need to make sure that we ourselves are holy and clean and pure, and not just simply our cause as well.'

Rest in God's sovereign grace

Summary: Recognizing that salvation is entirely God's work from election to glorification should produce humility and gratitude.

Evidence: Weaver says, 'He chose us, so we chose him... He gets all the honor and all the glory of our salvation.'

Pursue sanctification through truth

Summary: Believers should actively engage with God's Word, knowing that sanctification comes through truth and is evidenced by doing the truth.

Evidence: From John 17:17, 'Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth.'

Stand fast in the faith

Summary: In the face of trials, believers are called to persevere, holding to apostolic teaching and not giving in to discouragement.

Evidence: Weaver exhorts, 'Stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught... We do not give in. We do not give up.'

Celebrate salvation joyfully

Summary: Believers should actively rejoice and give thanks for their salvation, recognizing it as a cause for celebration.

Evidence: Weaver concludes, 'If we cannot celebrate and rejoice in the salvation that he has so graciously provided... our understanding is very deficient.'

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:49:00Z

deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:06:23Z

Clean Transcript

A Cause To Celebrate - Part 2 of 2

Clean readable transcript. This view follows the Commentary.net cleaned segment text while preserving timestamps for audio follow-along.

Well, let's open our Bibles today to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, and Lord willing, we will cover the second part to "A Cause to Celebrate." I will take a few minutes and review from last week, but I want you to look in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, beginning there with verse 13, and we'll read through verse 17. The Apostle writes, "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. Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, which has loved us and has given us an everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." As I pointed out last week, causes are prevalent.
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Causes are everywhere. And of course, there are some causes that are very good, some that are very bad. There are some causes that are biblical and, of course, some that are unbiblical. But there is a truth that needs to be emphasized when we talk about a cause. And that truth that needs to be emphasized is this: if we want divine help, if we want God to speak to us and to help us, lead us, direct us, and protect us, then we need to make sure that it's not just our cause that is holy, just, and right, but that we ourselves are also holy, just, and right. In other words, God is not going to help us in an evil and unjust cause. Moreover, God is not going to help us when we are evil and unjust and wicked and unclean ourselves.
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For instance, if you would hold 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, but turn back in your Bibles to Deuteronomy chapter 23. Because in this passage, God has given instruction to his people as they are about to embark upon war.
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Now, I want you to pay close attention to what he said, and I will emphasize this again after we read the scripture. But look in Deuteronomy chapter 23, beginning there with verse 9, and we'll read through verse 14. God says, "When the host"—that is, when the army—"goeth forth against thine enemies, then keep thee from every wicked thing." So he's saying, look, it's not just the cause that has to be right; you have to be right as well. Moreover, he said in verse 10, "If there be among you any man that is not clean by reason of uncleanness that chanceth him by night, then shall he go abroad out of the camp. He shall not come within the camp." So once a man is unclean—and he's talking about ceremonially—he has to go out of the camp. Watch verse 11: "But it shall be when evening cometh on, he shall wash himself with water, and when the sun is down, he shall come into the camp again." In other words, he has to be ceremonially clean to come back into the camp.
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Nothing unclean or impure is to be in the camp. Then he says in verse 12, "Thou shalt have a place also without the camp, where thou shalt go forth abroad." So he's talking about an outhouse. He's talking about a latrine. He's talking about a bathroom. Watch verse 13: "And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon, and it shall be when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee." Why? Not just for sanitation. Verse 14: "For the Lord thy God walketh in the midst of thy camp to deliver thee, and to give up thine enemies before thee. Therefore shall thy camp be holy, that he see no unclean thing in thee, and turn away from thee." So God then demands not just a holy cause, but a holy people and a clean people as well. So if we want God's divine help, we need to make sure that we ourselves are holy and clean and pure, and not just simply our cause as well.
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In other words, our actions and our attitudes must be holy. And we demonstrate the sincerity and genuineness of our faith by our obedience and adherence to the Word of God. It's only then that we can plead some of those pleas that David gave in the book of Psalms. I read them to you last week. For instance, Psalm 35, verse 1, where David said, "Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive against me.
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Fight against them that fight against me." So he's asking God to plead his cause. And then in Psalm 35, verse 23, he said, "Stir up thyself and awake to my judgment, even to my cause, my God and my Lord." And then finally, in Psalm 43, verse 1, he said, "Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation." And then he said, "O deliver me from the unjust and the deceitful man." So if we want God to help us, not only must our cause be right, but we must be right as well.
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Now, in referring to these causes, you remember this is the second part of the message, "A Cause to Celebrate." And I gave you last week what the word "celebrate" actually means. It means, number one, to observe a day or to commemorate an event with ceremonies or festivities. Number two, to make known publicly and to proclaim. Number three, to praise widely and to present as favorable, widespread, and favorable public notice. And then fourthly, to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies. So putting those things together, to celebrate literally means to commemorate, to observe, to make known publicly, to praise widely, and to perform with appropriate rites and ceremonies. So last week we looked at the very first cause to celebrate, and that is found in 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13: that is a divine choice.
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Because in this passage, the Word of God says this: "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because"—there's the cause—"God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation." Now, I'm not going to re-preach the message that I preached last week, but if you'll remember, I told you actually there are four types of election in the Bible. There's the national election where God chose Israel.
