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Election: The Choice of God

Acts 4:27–28 indicates that the plotting of Herod, Pontius Pilate,
the Gentiles, and the people of Israel was “decided beforehand” to
carry forward the redemptive work of Christ. The apostle Paul taught
Roman believers that Christians are “predestined” to be conformed
to the likeness of Christ (Romans 8:29–30). Paul also taught
Corinthians believers (1 Corinthians 2:7) about a divinely ordered
wisdom that was “destined” by God but was accomplished through
Jesus Christ. Then in Ephesians 1:5, Paul stated that Christian
believers are “predestined” to be God’s children. Finally, the apostle
noted that Christians are “predestined” to live for the praise of His
glory (Ephesians 1:11–12).

While these say much about what is foreordained, they also give no
indication that the details of our lives are fixed. God allows people to
have free will.

God’s redemptive purpose in us as individuals is foreordained. And
the basic purpose of foreordination is that we who accept God’s salvation
should have a living, holy relationship with Him as His children, being
conformed to the image or likeness of Christ.

In the plan of salvation, God and people are closely associated. God
extends grace, but people believe. God ordained that His people should
do good works. People believe and their faith results in good works.
They are not saved by good works, but good works are the evidence of
their living relationship with Christ. God ordains good works, but people
perform them. In the working out of salvation in our lives, God allows
us to work with Him. His part is great: He foreknew, He elected, He
foreordained, He called, He glorified, He sanctified, and so much more.
Nevertheless, He permits us to work with Him.

To summarize our discussion of election and foreordination, we do
well to remember the advice of Paul to the Ephesians:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this
not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no
one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to
do. (Ephesians 2:8–10)

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