Why would God call a person to believe the Truth of the Gospel when they are a reprobate and He sent them a strong delusion to believe a lie ? 2 Thess 2:10-12
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12 they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
Now in contrast, the beloved chosen ones, God calls them by the Gospel to believe 2 Thess 2:13-14
13 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:
14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
See the But contrast from Vs 12 to Vs 13 ? Its contrasting the non elect with the elect, and instead of sending the elect a strong delusion to believe a lie, God sends the Spirit into their hearts to sanctify them unto believing the Truth of the Gospel to which they were called.
Your argument assumes that the non-elect are never genuinely offered salvation and that 2 Thessalonians 2:10–12 describes an immutable state from birth rather than a judicial hardening in response to prior unbelief.
However, Scripture consistently teaches that God calls all people to repentance and faith before judgment is executed.
1. The Strong Delusion is a Judicial Act, Not an Eternal Decree of Reprobation
The passage states "because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved" (2 Thess 2:10). This clearly indicates that the truth was available to them, and they were given the opportunity to receive it. Their rejection precedes God's judicial action of sending the delusion. This aligns with Romans 1:18-25, where God "gave them over" only after they "exchanged the truth of God for a lie."
2Th 2:10 And by unlimited seduction to evil and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing (going to perdition) because
they did not welcome the Truth but refused to love it that they might be saved.
God's pattern throughout Scripture is to offer truth first, then confirm people in their chosen path when they reject it.
Pharaoh hardened his heart before God hardened him (Exod 8:15, 8:32, 9:34; cf. Rom 9:17-18). Likewise, Israel was hardened after repeated rejection of Christ (John 12:37-40; Rom 11:7-8).
If the non-elect were never offered salvation, then they could not be guilty of rejecting it.
Yet Paul explicitly states that they
"might have been saved" (2 Thess 2:10),
but refused the truth. This is not about an eternal decree of reprobation, but about God’s righteous judgment in response to willful unbelief.
2. God’s Call to Salvation is Universal Before Hardening Occurs
You contrast verses 12 and 13 as if they present two eternally fixed groups—one permanently reprobate and the other eternally elect.
However, Scripture teaches that God calls all people to salvation, and those who reject that call bring judgment upon themselves.
Isaiah 45:22 –
"Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other."
Ezekiel 18:23 –
"Do I have any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD: and not that he should turn from his ways and live?"
Matthew 11:28 –
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
If the non-elect were never truly offered salvation, then passages like these become meaningless. The entire biblical narrative shows that God calls all people to repent, and their rejection leads to hardening (Acts 17:30; Rom 2:4-5).
3. The Gospel is the Means of Salvation for All Who Believe
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 does indeed describe God's work in believers, but it does not state that God never called the non-elect. Rather, it affirms that the chosen are sanctified through belief in the truth. But what does Paul say is the means of calling?
"Whereunto he called you by our gospel."
The gospel is the universal call to salvation (Mark 16:15; John 3:16; Rom 1:16).
If God only calls the elect and never calls the non-elect, then why does Paul say,
"God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation" (2 Cor 5:19)?
The gospel call goes out to all, and those who reject it are responsible for their own hardening (John 3:19-20; Acts 13:46).
4. The ‘But’ Contrast Does Not Establish Eternal Reprobation
The contrast in verses 12-13 does not mean that God never called those who perished. Rather, it highlights the difference between those who rejected the truth and were hardened (v. 12) and those who believed and were sanctified (v. 13).
The contrast is in response to their faith or unbelief, not a pre-temporal decree of reprobation.
The key distinction is that God's election is realized through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth (v. 13). If election were unconditional and fixed apart from faith, Paul would not include belief of the truth as a necessary means. Instead, the elect are those who respond in faith, whereas the non-elect are those who reject the truth and are consequently hardened.
God Calls All to Salvation, but Hardens the Willfully Rebellious
Your argument assumes that God never calls the non-elect to salvation, yet 2 Thessalonians 2:10 explicitly says they might have been saved if they had received the truth. Scripture repeatedly shows that God's judgment follows human rejection, not an arbitrary decree of reprobation. The gospel is preached to all, and those who believe are sanctified, while those who reject are eventually hardened.
Key cross-references:
Ezekiel 33:11 –
"I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that the wicked turn from his way and live."
Acts 17:30 –
"God now commands all men everywhere to repent."
Romans 10:13-14 –
"Whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?"
John 12:35-40 –
Hardening comes only after persistent unbelief.
God’s call is universal, but those who reject it bring judgment upon themselves. The contrast in 2 Thessalonians 2:12-13 does not establish unconditional reprobation, but rather the consequence of belief versus rejection.
Nothing here about the elect and non-elect
@brightfame52 and you are butchering the Scriptures making it impossible for those to come to Messiah and experience eternal life..
What a shame!
J.
What ARE you talking about?
