How do we become partakers of God's purpose, grace, and mercy?
We become partakers of God's purpose, grace, and mercy by simple faith in the gospel, not by works. God saved us and called us with a holy calling according to His own purpose and grace, given us in Christ Jesus before the ages began. This eternal purpose centers on His glory.
Les explains that 2 Timothy 1:9 declares God 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, meaning it is the eternal purpose of the Creator God, who created everything for His own purpose—that everything would redound to His glory. We work into that purpose by being recipients of His grace and mercy, and we are made partakers of it all by simple faith in the gospel. Les adds that this is past finding out and past human understanding, but the Bible teaches it, and we better believe it.