For God didn't appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
by our Lord Jesus Christ: Lest there should be any tendency to feel that one’s salvation is based on individual merit because one has met God’s conditions for salvation, Paul hastens to dispel that notion. Even the actions that are required and the conditions that must be met would be of no value apart from "our Lord Jesus Christ." We acquire salvation in the limited sense that we comply with the conditions upon which it is proffered. He acquired (purchased) the church and our salvation by the shedding of his blood (Acts 20:28).