2 Timothy 1:9 9who has saved and called us to a holy calling, not according to our works but according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before times eternal,
Paul now reflects on and praises God’s plan of salvation. The verse begins with two attributive participles that describe God, who is mentioned at the end of verse 8. First, God offers salvation to all who will believe. The aorist tense of this participle puts this action in the past, so Paul is reflecting on the salvation he and Timothy (the us) had experienced.
Second, God calls people to a holy calling. The call to holiness rings out throughout the Bible and is for all people, especially the people of God (1 Peter 1:15-16). Paul does not say exactly what the call is here, but he elsewhere describes the call of believers to become like Christ in love and holiness (Romans 8:30; 9:12, 24; 1 Corinthians 1:9; Galatians 1:6; 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:24). The order of these two participles is significant: salvation leads to holiness; our commitment shown through holiness is the response to God’s saving grace.
God’s purposes for us is not for us to struggle in trying to be righteous and holy by our own strength according to our works. Paul preached this everywhere he went, as indicated throughout his letters (example, Ephesians 2:8-9). Our call to Christlikeness comes because that is why we were created. Paul expresses this important thought in the last part of this verse. God had a purpose (prothesin) or plan ahead of time for the way salvation would come before times eternal. This plan centered on grace in Christ Jesus.
The theological significance of these ideas cannot be overstated. Jesus, the Son of God and the means of God’s communication as the Word, is eternal and existed before time began. God’s plan of salvation through his Word was set before God ever said, “Let there be” (Gen 1:3). Our opportunity to participate in this grand plan comes only in Christ Jesus. All grace comes through Christ and is experience most fully by those who have accepted Christ as Lord of their lives.
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