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"Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. But has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel."
(2 Timothy 1:9-10)
Paul emphasizes to Timothy and all the Church the importance of grace over works. God saved, called, and set us apart for holiness. It was not by our works, as Ephesians 2:8-9 teaches. He drew us near; we did not go searching for Him, but He came after us, pursued us, and even enabled us by His grace to believe and repent. We did and were saved. God knew we would be His children long before we knew and way before we were even born. Both how His Son would come and save and the very ones He would save were all in God's mind and heart all along. This truth gives the child of God much comfort and assurance. He did all this, so rest assured, He is not going to lose us!
"Marvel at the greatness of God in your salvation. He rescued you. He is making you holy. He assures you that you will never die. . . . God will save us from the presence of sin. Only this gospel will sustain you in great suffering. Preach it to yourself daily!" (Source: Platt, D., Akin, D. L., & Merida, T. (2013). Exalting Jesus in 1 & 2 Timothy and Titus (pp. 147–153). Holman Reference.)
Wow, what a passage of Scripture! God's purpose and grace have been revealed in Jesus. God is able to keep or guard what we have committed or entrusted to Him (vs. 12), according to His power and by the fact He has already demonstrated that power in our salvation.
Wait no more for the salvation and grace of God to come. He came, and His name is Jesus! Incarnation is a wonderful doctrine. In this one verse, Paul presents the Gospel in a nutshell—succinct, and powerful. He abolished death by dying in our place on the cross, so when we die, we enter God's eternal presence. He arose and conquered death, and He brings life and eternal life to all who receive Him. Hallelujah, what a Savior!
John Stott said, "The proper epitaph to write for the Christian believer is not a dismal uncertain petition, 'R.I.P.' . . . but a joyful and certain affirmation 'C.A.D.' ('Christ abolished death')" (Source: Stott, Message 39 in Exalting Christ in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus).
Just prior to Dietrich Bonhoeffer's execution by the Germans in 1945, he shared a message to those in the same camp. He spoke to them of the death and resurrection of Jesus. When his captors came for him, he said to his congregation, "This is the end. For me the beginning of life." (Source: Exalting Christ in 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus)
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