Is salvation and our calling based on our own works or on God's purpose and grace?
Salvation and our holy calling rest not on our own works but on God's own purpose and grace. Scripture says this purpose was given us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, an eternal purpose of the Creator God, and we become recipients and partakers by simple faith in the gospel.
Les explains from 2 Timothy 1:9 that God has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace. That purpose was given us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, making it the eternal purpose of the Creator God. Les says God created everything for His own purpose, that all would redound to His glory. We do not earn it; we work into that purpose by being recipients of His grace and mercy and are made partakers of it all by simple faith in the gospel. He adds that it is past finding out and past human understanding, but the Bible teaches it, and we better believe it.
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,
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;