1. of the election of individuals to office or to honour and privilege, e.g., Abraham, Jacob, Saul, David, Solomon, were all chosen by God for the positions they held; so also were the apostles.

2. There is also an election of nations to special privileges, e.g., the Hebrews (Deuteronomy 7:6; Romans 9:4)

3. But in addition there is an election of individuals to eternal life (2 Thessalonians 2:13; Ephesians 1:4; 1 Peter 1:2; John 13:18) The ground of this election to salvation is the good pleasure of God (Ephesians 1:5,11)

(Matthew 11:25,26; John 15:16,19) God claims the right so to do

(Romans 9:16,21) It is not conditioned on faith or repentance, but is of soverign grace (Romans 11:4-6; Ephesians 1:3-6) All that pertain to salvation, the means (Ephesians 2:8; 2 Thessalonians 2:13) as well as the end, are of God (Acts 5:31; 2 Timothy 2:25; 1 Corinthians 1:30; Ephesians 2:5,10) Faith and repentance and all other graces are the exercises of a regenerated soul; and regeneration is God's work, a "new creature." Men are elected "to salvation," "to the adoption of sons," "to be holy and without blame before him in love"

(2 Thessalonians 2:13; Galatians 4:4,5; Ephesians 1:4) The ultimate end of election is the praise of God's grace (Ephesians 1:6,12)

(See PREDESTINATION)