Chosen Ones
Devotions with Pastor Jason Lim

Coming to faith in Jesus Christ is like walking through a door with a sign that reads, "Whosoever wills, come." After you walk through the door and turn around, you see on the other side a sign with the words, "Welcome, you who are chosen before the foundation of the world." How God chooses and who He has chosen are not revealed to us. But we can be sure of this: God has chosen the elect who will be saved in love.

So how do I know if I am chosen as God's elect? God has not revealed who exactly are the elect in Scripture, so the better question to ask is "Am I one of the "whosoever wills"?" In John 3:16, Jesus said that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. The offer is universal. In other words, Jesus didn't say, "Go and find out if you are chosen or if you are the elect, then come and talk to Me." No, He says, "This is a truly universal offer, that whosoever believes shall not perish, but have everlasting life."

Thus, we need not keep speculating if we are chosen. What is most important is, "have I believed?" Knowing that God is responsible for election does not absolve us of the need to repent and to put our faith in Jesus Christ. God chooses, and we need to believe. These are seemingly two parallel tracks that do not quite meet in our minds, but in God's infinite wisdom, they do. With God, it is a sovereign choice. With man, there is a responsibility to repent and believe. May you receive God's gift of grace in Jesus Christ today.