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He did not choose the Babylonians, the Assyrians, the Hittites. He chose Israel. And then secondly, there was a vocational election where he chose the Levites. He could even be more specific: He chose Aaron to be the high priest. And not just any Levite could be the high priest. But the Levites and the Levites alone were around the tabernacle and the temple. And then thirdly, there was the Messianic election, where in Isaiah 42, verse 1, God chose his Son, Jesus Christ, to be the Messiah. And then when you get to verse 13 of 2 Thessalonians 2, there is a soteriological election, that is, an election unto salvation, because that's what he said: "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." So I've pointed out that when you pause and you think about this, that God chose us, it is a flesh-withering and soul-humbling thought. Because the next question that should pop into your mind would be this: Why would God choose me?
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And when you examine your life, and you examine your thoughts, and you examine your hearts, and you know the sin and the wickedness that abounded in you, you know how unrighteous, how ungodly, how unholy you really truly were and are. And you understand how easily and freely and readily you transgressed the law of God. You were iniquitous. You were the one who was in rebellion. And you did all of these things just simply to fulfill the lust of your flesh. It's just that simple.
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And you look down at yourself and you think, "Wow. Look at all the sins I've committed, and yet God in His infinite grace and mercy looked down through eternity and chose you to salvation anyhow. Knowing your sin, knowing your rebellion, knowing your wickedness, He still chose you."
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Now, let me show you something. I want you to turn back just a few pages to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and look, if you would please, at verse 9. 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 9. Note what the Bible says. We're still talking about this divine choice, a divine choice. He said in verse 9, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ." Look at that very carefully. "For God hath not appointed us to wrath."
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Now the word "appointed" is the Greek word *tithēmi*, which means to appoint, to fix, to establish, to cause to stand, to set forth, and to ordain. So you could read it like this: "For God hath not ordained us to wrath. God has not appointed us to wrath. God has not established us for wrath. God has not caused us to stand for wrath." No. But notice, if you would, he said in verse 9, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath." And the Greek word for "wrath" is the word *orgē*, which literally means wrath, anger, vengeance, indignation, and it speaks of punishment. So he says, "For God hath not appointed us to wrath"—thankfully, no—but he said in verse 9, "He has appointed us to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ."
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And you remember last week I said this, and you must remember this: had God not chosen some to be saved, none would be saved. There's no one that deserves salvation. All of us were sinners, wicked, and rebellious. And the Bible in Romans 9, verse 29, the Apostle Paul is quoting Isaiah and he says this: "And as Isaiah said before, 'Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we should have been made as Sodom, and been made like unto Gomorrah.'" So if God had not chosen some to be saved, none would be saved.
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So the very first cause to celebrate is what I called a divine choice. If you would look back in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13, here's the second point, and this is where I want to start today: and that is a divine channel. So verse 13 says this: "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." Now here's a divine channel:
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"through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth." The channel through which our Sovereign's divine choice flows to fruition is through the channel of sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
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Now there are many people that really misunderstand and pervert the clear teaching of the Word of God, especially on salvation. Most people do not understand that election is indeed the foundation of salvation, but it is not salvation of itself. It is unto salvation. And what I mean by individuals perverting the Word of God on this particular doctrine: I've heard people say, "Well, if I'm one of the elect, I'm going to be saved regardless. If I'm one of the elect, I'm going to be saved anyhow.
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Nothing I can do, no reason to do anything. If I'm an elect, I'm going to be saved anyhow." Well, I always like to answer that with this: Nobody's going to be saved anyhow. Anybody who's ever saved is going to be saved God's how. And God's how is through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.
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Now listen to me very carefully. No one can have any evidence that he is one of God's elect except through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. All of those whom God has chosen, He chooses through this channel. In other words, His choice flows through this channel to them. So if you have not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit, if you have not been convicted and converted by the Holy Spirit, if you have not been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, if you do not believe the truth, then you do not belong to Him. You're not of His.
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You are an alien and a stranger. Now, how can I say that? Well, hold 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and look back in your Bibles to Romans chapter 8, verse 9. And I'll show you some other verses, but look in Romans chapter 8, verse 9. Here the Apostle Paul makes this so clear, I do not see how it could be misunderstood. In Romans 8, verse 9, the Bible says this—and he's talking to these Roman Christians—"But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit." So once we're saved, we're in the Spirit. I can explain why. He said, "If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you." And that's the answer. Because once you're saved, the Holy Spirit of God resides in you. Now, "If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his." Isn't that clear? Isn't that plain? If any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. So this is why I'm saying, if there is no sanctification of the Spirit in your life, if there is no belief of the truth in your life, then you do not belong to Christ.
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It is the Holy Spirit of God who regenerates, who convicts, who converts, who draws, who enlightens, who illumines, who imparts, who leads, who guides, who directs, and equips. And if you're not indwelled by the Holy Spirit, then, of course, you do not belong to Him.
