“To God’s elect … who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” (1 Peter 1:1-2)
Whenever the Bible speaks of God’s people being chosen or elect, it reveals this election in two ways. First, we are spoken of as being “chosen” or “elect” in the Son, Jesus Christ. “Just as God chose us in Him (Christ) before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him” (Ephesians 1:4). Remember, Jesus Christ is God’s “Chosen One.” That’s His Messianic title. “Behold My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights” (Isaiah 42:1; Matthew 12:18; Luke 9:35; 1 Peter 1:20; 2:4, 6). Therefore, when we are united with Christ by the Holy Spirit, we become “Chosen in Him.” In the same way we are beloved, the Seed of Abraham, and heirs of God “in Christ” (Romans 8:17; Galatians 3:16, 29; Ephesians 1:4-11). In Him we have been made both perfect (Colossians 2:10) and the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). In Christ we are chosen and elect. Apart from Him we are not.
But God’s word also says that we are “chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Peter 1:2). This means that, back in eternity, God could look through the corridors of time and see us in millions of possible circumstances. And under certain circumstances, He could see that we’d accept and believe in His Son if given the opportunity. So He chose us according to this foreknowledge. “And those He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). With this foreknowledge God directed the times and events of our lives so that they would maneuver us into the best opportunity to hear and Gospel and be saved.
Some will object to this. They’ll say that, if God chose us based upon our possible response to Christ, then this would amount to meriting God’s election. It is most certainly true that we can never earn or merit God’s election. But simply saying “yes” to God’s invitation does not make me worthy of His gifts. Think about it. Suppose I have a wad of $20 bills that I’d like to give away. And, not wanting to be rejected, I purposely offer them to the homeless. Why? Because they’re more likely to accept them than the wealthy are. I am basing my decision to go to the homeless based upon my knowledge of how they’re most likely to respond. Does that mean that the homeless have merited anything from me? Of course not. Nor does our willingness to respond to God’s love make us worthy of it. God’s grace remains the unmerited favor of God.
REFLECTION
- God has chosen you before the foundation of the world. Doesn’t this strengthen your hope of ultimate salvation in heaven?
- Doesn’t this obligate you to live a life worthy of His calling (Ephesians 4:1; 2 Thessalonians 1:11)?
- Because we are “in Christ” we are elect, beloved, and the very righteousness of God. And according to His foreknowledge of us, God chose us. Let’s rejoice and rest in our status as God’s elect. Let’s also live up to that glorious status.
