Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:12
Many times the New Testament refers to Christians as 'chosen' by God. In Colossians 3:12, Paul calls the Christians in Colossae as "God's chosen ones, holy and beloved." The implication in the word is that God has chosen some people to be His own and has not chosen others.
The theological name for this doctrine is 'election'. Arthur Pink defines this doctrine as follows: "The doctrine of election means, then, that God singled out certain ones in His mind . . . and ordained them unto eternal life . . . Election may thus be defined: it is that part of the counsel of God whereby He did from all eternity purpose in Himself to display His grace upon certain of His creatures" (Pink, Election and Justification, 15).
That God has chosen some people to be His own is clearly stated in many Biblical texts. "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 to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will" (Eph 1:4,5).
As blessed and glorious as this doctrine is, it is often neglected to be taught, because of its difficulty … and sometimes it is even disdained and rejected as unfair.
As Christians, to understand that we have been chosen to be in Christ before the foundation of the world is a fountain of joy and peace and everlasting safety. It means that God is for us (cf. Rom 8:31,32) and there is no delight on earth to compare with that.
