1 Thessalonians 1:4
For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you…

The election, or predestination, of God is an idea that is often met with much discussion and debate. Yet it is one clearly presented in Scripture. We cannot honestly and openly examine the Word of God without seeing the reality of God’s election in our lives.

The simplest way of putting it is this: before anything was created, when God alone existed, He chose those who would be saved by the work of His Son, Jesus Christ. And this choosing was done on the basis of God’s sovereign pleasure. In other words, those who are saved were not chosen because of some potential God saw in them, nor were they chosen because God saw them accepting Christ in the future and simply picked them out of the masses. No, those who are elected by God are elected because God has chosen them, and for no other reason than He wanted to do so.

One of the loudest discussions about election asks why God would choose some and not others. We must be careful here, because Scripture never teaches that God created anyone for destruction. Hell is a place made for Satan and his demons, not humanity. And while, sadly, many people will go to hell as a result of their rejection of Christ, it is God’s will that all repent and none perish.

The idea of election is meant to be one of encouragement. God used election as a way of promising Christ that His sacrifice on the cross would not be in vain. God promised Jesus that if He was obedient to His Father’s will, then His work on the cross would purchase a people for Himself. A people already elected by God, who would trust in the work of Christ and become His bride.

Election was also a great encouragement to the early church. While we live in a world where millions claim the name of Christ, the first apostles lived in a world that had only thousands who claimed Christ and in an empire where it was illegal to do so. As they took the message of Christ to others, they were tremendously encouraged by knowing that there would be some who would respond positively to it and place their faith in Christ. They were guaranteed this result because they knew that God had elected some to respond in this way.

We must remember that it is not for us to know whom God has elected, and therefore the message of God’s reconciliation of the world to Himself through Christ must be proclaimed to all. Only those who have been elected will receive this message, but the offer of Christ is – and must be – extended to all.