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Now, let me show you some other verses. I want you to turn in your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, and look, if you would please, at verse 8. Just trying to show you the truth: if any man have not the Spirit of God, he is none of his. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, notice if you would please verse 8, because in this passage the Word of God says this: "He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given us of his Holy Spirit." Did you see that? It is God who has also given us—that is, a believer—of his Holy Spirit. And then if you would turn on over your Bibles to 1 John—Hebrews, James, 1 and 2 Peter, and then 1 John—notice 1 John chapter 3, verse 24. 1 John 3, verse 24: the Bible says, "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we do know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us." So we know that we abide in him by the Spirit which he hath given us, and it's the Holy Spirit who enables us to be obedient. Now look in 1 John 4, verse 13. Here he says this: "Hereby
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know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit." And so when you read the Bible, you'll find that the Holy Spirit is a witness to us and the Holy Spirit is also a witness in us. So the sanctification of the Spirit refers then to his work upon us and his work in us. It is only the gift of the Holy Spirit, it's only his work that draws us to Jesus Christ. He leads us, he draws us, he opens our eyes. He illuminates us.
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He enlightens us to understand truth. Now, let me point something out. The Bible says in 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 13, this divine channel is through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. So let me put it to you very plainly: you cannot divorce these two concepts. If someone is sanctified by the Spirit, then he does indeed believe the truth. If someone believes the truth, he is indeed sanctified by the Spirit. In other words, you cannot separate them, you cannot divorce them.
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So let me show you. Look in your Bibles to 2 Timothy 2—just back a few pages. 1 Thessalonians, then you have 1 and 2 Thessalonians, it's forward. And then you're going to 2 Timothy chapter 2. And let's begin reading there with verse 24. I'm sorry, 2 Timothy. I keep saying Thessalonians. 2 Timothy chapter 2, verse 24. Here it is: "And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient." So why then must a pastor be apt to teach, patient? Here's why: "in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will." So here's the first question: When are men recovered out of the snare of the devil? According to verse 25, it is when they acknowledge the truth. When the men acknowledge the truth, and that is when God gives them repentance.
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So I want you to understand, there is no acknowledging of the truth without repentance. Repentance is the gift of God, according to Acts chapter 5 and Acts chapter 11. But notice if you would, all of those that God gives repentance to acknowledge the truth. There's never going to be any recovery from the enemy unless we acknowledge the truth.
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Now, it is not just our salvation, but it is also our sanctification that comes by knowledge of the truth. So if you will turn back in your Bibles to the Gospel of John, the fourth book in the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Look in John 17, verse 17. This is the high priestly prayer of our Lord. And I want you to notice what he says. He's praying, and in this prayer, John 17, verse 17, our Lord says this: "Sanctify them through thy truth. Thy word is truth." This is why I'm telling you, you cannot separate the work of the Spirit and belief of the truth. When the Spirit of God works in you, you believe the truth. If you believe the truth, the Spirit of God has worked in you. Now look, if you would, in verse 19 of John 17. Our Lord said, "And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth." Well, we know that Jesus Christ is truth incarnate. The Bible is truth.
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The Spirit is truth. God is a God of truth. So very clearly then, sanctification as well as salvation comes through acknowledging of the truth.
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Now, if you would turn—hold the book of John, we're coming right back there—but turn to the book of Hebrews chapter 2. Hebrews chapter 2, on over past 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Hebrews, James, 1 Peter—go to Hebrews chapter 2. And look, if you would please, beginning there at verse 10. We're still talking about sanctification of the Spirit and belief in the truth, but watch this. Hebrews 2, verse 10: "For it became him"—that is the Lord Jesus Christ—"for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
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For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren." For he that sanctifieth—the Lord Jesus—and they who are sanctified are all of one.
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Now let me ask you a question. I had said earlier you cannot divorce the sanctification of the Spirit from belief in the truth. Jesus Christ is the sanctified one. Is there any possibility that he might disbelieve the Word of God? Is there any possibility he might acknowledge some error or some heresy? And the answer is absolutely not. So you have to remember that Jesus Christ is truth incarnate, and it is only by Jesus Christ that we're saved and sanctified. It is only by the Spirit of God that we're saved and sanctified as well.
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Now, it must be made clear once again. I'm going to ask you to turn back to the book of John chapter 3 this time. Let me make this exceedingly clear to you. When we're talking about acknowledging the truth, we're not simply talking about giving mental assent to the truth. We're not merely talking about someone nodding in agreement. We're not merely talking about someone who gives assent to a number of historical facts and reality. No. Believing the truth according to this passage means far more than mental assent. It means that truth has so permeated our minds and permeated our understandings that truth is our life. We not only believe the truth—listen to me carefully—we do the truth. That is, we know it, we apply it, we obey it. So watch in John 3, beginning with verse 19. Our Lord says, "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." We understand that. Verse 20: "For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved."
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Note if you would now, "For everyone that doeth evil"—he doesn't just believe it, he actually does it—"hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved." Now watch verse 21: "But he that"—what?—"doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought of God." Now I want you to note what he's talking about. He said, "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light." Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The Bible, of course, is the light written. He that doeth truth is not afraid of light. He's not afraid of light. He's not afraid of facing reality. He's not afraid of truth.
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Now, you remember what David said in Psalm 116, verse 10. He said, "I believed, therefore have I spoken." In other words, we actually act out what we genuinely, truly believe. We end up doing what we believe. So the man who does not believe the truth, he does evil because he believes evil. And he doesn't want to have anything to do with truth. He doesn't want to have anything to do that will expose his wickedness. But on the other hand, our Lord is saying, he that does the truth is the man who's willing to come to the light.
