Matthew Poole and continuators on 1 Thessalonians 5:9

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

Some Expositors make these words an argument to all the Duties of Holiness mentioned both in this and the foregoing Chapters, and it is true, that the knowledge of our being Elected, or appointed to Salvation, doth not in the Elect encourage to sin or sloth, as some affirm, but engage to all holiness; but I had rather restrain the words, and that either to the hope of Salvation mentioned immediately before, and then the sence to be this, we may well hope for Salvation seeing God hath appointed us to it, or to his whole discourse about the coming of Christ, and so they may give the reason why the dead in Christ must rise, and must with the Living Saints meet the Lord in the air, and be for ever with him; yea, and why they need not fear the destruction that will come upon others at that day, and why they should be watchful for its coming, because saith the Apostle, God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain Salvation, &c. having spoken of two sorts of persons, the Children of the day, and Children of the night, and the sudd[illegible: 1 letter]n destruction of the one, and Salvation of the other at the coming of Christ; he here ascends to the first Original of both, which is Gods appointm[illegible: 1 letter]nt, which is an Act of God's Sovereign will, determining mens final Estates, which seems to be more than meer praescience, or foreknowledge, an act of Gods mind, as appears by Rom. 8.29. 1 Pet. 1.2. or more than appointing of the means and way of Salvation, but not of persons to be saved, or of persons only materially, as to the number how many, but not formally, or individually who they are that shall be saved; whereas the Apostle writes of some whose names are in the book of life, Phil. 4.3. and that from the foundation of the World. Rev. 17.8. and chosen before the foundation of the World, Eph. 1.4. otherwise every mans Salvation would depend more upon the uncertainty of Mans Will, than the Eternal and immutable Will of God; whereas whatever God works in man's Salvation, is according to the Counsel of his Will, Eph. 1.11. And Gods Counsel is certain, immutable, and eternal, extending not only to actions and means, but persons, Rom. 8.29, 30. neither is this appointment of God grounded upon the foresight of mans Faith; for if Faith be the gift of God, this gift proceeds from Gods counsel and sore-appointment; else men may say▪ That I may be saved, I must thank God, but that I am saved, I must thank my self. And hence there is a possibility for no man to be saved; and all the counsels of God in Christ to be made frustrate; but this is no place for controversie, only where God appoints to Salvation, he appoints also to means, and without the means, there is no attainment of the end, Eph. 1.4. 1 Pet. 1.2. And the Apostle here makes Salvation stand opposite to Wrath, what before he call'd destruction: verse. 3. he here calleth Wrath, because Gods Wrath produceth it, and is manifested in it. And those that are saved, are delivered from it, and the supream reason is, because they were not appointed to it, but to Salvation, and none that are appointed to the one, are appointed to the other. The vessels of Wrath and of Mercy are set in an opposite distinction, Rom. 9.22, 23. and so in the Text to illustrate the Mercy of God the more in them that are saved: And whereas the Apostle calls it the obtaining of Salvation, it implies mans endeavours for it, though he be appointed of God to it, and speaking positively not only of himself, but these believing Thessalonians also, he hath appointed us to obtain Salvation, doth not this also imply that some good assurance of Salvation may be obtained in this World.

The Decrees of Salvation are executed in him, and by him. And there is no Salvation in any other, Acts 4.12. And he saveth not only by his Doctrine and Example as some have affirmed, but by his blood as the meritorious, and his Spirit as the efficient cause of Salvation, whether the Infinite Wisdom of God could have found out another way I shall not enquire, but this it hath pitched upon, wherein Mercy and Justice are admirably glorified together, and the highest engagement imaginable laid upon men to love, serve, and honour their Creator. And as the freeness of Gods Grace is manifested in his appointing men to Salvation, so the exceeding Riches of it in saving them by Jesus Christ. And whereas two things are necessary to it, the reconciling us unto God, and restoring his Image in us: The former we have by the merit of his Blood, and the latter by the operation of his Spirit; so that we have no ground for that fond opinion, That if men walk honestly and uprightly, they may be saved in any Religion.

Marginal references: Rom. 9.22. 1 Pet. 2.8. Jude 4.