God chose you to be saved, and I hope you are aware of that. In fact, it’s exciting news, isn’t it? After all, the God of creation loves you enough to pick you to spend forever with him.
God Chose You To Be Saved, It’s Exciting News!
STM Bible Lesson: God Chose You To Be Saved
Lesson focus: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (13-14). Bible lesson background: Here are a few reasons why it is exciting news:
- Previously, God’s chosen people were only Jewish.
- Three stats support this:
1. The phrase “the God of Israel” appears 226 times in the Old Testament.
2. According to Isaiah 41:17, God says, “I am the God of Israel.”
3. And six times, only in Exodus, I found, “God of the Hebrews”. In fact, Jesus made it clear that he came to save the Jews. - Jesus answered, “I was sent only to the people of Israel. They are like lost sheep.” Matthew 15:24 (NIRV)
- He sent the disciples to the Jews, they were ordered to avoid the Gentiles and Samaritans [Matthew 10:5-15 (5-6)]. But as Isaiah had prophesied, Isaiah 42:1-4, he also came for the Gentiles. You see, God knew the people of Israel would reject him.
- 18 Look, my Servant whom I chose, the one I love, in whom I find great pleasure. I’ll put my Spirit upon him, and he’ll announce judgment to the Gentiles. 21 And the Gentiles will put their hope in his name. Matthew 12:18 and 21 (CEB)
- Acts 13:46 (EASY)
- But Paul and Barnabas were not afraid of them. They said to them, ‘It was right that we first tell you, who are Jews, the message from God. But now you say that God’s message is not true. You have shown that you do not deserve true life with God. So we will leave you now. We will go and tell this message to the Gentiles.
God loves† and chose†† you
- However, we should never get the idea that God did not love non-Jewish people. In fact, he did, and he does.
- Even before he made the world, God loved us† and chose us†† in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. Ephesians 1:4 (NLT)
- He planned to include everyone eventually. Which he did when he called the Gentiles.
- And his reason? To show to all the rulers in heaven how perfectly wise he is when all of his family—Jews and Gentiles alike—are seen to be joined together in his Church in just the way he had always planned it through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephesians 3:10-11 (TLB)
- My dear friends, God loves you†, and we know he has chosen you†† to be his people. 1 Thessalonians 1:4 (CEV)
Brothers and sisters, you are people the Lord loves†. And we always thank God for you. That’s what we should do, because God chose you†† to be some of the first people to be saved. You are saved by the Spirit making you holy and by your faith in the truth. 14 God chose you to have that salvation. He chose you by using the Good News that we told you. You were chosen so that you can share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (ERV)
God called you
In this life, we face many decisions, some more important than others. When God calls you—yes, I said God calls you—will you decide to accept His call to serve Him? So, did you think He called His disciples and stop?
For many are called, but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14 (KJV)
- Called
- G2822 κλητός kletos (klee-tos’) adj. 1) (specially, divinely) called forth. 2) (figuratively) invited.
- Chosen
- G1588 ἐκλεκτός eklektos (ek-lek-tos’) adj. (by implication) favorite. Chosen by God, to receive salvation through Christ.
and whom he called — even us — Not only from among the Jews but from among the Gentiles also! Romans 9:24 (OEBus)
He chose twelve plus you
Now about that time, Jesus went out, up the hill, to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God. 13 When day came, he summoned his disciples, and chose twelve of them, whom he also named ‘apostles.’ Luke 6:12-13 (OEBus)
The “called” are those who hear the gospel. Those who decide to accept and follow him are the chosen [Luke 13:24 and Matthew 7:13-14].
Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.” 66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 70 Then Jesus said, I chose the twelve of you, but one is a devil. John 6:65-66 and 70 (NLT)
God chose you in the beginning, before he created the earth, to be a member of his family. So, it was not a mistake or by chance—God chose you on purpose!
It is he who saved us and chose us for his holy work not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan long before the world began—to show his love and kindness to us through Christ. 10 And now he has made all of this plain to us by the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, who broke the power of death and showed us the way of everlasting life through trusting him. 11 And God has chosen me to be his missionary, to preach to the Gentiles and teach them. 2 Timothy 1:9-11 (TLB)
Accept your call and do the right thing
Peter replied, “Turn away from your sins [i.e., repent] and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then your sins will be forgiven, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away—for everyone the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39 (RAD)
An honor
So, do you get it now? After all, you should consider it an honor that God called and chose you!
And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 And whom he predestined, those he also called: and whom he called, those he also justified: and whom he justified, those he also glorified. Romans 8:28-30 (RKJNT)
Chosen for salvation
I, Peter, am writing this letter. And I am an apostle of Jesus Christ. I am sending this letter to you, God’s chosen people. You are people who have had to wander in the world. You are scattered all over the areas of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. 2 You have been chosen in keeping with what God the Father had planned. That happened through the Spirit’s work to make you pure and holy. God chose you so that you might obey Jesus Christ. God wanted you to be in a covenant relationship with him. He established this relationship by the blood of Christ. May more and more grace and peace be given to you. 1 Peter 1:1-2 (NIRV)
You are special
Since God chose you for salvation, do you realize you are special in the eyes of God? You are special because there are countless people in this world, and God chose to save you!
“In Christ we were chosen to be God’s people. God had already chosen us to be his people, because that is what he wanted. And God is the One who makes everything agree with what he decides and wants. 12 We are the first people who hoped in Christ. And we were chosen so that we would bring praise to God’s glory.
13 So it is with you. You heard the true teaching—the Good News about your salvation. When you heard it, you believed in Christ. And in Christ, God put his special mark on you by giving you the Holy Spirit that he had promised. 14 That Holy Spirit is the guarantee that we will get what God promised for his people. This will bring full freedom to the people who belong to God, to bring praise to God’s glory.” Ephesians 1:11-14 (ICB)
So, have a wonderful day because God chose you to be saved; it is exciting news! I pray that you have enjoyed and will make the most of this Bible lesson. Blessings to you and your loved ones—♥ Tim. ☺
Related studies/lessons/snacks for further spiritual growth:
♥ Question for ‘God Chose You To Be Saved; It’s Exciting News!’: Are you one of the chosen that follows Christ?
Scriptures to read and study
NOTE: the key verses are in parentheses.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 (13-14); Matthew 10:5-15 (5-6); Isaiah 42:1-9 (1-4); and Matthew 12:15-21 (18 and 21) [see John 10:16].
Acts 13:42-52 (46); Ephesians 1:3-14 (4 and 11-14) and 3:8-13 (10-11); 1 Thessalonians 1:2-10 (4); and Matthew 22:1-14 (14). Romans 9:14-29 (24) and Luke 6:12-16 (12-13) {see also Matthew 10:1-4; and Mark 3:13-19}.
John 6:60-71 (65-66 and 70) [see John 6:37, 39, and 44]; 2 Timothy 1:8-12 (9-11); Acts 2:14-39 (38-39); and Romans 8:18-30 (28-30). 1 Peter 1:1-2.
See what is available on the Sound Truth Ministry website.
I look forward to your feedback via comment at the bottom of the page or by emailing tim@stministry.com. Have a fantabulous day!