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Now, the word "doeth" there is the Greek word *poieō*, and it literally means to bring forth, to cause, to work, to perform, to carry out, and to fulfill. So he says, he that is carrying out the truth, he that is doing the truth, he is bringing forth the truth, he is fulfilling the truth. He doesn't care anything about the light. I mean, he's willing to be exposed because everything is true. It's kind of like one man said, "If you always tell the truth, you don't have to remember everything that you said previously." And that's true.
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Now, I want you to look back at verse 19—I'm sorry, verse 21. He says, "But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest." Are you watching? "That they are wrought in God." We do the truth. Listen carefully. We do the deeds. And those deeds manifest, make known, reveal that whatever we do in truth is wrought of God. In other words, God did it.
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So let me put it to you like this: If there is ever a godly motive in you or godly act, if there's anything that's biblical and true and right and gracious and glorious in you, God put it in you. Because it's not in us by nature. And so therefore, when we have been sanctified by the Spirit, he's worked in our lives, and we have acknowledged the truth, we're willing to do the truth, and that revelation or that manifestation of truth just reveals the fact that our works are wrought of God.
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You remember that passage in Philippians 2, verse 13? "For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure." So if God put the will in you, he's going to put the to-do in you. So anything that you are willing to do, and anything you do that is right, holy, just, and glorious, God put it in you.
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Now, I want you to hold 2 Thessalonians, but I want to show you another verse. I could quote it, but I want you to see it. Look in your Bibles to Isaiah chapter 26. Isaiah 26. And look if you would please at verse 12. Isaiah 26, verse 12. Wonderful, wonderful passage. Look at what he says. Isaiah 26, verse 12: "Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us." Why? "For thou hast also wrought all our works in us." Lord, thou wilt ordain peace for us. Why? For thou also hast wrought all our works in us.
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So it is true there is a divine choice. But that divine choice flows through and by and in the channel of sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. You cannot separate. You cannot divorce the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. So the man who's been sanctified by the Spirit—that is, the Spirit of God has worked in him—and he believes the truth. And the man who believes the truth believes it because the Spirit of God has worked in him.
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Now, if you will look back in your Bibles to 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, that brings us to another question. Here's a question that needs to be answered: How does one receive or come to the sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth? Well, that answer is given to us in verse 14. Let's read 13 and 14 together. He said, "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." Now, here it is. Here is a divine calling: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
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Now, there are several truths in verse 14 that we need to understand. The first truth is this: we should note the author of this call. The Bible said, "He has called you by our gospel." The author is none other than the sovereign God of heaven and earth. Calling in the Bible is ascribed to God the Father. Let me show you. If you would turn to your Bibles—hold this passage, please—but turn to 1 Corinthians 1. Acts, Romans, 1 Corinthians 1. Look in verse 9, and you might as well mark this passage.
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We'll come back here a little bit later just so I can emphasize something else in it. But look in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 9. The Bible says, "God is faithful"—we're talking about God the Father now—"God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." God is faithful, by whom you were called. It is God the Father who does the calling. Okay? God is the author of this call. If you would look in your Bibles, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 7. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 7.
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You're going to see this again. "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." But notice, it is God that has called us. "But God"—or "For God"—"hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." And if you'd go back in your Bibles to 2 Timothy—over just a few pages from 2 Thessalonians—2 Timothy chapter 1, look at verses 8 and 9. We read it last week, but I want to emphasize something else this week. Look at it. Paul writes to Timothy, says, "Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God"—so we're talking about God—"who hath saved us, and called us with a 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." Note, if you would, it is God who has called us with a holy calling.
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Now, if you would turn right on over to 1 Peter—Hebrews, James, 1 Peter. Notice if you would, chapter 1, verse 15. Here's a verse that practically everyone can quote. And we've never ever thought about it. 1 Peter 1, verse 15: "But as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." Did you see what he said? "But as he who hath called you is holy"—that's God the Father. As he is holy, be holy in all manner of conversation. But it is God that has done the calling. Then if you look in 1 Peter 2, verse 9, you'll see it again. 1 Peter 2, verse 9:
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"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." So, when the Bible says in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 14, "whereunto he called you," the author of our call unto salvation is God the Father himself. Wow! That brings me to the second truth.
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What is the means of that calling? Look in verse 14: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel." The word "gospel," of course, refers to the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ, the good news of his salvation, the good news of his work. The gospel is the person and work of Jesus Christ. It's not just facts about Christ. It is Jesus Christ.
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Now, I want you to turn, if you would, to 1 Corinthians chapter 1, because I want you to see something about this gospel. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, beginning there with verse 18. 1 Corinthians 1, verse 18: look at what the Bible says. "For the preaching of the cross"—which is the gospel, the preaching of the person and work of Jesus Christ—"for the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness.
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But unto us which are saved, it is the power of God." So what is the preaching of the gospel to those who are perishing? It's foolishness. They don't have time for it. They'd rather go skiing. They'd rather go fishing. They'd rather go bowling. They'd rather do anything—rather cut grass. It's foolishness to them.
