“elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied” (1 Peter 1:2).
Peter began this letter by addressing it to those who are “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” In this context, “elect” means to select or choose. For those who were the recipients of this letter, “The implication is that God has purposely placed these Christians in their respective communities to serve Him; they are selected temporary residents who are representatives of God.” (1)
In a larger sense, the subject of election has probably led to more discussion and debate than any other doctrine down throughout the centuries. The issue arises from the apparent conflict that exists between God’s sovereignty in choosing (or electing) individual human beings to salvation and human responsibility in accepting or rejecting His offer of salvation.
We can turn to the following sources for some helpful insight into this topic, beginning with a definition of this term…
“The doctrine of election teaches that God chose certain people in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph_1:4). It does not teach that He chose some to be damned. If men are finally lost, it is because of their own sin and unbelief. The same Bible that teaches election also teaches human responsibility or man’s free choice. God makes a bona fide offer of salvation to all people everywhere. Whoever comes to Christ will find a warm welcome.
These two doctrines, election and freedom of choice, create an irreconcilable conflict in the human mind. But the Bible teaches both and so we should believe both even if we can’t harmonize them.” (2)
Another commentary offers several Biblical references that support the doctrines of divine election and human responsibility while acknowledging the difficulty in reconciling them…
“From the word translated chosen (ekloge) comes the English ‘election.’ That God has chosen to bless some individuals with eternal life is clearly taught in many places in both the Old and New Testaments (e.g., Deu_4:37; Deu_7:6-7; Isa_44:1-2; Rom_9:1-33; Eph_1:4-6, Eph_1:11; Col_3:12; 2Th_2:13).
Equally clear is the fact that God holds each individual personally responsible for his decision to trust or not to trust in Jesus Christ (cf. Joh_3:1-36; Rom_5:1-21). The difficulty in putting divine election and human responsibility together is understanding how both can be true. That both are true is taught in the Bible. How both can be true is apparently incomprehensible to finite human minds; no one has ever been able to explain this antinomy satisfactorily.” (3)
Portions of this message originally appeared here
(1) Edward E. Hindson and Woodrow Michael Kroll, eds., KJV Bible Commentary (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1994), 2600.
(2) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary (p.2024) Edited by Arthur Farstad Thomas Nelson Publishers
(3) John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck, Bible Knowledge Commentary, note on 1 Thessalonians 1:4 pg. 691