In my last post I highlighted the problem of humankind’s sinfulness in this one I want to show that sin did not surprise God and his plan of salvation was in place.

The Apostle Paul says

he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption through Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of the glory of his grace that he bestowed on us in the beloved,

Here we see that God had already chosen us in Christ before the foundation of the world. The doctrine of election is one that has puzzled the greatest minds in the Christian Church. But it is plainly taught in scripture and we must therefore accept it. We should note however that it is always set in passages which give assurance to the believer. It is given to us to assure us of the eternal nature of God’s love.

Election is also for a purpose that of being made like Jesus, we are adopted into the family of God through the finished work of Christ, we can do nothing to earn our salvation. The children of god are made to be like their elder brother,Jesus Christ who in turn bears the image of the Father.

Man in his rebellion turns against God but God is determined that some of the human race will become his children. If we had been in charge we would not have shown grace but rather justice, we hate rebellion and anything that insults us. God is so different he sees the greatness of the sin, he sees the cost of salvation and yet he still plans to save some from the race of Adam. Paul in Ephesians 1 glories in God, the doctrine of election that Paul teaches should cause us to do the same.

When we look at this doctrine we often see the paradox of God’s sovereign grace and humankind’s freedom of choice, we can puzzle our minds forever but if we do not accept that both of these are true we will not be honest to the word of God.

Rather than perplexing our minds,the scripture calls us to delight in the wonder of a God who shows eternal love to us.