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Now, skip down, if you would please, to verse 21. Look at what the Bible says: "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. No wonder the Apostle Paul said in Romans 1, verse 16, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
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Now, let me show you something. I want you to turn back to 1 Thessalonians chapter 1—not 2 Thessalonians, but 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. And I want you to look at verse 5. Because you see, in the preaching of the gospel, there's that sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth that works together in this as well. So he says in 1 Thessalonians 1, verse 5: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes." Wow. He said, "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes."
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Now, I want you to understand that God is the author of this call. The preaching of the Word of God, the gospel, is the means of this call. And if you'll look back in your Bibles, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 13—here's the third truth of verse 14: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel"—here it is—"to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." When God calls us unto salvation, it is an effectual call. It actually works. That's what he says: "Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." There are actually two different calls that are mentioned in the Bible. There is that outward, external call, which is the public preaching of the Word of God. Then there is that inward, secret, effectual call, which is the work of God alone. Now pastors may call outwardly, externally, vocally, but that's all we can do.
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I can tell you your duty, I can tell you your obligation, I can tell you your responsibility, but I can't save you. Okay? Only God can do that. So what I do is outward, it's external, it's vocal. Okay. What God does is inward and secret and effectual. I'll give you a good clear illustration. Years ago, I was preaching in South Carolina. It was Sunday morning and the building was packed.
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And right in the middle of my sermon, there's a man about halfway back, he screamed, he shrieked, and he began saying, "Oh God, I'm lost, I'm lost." And he got up from the pew and he ran straight to the pulpit where I was standing and preaching, and he fell on his knees and put both his arms around my feet. And all he would say is, "Oh God, I'm lost. I'm lost." And he's crying. And here I am in the middle of my sermon.
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So I looked at the pastor of the church. I said, "If you don't mind, if you would take a couple of men and take him into a side room and tell him about the person and work of Jesus Christ." I said, "Then I will finish my sermon." And so they took him inside. And I finished preaching and the Lord was very gracious that day. And a number of people were saved, I do genuinely believe.
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But after the service was over, he came out and I mean, he was just grinning from ear to ear. And he's a preacher. He said, "I just want to tell you, God saved me. He said he saved me. And I'm so thankful." And so here's what I did. Brother Gary, I asked him, I said, "Let me ask you a question.
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Now, what was it that I said that got you under such conviction?" You know, I was thinking, well, if it worked one time, it'll work again, you know. He looked at me. He said, "You want me to lie to you or tell you the truth?" I said, "I want the truth." He's a preacher. "I heard very little of what you said." He said, "You were short-circuited.
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He said, "God himself was speaking to me." And that's the truth. That's the difference between the public preaching of the Word of God and that secret effectual call of God. So here, those whom God calls, they actually obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Now let me show you. I want you to turn in your Bibles to the book of John chapter 6. John chapter 6. And as you look at this passage, I want you to see what this effectual calling really is. Look in John 6, verses 44 and 45. Here it is. John 6, verse 44: look at what our Lord says. "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
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It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me."
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Now let's look at verse 44. Our Lord says, "No man can come unto me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him." This is that effectual call. God draws us. He doesn't drag us. He draws us.
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Now, please pay attention to this word "can." "No man can come unto me." So, if Steve asks me, "Pastor, can I play your piano?" My response would be, "You have my permission if you have the ability to do so." "Can" is a term of ability. "May" is a term of permission. So our Lord is saying no man has the ability, no man has the power, no man has the ability to come savingly to Him unless the Father draw him. Okay. Well, how does God draw us? Well, look in verse 45: "It is written in the prophets, 'And they shall be all taught of God.' Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me." God teaches. God opens our eyes. He enlightens our minds.
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He illuminates us to the truth. He releases our will from its bondage to sin. He draws us tenderly and savingly to Jesus Christ. He shows us the wickedness of our sins, the just deserts of our sins, and he shows us the glorious remedy for our sins, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he draws us. And our Lord said, "Every man that hath been taught of the Father, every man that has been taught comes unto me." It's effectual. It doesn't fail.
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So, you have here a perfect illustration. Now, he said again, in verse 14, "Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ."
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Now, the word "obtaining" is the word *peripoiēsis*, and it literally means a purchased possession. It means coming into, obtaining, and possessing a certain thing.
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Now, I want you to look in your Bibles to 1 Peter chapter 1, and let me show you about this possession that we have obtained the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is he talking about? Well, if you look in 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 3, the Word of God says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope"—or a living hope—"by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." Well, let's see, we're going to obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. What is that?
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"To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you"—watch—"who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Note, if you would, that inheritance is already ours. What is going to stop us from receiving that inheritance? And the answer is, nothing. Because we are kept by the power of God, he says, very plainly, through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. So clearly, nothing is going to hinder us.
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Now, I want you to go back in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 1. I told you we would come back there. I want you to look at verse 9 again, 1 Corinthians 1, verse 9, just so that I can emphasize something else. Look at this. We're talking about the calling. The author is God the Father. The means is through the gospel, and it is an effectual call. It actually works.
