Election is God’s eternal, sovereign, and gracious choice of a people for Himself in Christ before the foundation of the world.
It is the first link in the golden chain of salvation and the fountain from which all the blessings of redemption flow.
Scripture presents election as an act of pure grace, not based on foreseen faith or works, but on God’s own purpose and will.
Those whom God has chosen He also calls, justifies, and glorifies, so that the whole work of salvation rests securely on His unchanging love.
From the beginning of God’s dealings with humanity, Scripture speaks of His distinguishing choice. He chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He chose Israel as His treasured possession. In the New Testament the language of election is applied to all who are in Christ. The Father chose us in Him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love. He predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of His will. Election is therefore not a cold or arbitrary decree; it is the expression of the Father’s eternal love set upon a people who would be given to the Son and redeemed by His blood. It is the guarantee that salvation is of the Lord from first to last. The doctrine humbles human pride, establishes the believer’s security, and moves the heart to worship the God who chose us when we had nothing to commend us.
- Election is God’s eternal choice of a people in Christ before the foundation of the world.
- It is an act of pure grace, not conditioned on foreseen faith, works, or merit.
- Election is unto holiness, adoption, and conformity to the image of the Son.
- It is the foundation of the believer’s security and the source of every spiritual blessing.
- The doctrine excludes boasting and magnifies the freeness of God’s love.
- Scripture holds together divine election and the free offer of the gospel to all people.
- Those whom God elects He also effectively calls, justifies, and brings to glory.
- Eternal – Chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
- Sovereign – According to the purpose of God’s will, not human decision or effort.
- Gracious – Unmerited and free; the opposite of works or worthiness.
- In Christ – Election is never apart from the Son; it is “in Him.”
- Unto Holiness – The purpose is that the elect should be holy and blameless before Him.
- Effectual – Those whom God chooses He brings to faith and final salvation.
- Humbling and Comforting – It removes all ground of boasting and gives unshakable assurance.
- Ephesians 1:3-6 – “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
- Romans 8:28-30 – “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.”
- Romans 9:10-16 – “Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls… So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
- Romans 11:5-6 – “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”
- 2 Timothy 1:9 – “…who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began…”
- 1 Peter 1:1-2 – “…to those who are elect exiles… according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood…”
- John 6:37, 44 – “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out… No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him.”
- John 15:16 – “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide…”
- Acts 13:48 – “And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.”
- Colossians 3:12 – “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience…”
- 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 – “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”
- Matthew 22:14 – “For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Revelation 13:8; 17:8 – Those whose names have been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
- Deuteronomy 7:6-8 – “For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession… It was not because you were more in number than any other people… but it is because the Lord loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers…”
Election is the eternal, gracious choice of God that lies at the foundation of every believer’s salvation. He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world — not because of anything He foresaw in us, but according to the purpose of His will and to the praise of His glorious grace. This truth humbles the pride of man and establishes the security of the saint. Those whom the Father has given to the Son will come to Him, and He will lose none of them. Election does not cancel the free offer of the gospel; it guarantees that the gospel will succeed. Therefore rest in the electing love of God. Marvel that He set His love upon you when you had nothing to offer. And live as one of God’s chosen ones — holy and beloved — to the praise of the glory of His grace.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.