Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary 2 Thessalonians 2:14

"whereunto he called you through our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." — 2 Thessalonians 2:14 (ASV)

God has fulfilled his foreordained purpose by calling the chosen to this salvation “through our gospel.” The good news of divine truth conveyed through Paul’s preaching was the means whereby God called these Thessalonian converts at a particular point in time. What God purposed in eternity was carried out in history, so that they might share “in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” God’s design was to make them adopted children who participate in Christ’s glory at the parousia (coming; cf. 1:10, 12).

They do not earn this status or in any other way acquire it for themselves. It is accomplished solely by God.