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It brings us to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. And so here in 1 Corinthians 1, verse 9, the Bible says, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called"—look—"unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord." So this calling actually culminates in the fellowship with his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. So it's a calling that actually genuinely works. Now so let's put it like this: He chose us, so we chose him. He loved us, so we love him. He called us, and we came to him. He taught us, and we learned and we understood. He loved us first, and therefore He gets all the honor and all the glory of our salvation.
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Now, I want you to go back to 2 Thessalonians 2 because here's one last question I want to ask you: How do we know that we have been savingly called? Well, the answer is a divine character. You've had a divine choice, a divine channel, a divine calling. Now, in verses 15 through 17, there is a divine character. Watch. "Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
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Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." Now, I want you to look in verse 15, the word "therefore." "Therefore" is a conclusion based upon what Paul has written and said previously. And in the immediate context, he is talking about a divine choice. He's talking about a divine channel. He's talking about a divine calling, which ultimately results in and culminates in a divine character. Now look what he says: "Therefore, brethren, stand fast." And then he said, "and hold the traditions"—and that word "traditions" is also translated as "ordinances" in the Bible. So he says, "hold the traditions" or "ordinances which ye have been taught, whether by word"—that is, orally by them at that particular time—"or," he says, "by our epistle"—that is, the written Word of God. Now, what he's trying to give us here is this truth: that grace and mercy always produces a godly character.
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Always. You remember that passage in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17: "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." You cannot be saved and remain the same. You cannot acknowledge the truth and remain in error. You cannot be saved and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and remain in sin and wickedness. What did the Apostle Paul say in Romans chapter 6? "Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
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God forbid"—that is, perish the thought. Don't even think about that. Because when God saves you, He changes you. He begins to produce in you a godly character. Now that godly character is not necessarily built overnight. Clearly it's not. It takes years. It takes a lifetime to build character. But the truth of the matter is, He gives us the character to stand fast in what we have been taught. He gives us the character to stand fast in His truth and in His Word.
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We do not give in. We do not give up. We do not give out. We do not quit. We stand fast. We do not pitch in the towel. We do not give way to discouragement. We do not give way to desperation. We do not give way to depression. No, no, no, no. We just stand fast. That's what he's saying. That is that divine character that he builds in us through his Word and through his truth and by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit of God. Now, listen to this.
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1 Corinthians 16, verse 13: "Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong." How about this one: Galatians 5, verse 1, where he says, "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Stand fast, he said. Philippians chapter 1, verse 27: "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit." Therefore, he said in Philippians 4, verse 1: "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord." And then, of course, 1 Thessalonians 3, verse 8: "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord."
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In other words, the point I'm trying to make is there is a godly character that is developed in us that is not going to make us quit and give up and give out. It's kind of like the truth of 1 John 2, verse 19, where he said, "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."
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So the proof that we have ever savingly believed is we continue to believe. The proof that we've ever savingly repented is we continue in repentance. And the truth that God preserves us is evidenced in our perseverance.
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Now look at what he said finally in verses 16 and 17. He said, "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace"—watch what he's going to do for us—"comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." What? Have you ever stopped to think about what he said? He's saying God, the Almighty God, is going to comfort our hearts and establish us in every good word and work.
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You know what that means? It means we cannot fail. It means we cannot be stopped. We will overcome. Why? Because of a divine character that is wrought in us by divine calling, a divine channel, and a divine choice. Everything is built and based upon God himself. He gives us this everlasting consolation and good hope through grace. So my question is this: Do we have a cause to celebrate?
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And the answer is yes. We have a cause to honor and glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a cause to praise God the Father. We have a cause to praise God the Holy Spirit. And if we cannot celebrate and rejoice in the salvation that he has so graciously provided in Jesus Christ, our understanding is very deficient in the Word of God. Because if you do nothing but meditate upon 1 Thessalonians 5, verse 9—"For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ"—wow! God could have rightly condemned us for our sins and our rebellion. But instead of appointing us to wrath, he appointed us to the obtaining of salvation through Jesus Christ the Lord.
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I believe that I can be thankful for that. I believe that I can celebrate that fact. I believe that I can rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ and all that he's done for us. And I believe that he will receive all the honor and all the glory for everything in our lives. He deserves it. Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, we bow to Thee. We thank You for Your Word. We thank You for Your truth. And Lord, I pray that You would indeed enable us to celebrate the salvation that is in Jesus Christ, our Lord. May we see His greatness, His glory, His goodness, His graciousness, and may we rejoice in Him and in Him alone. Thank you for working in us. Thank you for changing us. Enable us, Father, to stand fast in the faith. In the name of Jesus Christ, we ask and pray. Amen.
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so so
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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | clean_readable_transcript | 2026-06-05T20:49:00Z

