Elected by God

I Peter 1:1-2

“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” (I Peter 1:1-2)

The book of Peter starts immediately by identifying the author as Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ. No further introduction is given. Peter was well known for his role as a disciple during Jesus’ ministry, and in founding the church at Jerusalem.

James’ primary ministry was to the Jews and the book of James was written to Jewish believers. Peter was the apostle first used of God to preach to the gentiles according to Acts 15:7. In keeping with that calling. Peter addresses his writings to the gentile believers, the strangers scattered across southern Europe and Asia. As believers, they are the elect of God.

The doctrine of election has been a point of controversy for hundreds of years. Followers of Arminius have held that the Bible said whosever eliminated any election, believing that salvation is solely up to the individual, while followers of Calvin’s five points believe that God has decreed that only certain ones can be saved. The Arminian chooses to ignore verses such as Romans 9:16, “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy,” because he accepts only part of the scripture. The Calvinist, ignores scriptures such as II Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

If II Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” is true, both sets of scripture must be true because as John 17:17 says, God’s word is truth. Any doctrine that rejects part of God’s word is thus false.

Peter’s statement, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,” clarifies the and eliminates the seeming paradox. David describes God’s knowledge in Psalm 139:16. “Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.” He knew every detail about us before we existed, and based on his foreknowledge, he elected us. Ephesians 1:4-5 declares, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,”

Lest there be any confusion, Paul makes a similar statement in Romans 8:29-31. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Romans 9:6-18 describes in detail God’s working to elect one and not another, using the examples of Esau and Jacob, and of Pharaoh.
Romans 11:22-33 stresses the importance of man’s decision in the matter, to the point that even those who have been rejected can be saved if they choose to believe.

“Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again. For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert grafted contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”

Rather than detracting from the sovereignty of God, his wisdom and holiness are exalted. Salvation can be obtained “through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.” Salvation is available to every person, yet God knows exactly who will receive it and prepares accordingly. No one is excluded except by their own choice. As a result, no person can accuse God of being unfair. By simply believing, and confessing to him they can be saved. God has chosen that those who refuse to do so can not be saved.

It is somewhat like some free dinners. Tickets are given out and meals are prepared according to the number of tickets taken. Only those with tickets will be permitted to eat, although all had the opportunity to get a ticket. Refusal to do so means you cannot partake. It is not the fault of the provider that you refused to get a ticket.