¹… the faith of those chosen of God …

Who are the “chosen of God” and what is that all about? Theologians debate what is called “the election of the saints.” While we cannot delve deeply into this topic in our space here, we do not shy away from making some comments. All of God’s truth is wonderful and inspired. Whatever the theologians feel needs to be said, we can affirm that God’s Word refers to believers as “chosen”—and that is a good thing, reflecting a good and wise God.

Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose Me but I chose you . . .” (John 13:18). Of course, this refers to Jesus selecting twelve men out of the masses who would be His closest associates, including Judas (John 6:70), but still, it sets the precedent that the relationship of anyone with God depends upon God doing the choosing. This choice is repeated two more times in the Upper Room (see John 15:16, 19) and again just before His resurrection (Acts 1:2, 24). We note Jesus didn’t speak about these things to the multitude, but only to those who were chosen. There is no evidence of any murmuring by those whom God did not choose to be among His close followers.

Paul was selected from before his birth to do the work of his calling (Gal. 1:15). He writes to the Ephesians, “He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4a). To be sure, that has to do with God’s determination that believers are to live “holy and blameless before Him” (Eph. 1:4b). But there is more involved here, when we consider that Paul refers to the Colossians, Thessalonians, and believers in general as chosen of God (Col. 3:12, 2 Thess. 2:13, 2 Tim. 2:10, as well as here in Titus). The apostle Peter, who admits some of Paul’s teachings are “hard to understand” (2 Peter 3:16), refers to scattered, persecuted Christians as those “who are chosen” (1 Peter 1:1).

Rather than trivialize the theological debate with pat answers on the one hand, or minimize the full thrust of what Paul is saying here on the other hand, we do venture to enjoy, even relish, the beautiful truth. Whatever it means to be chosen by God, it tells us that He wants us to be His. It is a good thing to be chosen. We learn this from an early age, when our parents tell us affectionately, “If I had my choice of every child in the world, I would choose you.” On the playing field during recess, when the teacher-appointed captains choose sides, who of us doesn’t want to be chosen first? What bride doesn’t become more beautiful knowing she was chosen by her fiancé? What applicant for a job doesn’t rejoice when he or she is chosen above the rest? Which believer doesn’t rejoice that God has chosen him or her?

Lord, thank You for choosing me. I am amazed that You actually want me!