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Election of God

(1 Thessalonians 1:3-6)

3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our LORD Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our Gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the LORD, having received the Word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

Since election is so clearly taught in Scripture, how is it that so few know it and believe it? In truth, it is not difficult to understand. What is so difficult to understand that it is God Who has chosen those sinners He has purposed to save, and that it is all of God, where God is the Author and the sinner the recipient? However, left to ourselves, because of the darkness and rebellion of the heart, we would rather believe that our will or some goodness in us is the cause for God choosing, and not His eternal will and purpose alone. When taught by the Spirit, it brings us to bow, as the apostle Paul declared in (Ephesians 3:14-15), “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our LORD Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,”

But what of those who truly struggle with whether they are the LORD’S or not? (Mark 9:24). Is it truly possible to know that we are the elect of God or not? The apostle Paul, writing to the Thessalonians was confident that those to whom He wrote were chosen of God: ‘knowing, brethren beloved, you election OF GOD,’ v. 4. We can never reassure any that THEY are God’s elect, but God surely gives such assurance to those who are His with these proofs:

1. There is a work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope IN THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, v. 3. This is not the cause of election, but the evidence. Where the Spirit of Christ is, in those whom the Father chose, and the Son redeemed, faith, hope, and love of the LORD Jesus are evident.

2. The GOSPEL is received not just in word but in the POWER of the Holy Spirit with MUCH ASSURANCE, v. 5. It doesn’t come without the Word (the doctrine of Christ) but when purposed of God is accompanied with the power (quickening) of the Spirit, delivering from the blindness of heart, darkened understanding, and opening the ears, to know, see, hear, and believe in the LORD Jesus Christ who accomplished their redemption, propitiation, and justification for them, wherein comes the assurance of faith.

3. The elect follow Christ and those who faithfully preach Him for them, with joy in the Holy Spirit, in the face of much opposition, v. 6. Whom God has chosen, Christ has redeemed, and the Spirit calls, and nothing or no one can deter them or cause them to turn away.