13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

14 To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

— 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

according to the foreknowledge of God the Father and sanctified by the Spirit for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

— 1 Peter 1:2

And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate, to sanctify the people by His own blood.

–Hebrews 13:12

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

— 1 Corinthians 6:11

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, mercy and salvation from Christ to you.

Through expressing deep, continuous gratitude to God for the believers in Thessalonica, the Apostle Paul gives new believers a reassurance of divine comfort and assurance in Thessalonians 2:13-14. Paul emphasizes that salvation originates in God’s eternal plan, rather than human achievement. Salvation is worked out through the sanctification of the Spirit that we may obtain and share in the eternal glory of Jesus Christ.

The sanctification of the Spirit involves seeking us and convicting us when causing us to repent and believe. The Spirit sanctifies us positionally and as we pursue growth in life, the Spirit sanctifies us dispositionally so that we may fully possess and enjoy the salvation and participate the eternal glory of Christ. This sanctification of the Spirit not only separates us from all old and negative things unto God, but also sanctifies us into a new creation—full of the Lord’s element and constituent—that we may attain the Lord’s glory.