Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Thessalonians 5:9

"For God appointed us not into wrath, but unto the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," — 1 Thessalonians 5:9 (ASV)

For.—This is not the reason for being watchful, but for being hopeful of salvation. The image of the soldier is abandoned as suddenly as it was introduced.

Has not appointed.—Rather, did not appoint, referring to some mysterious moment of God’s eternal counsels, when He fixed His predestination of us—whether the moment of creative thought, or of sending the gospel to us. The “wrath” is that which is to come upon the “children of wrath” at the Second Advent, as in 1 Thessalonians 1:10; 1 Thessalonians 2:16. (Compare to 1 Peter 2:8.) We may well be confident then, for we ourselves are the only persons that can defeat God’s predestinations.

To obtain salvation.—More than “obtain”; the Greek means “acquire” (by one’s own efforts) and “earn and make our own.” This word is the same as is used as a verb in 1 Timothy 3:13 and Acts 20:28, and as a substantive in Ephesians 1:14 (where it is translated “purchased possession”), 2 Thessalonians 2:14, Hebrews 10:39 (translated “saving”), and 1 Peter 2:9 (see the note for this verse). It will be seen that God does not predestinate men to “salvation” without laborious acquisition on their part, but predestinates them to occupy a position in which they will be able to “work out their own salvation” by placing them “under grace” in the Church.

The very same word is used of the Christian’s way of securing salvation, and of Christ’s way of securing it for Him (see references); both are “purchasing,” “earning.” But note that the Christian can only so purchase salvation “through our Lord Jesus Christ”: apart from Him a man can do nothing to redeem himself, but through union with Him the believer can pay the whole price of his salvation (see e.g., John 15:5).