Election
Ephesians 1:4 tells us that, “he chose us in him before the foundation of the world.” You cannot miss the fact that the Bible clearly teaches that God has chosen us. Jesus in multiple places refers to the, “the elect, whom he chose” (Mk 13:20). Peter says that we can confirm our calling and election by the fruit in our lives as evident in certain qualities (2 Peter 1:5-10). God chose Noah to save his family and God chose Abraham and his descendants to become his people. Deuteronomy 7:6 says of Israel, “The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.” Similarly of the church 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession.” We even see that God chose Jesus to be the servant Isaiah prophesied about (Mt 12:15-21). Jesus himself is called the chosen one (Lk 23:35) and Jesus also had a full awareness of who was chosen. “I know whom I have chosen” (Jn 13:18). Paul affirms this repeatedly in the New Testament writing, “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you” (1 Thessalonians 1:4). In Revelation 17:14, the believers with Christ are described as, “called and chosen and faithful.” So it is clear that God has chosen the elect and he has done so before the foundation of the world. Romans 8:29 says, “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” Because God is sovereign, just, knows all, sees all and is outside of time, he is able to elect and predestine individuals for salvation. This does not in anyway hinder or interfere with our free will. Humans still have the ability to choose to follow or reject God, but the entirety of the salvific work is accomplished on the part of Christ and not man. God provides salvation and then invites us to believe (Jn 3:16) in him. In John 6:37 Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me.” There is a response on our part, but even in the response it is God working. Jesus also said in John 6:44, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”