A Cause To Celebrate - Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | Freedom Ministries

In this sermon, Pastor John Weaver continues his exposition of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17, emphasizing that believers have a cause to celebrate because of God's sovereign work in salvation. He explains that God's divine choice (election) flows through the divine channel of sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth, and is realized through a divine calling by the gospel. This results in a divine character that stands fast and is established by God. The sermon underscores that salvation is entirely of God, from election to glorification, and that true believers will persevere and demonstrate godly character.

Introduction and Review

Scripture Reading — 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17

"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. Whereunto he called you by our gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you have been taught, whether by word or epistle. Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God, even our Father, which has loved us and has given us an everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work."

As I pointed out last week, causes are prevalent.

Scripture Reading — Deuteronomy 23:9-14

" So once a man is unclean—and he's talking about ceremonially—he has to go out of the camp. Watch verse 11: "

Scripture Reading — Psalm 35:1, 23; 43:1

"Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive against me. Fight against them that fight against me."

Divine Choice (Review)

God chose believers to salvation from the beginning, a humbling truth that highlights His grace despite human sinfulness. This election is the foundation of salvation.

Divine Channel: Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth

Election flows through the channel of the Spirit's sanctifying work and belief in the truth. These two are inseparable; one cannot have evidence of election without them.

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:9

"But you are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit."

So once we're saved, we're in the Spirit. I can explain why. He said,

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:9

"If so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you."

And that's the answer. Because once you're saved, the Holy Spirit of God resides in you. Now,

Scripture Reading — Romans 8:9

"If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."

Scripture Reading — 1 Thessalonians 4:8

"He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given us of his Holy Spirit."

The Inseparability of Spirit and Truth

Using John 3:19-21 and other passages, Weaver argues that believing the truth means doing the truth, not mere mental assent. True belief results in godly living, which is wrought by God.

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 2:24-26

"And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient."

So why then must a pastor be apt to teach, patient? Here's why:

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 2:24-26

"in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will."

Scripture Reading — Philippians 2:13

"For it is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

So if God put the will in you, he's going to put the to-do in you. So anything that you are willing to do, and anything you do that is right, holy, just, and glorious, God put it in you.

Divine Calling: The Author, Means, and Effect

God the Father is the author of the effectual call, which comes through the gospel. This call is inward and secret, drawing sinners to Christ and resulting in obtaining His glory.

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 1:9

" God is faithful, by whom you were called. It is God the Father who does the calling. Okay? God is the author of this call. If you would look in your Bibles, 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 7. 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 7.

Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:8-9

Now, if you would turn right on over to 1 Peter—Hebrews, James, 1 Peter. Notice if you would, chapter 1, verse 15. Here's a verse that practically everyone can quote. And we've never ever thought about it. 1 Peter 1, verse 15: "But as he who hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." Did you see what he said? "But as he who hath called you is holy"—that's God the Father. As he is holy, be holy in all manner of conversation. But it is God that has done the calling. Then if you look in 1 Peter 2, verse 9, you'll see it again. 1 Peter 2, verse 9:

Scripture Reading — 1 Corinthians 1:18, 21

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

The Effectual Call Illustrated

Weaver shares an illustration of a man converted under preaching, highlighting the difference between the outward call of the preacher and the inward, effectual call of God.

Divine Character: Standing Fast and Being Established

The result of God's saving work is a divine character that stands fast in the faith, holds to apostolic teaching, and is comforted and established by God in every good word and work.

Conclusion: A Cause to Celebrate

Believers have every reason to celebrate and rejoice in the salvation God has provided, giving all glory to the Triune God for His gracious work.

A Cause To Celebrate - Part 2 of 2

John Weaver | YouTube

Lecture Metadata	Details
Speaker	John Weaver
Source	YouTube
Media ID	pkqwymjkBJM
Subject	New Testament Studies
Course	Romans: Election, Israel, and Covenant Mercy
Genre	Sermon
Date	2021-08-17
Dictation Name
Book	Book 123: A Cause To Celebrate — Chapter 2
Source Timed Segments	83

Lecture Guide

Outline

Introduction and Review: Weaver reviews the previous sermon, emphasizing that God requires not only a holy cause but a holy people, as illustrated in Deuteronomy 23:9-14. He reiterates the meaning of 'celebrate' and the first cause: divine choice.
Divine Choice (Review): God chose believers to salvation from the beginning, a humbling truth that highlights His grace despite human sinfulness. This election is the foundation of salvation.
Divine Channel: Sanctification of the Spirit and Belief of the Truth: Election flows through the channel of the Spirit's sanctifying work and belief in the truth. These two are inseparable; one cannot have evidence of election without them.
The Inseparability of Spirit and Truth: Using John 3:19-21 and other passages, Weaver argues that believing the truth means doing the truth, not mere mental assent. True belief results in godly living, which is wrought by God.
Divine Calling: The Author, Means, and Effect: God the Father is the author of the effectual call, which comes through the gospel. This call is inward and secret, drawing sinners to Christ and resulting in obtaining His glory.
The Effectual Call Illustrated: Weaver shares an illustration of a man converted under preaching, highlighting the difference between the outward call of the preacher and the inward, effectual call of God.
Divine Character: Standing Fast and Being Established: The result of God's saving work is a divine character that stands fast in the faith, holds to apostolic teaching, and is comforted and established by God in every good word and work.
Conclusion: A Cause to Celebrate: Believers have every reason to celebrate and rejoice in the salvation God has provided, giving all glory to the Triune God for His gracious work.

Major Themes

Key Arguments

Election is unto salvation, not salvation itself

Election is the foundation, but it must be realized through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

Weaver says, 'Election is indeed the foundation of salvation, but it is not salvation of itself. It is unto salvation.'

No evidence of election without Spirit and truth

One cannot claim to be elect without the Spirit's work and belief in the truth; otherwise, they are not Christ's.

Citing Romans 8:9, Weaver argues, 'If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.'

