Loved, Chosen, and Sanctified

The biblical doctrine of election is one of the most despised teachings in Holy Scripture. Unbelievers loathe the sovereignty of God in salvation. They commit the unforgiveable sin of rejecting the Holy Spirit’s testimony of how God saves His chosen people from their sins. To them, the cross of Jesus Christ is foolishness or a stumbling block (1 Cor 1:23).

The believer in Jesus trusts the witness of the Holy Spirit, as He teaches the Gospel of God through “fools for Christ,” who preach Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2; 4:10). This is the Word of truth revealed by God, by His grace unto salvation.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ begins “before the foundation of the world” (Eph 1:4–5), that is, before creation. In eternity past, God chose a specific group of people to be His people. The Bible does not reveal why God selected some people for salvation, from the consequences for their sin. It does, however, tell us what salvation is and who salvation belongs to from beginning to end. Of course, the Gospel of salvation tells us how God saves His people from their sins (Mt 1:21).

We do know that Yahweh’s motive in saving His elect is love. He first set His love upon the remnant people of His choosing when He predestined us to adoption as sons (Eph 1:4–5). Thus, the children of God love the Lord because they have been glad recipients of His love (1 Jn 3:1; 4:19).

The love of God is poured out in the hearts of those who have been born again of God (Jn 3:1–8; Rom 5:5). It is the Holy Spirit who has made us alive by transferring the elect, redeemed into Christ (Eph 2:5; Col 1:13; 2:13).

When God the Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in the hearts of those He has regenerated, the love of God becomes the pre-eminent fruit of the Spirit’s presence. The children of God are called, “beloved by the Lord” (2 Thess 2:13a). So, how did God save His remnant elect?

God the Father sent His only begotten Son into the world to be the Savior of Israel (Is 49:1–6; Jn 3:16), the name of His elect from every nation (Rev 5:9; 7:9). Jesus Messiah was enfleshed in the womb of the Virgin Mary (Is 7:14; Jn 1:14). He was like us, fully man, yet without sin (Heb 4:15); and He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21).

Sin is lawlessness (1 Jn 3:4). Sin puts all the sons of Adam at enmity with God (Rom 1:30; Jn 7:7), who hates those who do iniquity (Ps 5:5; 7:11; 11:5) Thus, the chosen of God must be reconciled to God so to return to peace with God (Rom 5:1). God, the initiator, was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself (2 Cor 5:19). For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). In this act of bearing our sin on the cross (1 Pet 2:24), God was demonstrating His love toward us (Rom 5:8). Jesus loved His bride, His church and gave Himself for us (Eph 5:25).

Jesus sanctified Himself and He prayed for the sanctification of all those who the Father had given Him (Jn 6:37; Jn 17:19). This is a sure sanctification because it is a work of God the Holy Spirit (1 Pet 1:2).

Having been re-positioned in Christ Jesus (1 Cor 1:2), who has become to us, sanctification (1 Cor 1:30), we have faith in the truth granted to us by His grace (Phil 1:29). It is the Word of truth that is the Word of life and the Word of faith implanted in our hearts (Mt 13:8; Jas 1:21). Christians believe the Gospel of Jesus because God has made us believe, again, by His grace (Eph 2:8–9).

Those who are chosen…are called…are faithful…because God is faithful to perform the works of the covenant promised long ago (Phil 2:13; Rev 17:14). He accomplishes all that concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8), even performing all our works for us (Is 26:12). These are the good works prepared beforehand by God that the believer walks in (Eph 2:10; Jas 2:14) because it is no longer he who lives but Christ who lives in him by the Spirit (Rom 8:9, 11; Gal 2:20).

The life of the Christian is a life of faith in God. The believer in Jesus trusts in the Lord with all his or her heart because the faithful walk by the Spirit (Gal 5:16, 25). The life of God in the soul of man is a most marvelous experience. It causes one to pray without ceasing and to give thanks in everything (1 Thess 5:17–18).

The will of God, as revealed in the Word of God, by the Spirit of God, is for our sanctification (1 Thess 4:3). The Word washes over us when we read our Bibles or sit under the preaching or teaching of sound doctrine (Eph 5:26). Our faith is increased and strengthened by exposure to the means of grace. Participation in the life of God’s called out ones will mean that the Word, the sacraments, and life together will have their good effect upon us in the company of the saints.

The Apostle Paul gave thanks to God for his fellow believers (2 Thess 2:13). Each one was an object of God’s mercy and grace being prepared for glory (Rom 9:23) — a glory to be obtained at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who has the Son of God has eternal life in his or her soul, today. In the resurrection to life, at Christ’s second advent, our physical bodies will be raised to join with our souls in the fullness of glorification (Jn 5:28–29; Rom 8:30). We will be like Christ for we will see Him as He is, today, at the right hand of Majesty (Heb 1:3; 8:1).

Were you chosen? Have you been called? Examine yourself to see that you are in the faith handed down to the saints and from our fathers, by Word and letter, so that we all might know so great a salvation bestowed upon us in the beloved.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

June 11, 2023