Scriptural Reference:

"who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and
sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance."
1 Peter 1:2

"Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should
be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to
himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,"
Ephesians 1:4-5

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I
will raise him up on the last day."
John 6:44

"He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we
have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given
us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,"
2 Timothy 1:9

"For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the
image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he
also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified."
Romans 8:29-30

Quotes:

“There seems to be an inveterate prejudice in the human mind against this
doctrine, and although most other doctrines will be received by professing
Christians, some with caution, others with pleasure, yet this one seems to be
most frequently disregarded and discarded.”
Charles H. Spurgeon

"I believe that nothing happens apart from divine determination and decree.
We shall never be able to escape from the doctrine of divine predestination -
the doctrine that God has foreordained certain people unto eternal life."
Charles H. Spurgeon

"Thou didst seek us when we sought Thee not; didst seek us indeed that we
might seek Thee."
Augustine

"God elects us in order to eliminate all boasting, all self-reliance, all human pride"
G.K. Beale

Reflection:
Perhaps of all the various articles of faith this one is one of the most contentious and debated. Over time and throughout history there have been plenty of discussions as to Predestination and Election in correlation and relationship to Free Will.

To begin with let's look at what Predestination is in layman's terms:

Predestination to Life is the everlasting purpose of God, whereby (before the foundations of the world were laid) he hath constantly decreed by his counsel secret to us, to deliver from curse and damnation those whom he hath chosen in Christ out of mankind, and to bring them by Christ to everlasting salvation, as vessels made to honour. Wherefore, they which be endued with so excellent a benefit of God, be called according to God's purpose by his Spirit working in due season: they through Grace obey the calling: they be justified freely: they be made sons of God by adoption: they be made like the image of his only-begotten Son Jesus the Christ: they walk religiously in good works, and at length, by God's mercy, they attain to everlasting felicity.

God has decided that everyone who is in Christ will be made holy and without blame, just like Jesus. When someone puts their faith in Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection, they become part of the chosen ones. At that moment, they join the church, which is the group of God's selected people, with Christ leading the way. It's true that predestination isn't the main focus of the Bible, but it's still a significant doctrine that's rooted in scripture, not just human ideas. The New Testament has plenty of mentions about predestination and being chosen for salvation. The Holy Spirit definitely wasn't shy about this topic when inspiring the Bible, so we shouldn't shy away from it either.

We can now see just how Predestination plays an important key role in the broader idea of salvation through grace alone (Rom. 11:5-6). It emphasises that salvation comes solely from God's power, wisdom, and righteousness, not from human effort. If the beautiful and faithful message of grace alone rubs people the wrong way-and we should definitely be kind in how we share these teachings - it's important not to back down from this belief just to make others happy. After all, it's crucial to highlight that salvation is all about glorifying God.

As to a thoughtful consideration of Election in layman terms:

Election is God's way of choosing to give eternal life to sinners who don't deserve it, all because of His love, not because of anything good in those who receive His grace. Whereas God's ultimate plan is all about redeeming the whole universe (Eph. 1:10), not just focusing on humanity. However, renewing humanity is a crucial part of this grand design to bring everything together in Christ. The first two chapters of Ephesians really showcase God's mission to save His people, especially in Ephesians 1:3-14. Interestingly, in the original Greek, this section is one massive sentence that stretches 202 words! These verses celebrate the incredible blessings believers get from being united with Christ, like election, redemption, inheritance, and perseverance. Plus, Ephesians 2:4-10 really shines a light on God's amazing love in the process of regeneration.

We see how Paul kicks off his letter in a classic Old Testament or Jewish way, starting with a long blessing. He encourages his readers to give thanks to God for blessing us "with every spiritual blessing" (Eph. 1:3). The spotlight here is on those spiritual blessings that relate to living in the Spirit. The first reason Paul gives for us to praise God is his divine choice. In other words, God deserves our praise because he picked us in Christ even before the world was created.

How might we consider both terms and words when compared to each other?

Many individuals often create a connection between the concepts of predestination and election, mistakenly using them interchangeably, believing both to encompass God's choice of specific individuals for eternal salvation. The Apostle Paul, in Romans 8:30, delves into the intricacies of predestination, detailing God's predetermined plan for those He has chosen, called, justified, and will ultimately glorify. This divine selection process, outlined by Paul, emphasizes the divine order of events leading to a state of glorification. Moreover, Paul further elucidates the idea of election in Romans 8:33, shedding light on the term "the elect," which appears to function as a synonymous representation of those predestined individuals he previously mentioned.

By examining these theological nuances, Paul sheds light on the divine orchestration of God's chosen people, illuminating the intricate web of predestination and election within the framework of eternal life. Through Paul's teachings, a deeper understanding emerges regarding the divine sovereignty involved in the selection of individuals for salvation. This careful differentiation between predestination and election highlights the depth of God's plan for humanity, emphasizing the profound significance of His chosen ones in the grand tapestry of redemption and eternal life.

So with election we can see how it's basically God's way of picking out people for eternal life, even if they don't deserve it, all because of His love and not because of anything good they've done. It's not just a random choice; it's part of His big plan for salvation and is rooted in His infinite wisdom. Paul points out that God chose or predestined His people "in love." This idea of God selecting a group for Himself isn't just something Paul came up with; it's a recurring theme throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament, for instance, God chose Abraham and made him a blessing for all nations (Gen. 12:1-3). Later on, He picked the nation of Israel to be His special people, not because they were better than others or more righteous, but simply out of His love (Deut. 7:6-8; 14:2). In the same way, through Christ, God has chosen individuals from every corner of the world to be part of His family, all thanks to His incredible love.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
May I glorify and magnify your Holy Name,
Every day of my life here on this earth,
As well as my future with you and your Son,
In that heavenly rest amongst the angels.

It was your perfect grace that saw me,
Before the very creation of the earth,
And before my birth into this world,
Your saving grace sought me and clamed me.

May I always and forever in time and place,
Share your gospel message with others,
So they too may come to acknowledge you,
And your precious Son Jesus the Christ,
As well as the message of salvation.

Amen