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Called to be Saved

God has not given us an impossible task. He has called us to obtain salvation, and not called us to wrath. Notice 1 Thessalonians 5:9.

1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are some in the church who make it seem God is somebody we should fear, as if God is somehow out to get us. The only way that God wants to get us is to be saved. If we were appointed to obtain salvation, as I Thessalonians 5:9 shows, it is reasonable to expect that we have not yet obtained salvation. So what are some steps we can take to move ourselves towards salvation? Paul explains this in more detail in the same chapter.

I Thessalonians 5:1-5
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Paul was sharing the brethren what Jesus shared with the disciples in Matthew 24 and Matthew 25. In these verses, Jesus used similar examples to show what the end time would be like. Jesus talked about the thief in the night, where one Christian was taken and one was left, gave the story of the ten virgins in which five Christians were foolish and five Christians were wise, showed how Christians were expected to increase the gifts they were given, and used sheep and goats to contrast Christians who cared for those in need and those who did not care for those in need.

When Paul writes in chapter 5 of I Thessalonians that we are to be children of light and children of the day, he is saying we need to do those things mentioned in Matthew 24 and 25, and if we do not, it is quite clear what our fate is. So if we are called to obtain salvation, we have to act in a manner worthy of being given salvation.

Specifically, what are some other things we need to do?

Paul points out in verse 11 of chapter 5 of I Thessalonians that we need to edify each other and comfort ourselves. In verse 12 and 13 it is explained thaful, quench not the spirit, do not despise prophecies, prove all things and hold hast to that which is good, and abstain from every type of evil.

I Thessalonians 5:8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Faith, love, and hope are themes that Paul discusses.

In 1 Corinthians 13:13 he writes:

1 Corinthians 13:13
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

It is with love that we become children of the light and day. It is with love that we pursue good and abstain from evil. Love gives us the ability to be at peace among brethren, to edify each other and to provide comfort, and to know that God seeks our salvation.

Notice what Paul wrote in Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Paul shared with the brethren that God is faithful to us. We should not worry that God is out to get us. The only way we get separated from God is by our choice. God is working for our salvation. It is with love that we keep the commands and it is with love that we take care of those in need. If we do this, we will obtain salvation.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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