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(1) Election - the beginning of our Salvation...

Election is a revealed truth of Scripture, not a philosophically derived concept or idea. It relates to the Sovereign will of God, which He has decided to reveal to us, so that we may derive assurance of our promised Salvation, through Jesus the Christ (Messiah).

It is an eternal act of God towards all who are saved, out of pure grace, and for Christ's sake. It is the hook upon which hangs the many blessings of Salvation. Many theologians and scholars have sought to define election, in a clear way, so as to capture its true meaning, one such clear definition is as follows:

"Election is an act of God before creation in which He chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of His sovereign good pleasure." 

Election is seen to be in effect, as a result of our response to the effective calling, or Royal summons, from the King of the Universe. It is not fatalistic or mechanistic, God does not leave us in a system where human decisions and choices are of no consequence, nor does He adopt an impersonal approach to us. 

His elective choice is one that is permeated with personal love for those He chose. God's personal approach is clearly seen in His plea to rebellious Israel, through the prophet Ezekiel:

"As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die..." (Ezek. 33:11). 

Paul the Apostle, in writing to the Ephesians about God's sovereign choice of believers, puts it this way:

"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. He destined us in love to be His sons through Jesus Christ according to the purpose of His will, to the praise of His glorious grace" (Eph. 1:3-6)

This should give those who believe, Comfort in Assurance, a Reason to Praise God and an Encouragement to Evangelise; as success in saving the elect of God is guaranteed.