<p>1:9- see on Eph. 2:6.</p><p><i>Who 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 times eternal</i>- The allusion is to the salvation of Israel out of Egypt- although they were still able to fall from that 'saved' position. Natural Israel was called out of Egypt by their Red Sea baptism to be &ldquo;a holy nation&rdquo; (Ex. 19:6). After our baptism, the members of spiritual Israel likewise receive &ldquo;a holy calling&rdquo; (2 Tim. 1:9). After baptism we &ldquo;become slaves of... holiness&rdquo; (Rom. 6:19,22 and context). Our calling is according to God's purpose- the same words and argument as used in Rom. 8:28; 9:11. Paul there cites the whole concept of calling as the great example of grace. The fact God's &quot;purpose&quot; means some are called and some aren't is a parade of grace (Rom. 9:11). Instead of getting caught up on the imponderables about those who are not called, the fact we have been called and are in God's purpose should be read as His grace being poured&nbsp;out upon us. We know we are called because without doubt we have heard the call to the Kingdom. But this calling was in fact given to us in Christ from infinity- &quot;before times eternal&quot;. This is mind-blowing- that God's plan to save us was given for us not just at the creation of the world, but from some infinite point before time existed. To say 'from the beginning' would be to miss the wonder of it.&nbsp;</p>