Is God's call based on our works or on His purpose and grace?
God's calling is holy and not according to our works. It is according to His own purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Believers did not will or run to earn it; they were already positioned in the body of Christ before creation.
Les explains that this calling is not something we achieved by sweating, running, or willing our way into God's favor. Rather, He called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace given us in Christ Jesus before the world began. Les notes this is almost unbelievable from the human element, but by faith a child of God can look back and see they were chosen before God created Adam and already positioned in the body of Christ. This security rests in God's purpose, not in works, so Paul could say neither principalities, powers, things present, height, depth, nor any other thing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Les stresses that this does not give license; grace is not license, and it does not give the right to sin. It is all in His divine purpose that we are called, elected, and His.
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,