Does 2nd Thessalonians 2:13 Teach Calvinism?

2nd Thessalonians 2:12-14, “That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Does 2nd Thessalonians 2:13 teach Calvinism? At a glance it sure seems like it. But the answer is a bold, “No, absolutely not!” Pastor Max Younce offers these helpful words of exegesis in his excellent book titled: “Not Chosen To Salvation”:

II Thessalonians 2:13,14 - Called By The Gospel = Drawn By The Cross

"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: (13) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." - 2 Thessalonians 2:13,14

You see, predestinationalists are as excited over the words "chosen" and "election" as the Church of Christ are over water! They will swim through rivers, lakes and oceans of grace, faith and free will to stop at a rill of baptism and election for salvation. One would have to throw out the last half of Verse 13 and all of Verse 14 in order to "squeeze out" the doctrine of "election to salvation." On page 33 of Mr. Nettleton's book, Chosen To Salvation, he comments upon these verses by saying:  

"God decides to have spiritual children and chooses from among the sons of men certain individuals and saves them. This is election. It is a mystery, but a fact to be believed." 

"A fact to be believed" only if you disregard the Bible. Now notice that the believer is chosen to salvation on the basis of two things: 

1. One of them is God's part: "...through sanctification of the spirit." 

2. The other is man's responsibility. "...belief of the truth." 

Verse 14 tells us how we are called, 

"Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and it is by this that He calls all to be saved. Notice again in John 12:32: 

"And I (Christ), if I be lifted up (crucified on the cross) from the earth, will draw all men unto me." 

In John 4:42 it is made clear that His will is to see everyone saved: 

"...for we have heard him (Christ) ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world." 

If we would read all of 2 Thessalonians 2, we would find that this is speaking of the 7-year Tribulation Period when after the 3 1/2 years the Anti-Christ exalts himself in the Jewish Temple and declares himself to be God (Verse 4). Then in Verse 10, those that perish do so because of a decision they make. Verse 10: 

"And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not (i.e., they would not believe) the love of the truth, that they might be saved." 

Then in Verse 11 and 12 God states He will send "The lie." This is the Anti-Christ whom they will believe since they willfully rejected the truth. Notice Verses 11 and 12: 

"And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: (11) That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." (12) 

Remember, Christ died for the sins of the world, therefore everyone is invited to come and believe in Christ. John made it perfectly clear that "whosoever" may come. Notice in John 11:25 and 26: 

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"

SOURCE: Pastor Max D. Younce; “Not Chosen To Salvation,” pp. 89-91