Believing the truth means doing the truth

True belief is not mental assent but active obedience; those who do the truth come to the light.

From John 3:21, Weaver notes, 'He that doeth truth cometh to the light... he is bringing forth the truth, he is fulfilling the truth.'

God's call is effectual and inward

The outward preaching of the gospel is insufficient without God's inward, secret call that draws sinners to Christ.

Weaver illustrates, 'What God does is inward and secret and effectual... God himself was speaking to me.'

Salvation results in a changed character

Grace produces a godly character that stands fast; one cannot be saved and remain unchanged.

Weaver asserts, 'You cannot be saved and remain the same... When God saves you, He changes you.'

Scripture References

2 Thessalonians 2:13-17: Primary text of the sermon, outlining divine choice, channel, calling, and character.
Deuteronomy 23:9-14: Used to show God's requirement for a holy camp and holy people, not just a holy cause.
Psalm 35:1, 23; 43:1: David's pleas for God to plead his cause, conditional on personal righteousness.
1 Thessalonians 5:9: God has not appointed believers to wrath but to obtain salvation, highlighting divine appointment.
Romans 9:29: Unless God left a seed, all would be like Sodom; emphasizes necessity of election.
Romans 8:9: If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him; evidence of salvation.
1 Thessalonians 4:8: God gives believers His Holy Spirit; those who despise this despise God.
1 John 3:24; 4:13: We know we abide in Him by the Spirit He has given us; the Spirit is a witness.
2 Timothy 2:24-26: Repentance and acknowledging the truth are gifts from God, leading to recovery from the devil's snare.
John 17:17, 19: Sanctification comes through truth; Jesus sanctified Himself so believers may be sanctified.
Hebrews 2:10-11: Jesus, the sanctifier, and the sanctified are all of one; He is not ashamed to call them brethren.
John 3:19-21: Those who do evil hate the light; those who do the truth come to the light, showing their deeds are wrought in God.
Philippians 2:13: God works in believers both to will and to do His good pleasure.
Isaiah 26:12: God ordains peace and has wrought all our works in us.
1 Corinthians 1:9: God is faithful, by whom believers were called into fellowship with His Son.
1 Thessalonians 4:7: God has called us not to uncleanness but to holiness.
2 Timothy 1:8-9: God saved and called us with a holy calling, not according to works but His purpose and grace.
1 Peter 1:15; 2:9: As He who called is holy, be holy; He called us out of darkness into marvelous light.
1 Corinthians 1:18, 21: The preaching of the cross is foolishness to the perishing but the power of God to the saved.
John 6:44-45: No one can come to Christ unless the Father draws him; all taught by God come to Him.

Historical References

Illustration of a man converted during a sermon in South Carolina: Weaver recounts a personal experience where a man under conviction was saved, illustrating the effectual call of God versus the outward preaching.

Important Quotes

God is not going to help us in an evil and unjust cause. Moreover, God is not going to help us when we are evil and unjust and wicked and unclean ourselves.

Establishes the principle that personal holiness is required for divine assistance, setting the stage for the sermon's emphasis on sanctification.

Election is indeed the foundation of salvation, but it is not salvation of itself. It is unto salvation.

Clarifies the relationship between election and salvation, countering misconceptions that election alone saves without the means of Spirit and truth.

Nobody's going to be saved anyhow. Anybody who's ever saved is going to be saved God's how. And God's how is through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth.

Emphasizes that salvation follows God's ordained means, not a passive presumption on election.

If any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

A direct scriptural quote (Romans 8:9) used to assert that the indwelling Spirit is essential evidence of belonging to Christ.

When God calls us unto salvation, it is an effectual call. It actually works.

Underscores the certainty and power of God's inward call in bringing sinners to salvation.

You cannot be saved and remain the same. You cannot acknowledge the truth and remain in error. You cannot be saved and sanctified by the Holy Spirit and remain in sin and wickedness.

Argues that true salvation necessarily produces a transformed life and godly character.

The proof that we have ever savingly believed is we continue to believe. The proof that we've ever savingly repented is we continue in repentance.

Connects perseverance with the genuineness of faith, a key point in the sermon's application.

Discussion Questions

[Question]

How does the requirement for personal holiness in Deuteronomy 23 challenge our approach to seeking God's help in our causes?

[Context]

Weaver emphasizes that God demands a holy people, not just a holy cause.

[Question]

In what ways might people misunderstand or pervert the doctrine of election, and how does this sermon correct those errors?

[Context]

Weaver addresses the misconception that election means one can be saved regardless of belief or obedience.

[Question]

Why is it impossible to separate the work of the Spirit from belief in the truth, and what are the practical implications?

[Context]

The sermon argues that sanctification and truth are inseparable; true belief results in doing the truth.

[Question]

What is the difference between the outward call of the gospel and the inward effectual call, and how should this affect our evangelism?

[Context]

Weaver illustrates the distinction with a personal story and explains that only God can save.

[Question]

How does the promise of God establishing us in every good word and work provide comfort and motivation for perseverance?

[Context]

The sermon concludes with the assurance that God will comfort and establish believers, ensuring they stand fast.

Applications

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deepseek | deepseek-v4-pro | weaver_study | 2026-06-06T13:06:23Z