Election - 1 Thessalonians 1:4
knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. (1Th 1:4 )
election is the providencial act of God in the salvation of the believer. Many people think that this idea degates the concept of free-will but it does not. If we want to understand the concept of election (sometimes confused with predestination) we simply need to take an honest unbiased look at the scriptural description. Romans and Ephesians provides the best explanation of this doctrine.
- For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Rom 8:29)
- 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. (1Pe 1:2)
- just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love (Eph 1:4)
We are the elect of God due to His foreknowledge and all those in Christ are predestined to be holy and without blame, conformed to the image of His Son and sanctified by the Spirit.
Sorry for the little sidetrack into 1 Thessalonians, we will be back in Psalms shortly.