Elected and Saved!

1 Timothy 1:9

“[God] has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”

In my last meditation I said one of the reasons that we can be comforted by the doctrine of election is that we know that we are elect, and our election is sure. We will be saved! These are two key concepts, and call for further explanation. How do we know we are elect, and how do we know we will be saved because of that?

Chosen for Salvation

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The doctrine of election is all through Scripture. God chose to save Noah and his family out of all the people living at the time. God chose to make His covenant with Abraham and his descendants, even though he was no more righteous than others. God chose Israel above all other nations as His special people (Deuteronomy 7:7). Jesus chose twelve apostles out of the multitudes of disciples that followed Him. Paul started his epistle to the Ephesians with an exposition on God's election. It clearly fills many pages of the Old and New Testaments.