Election. Election is the truth that believers in Christ were elected, or chosen, by God for blessing. “According as he has chosen us in him before the world’s foundation” (Eph. 1:4). Election is the choice of one out of many. God’s sovereign choice was made “before the world’s foundation”, and therefore it has nothing to do with works. The truth of election is not intuitive. If God had not revealed it to us, we would never know. From man’s perspective, we choose God. But when we learn more about our salvation, we discover that He chose us! We see this in John 1:45 and 48, where Philip told Nathanael “We have found him, etc.” (John 1:45). In their experience, it was they that had found Christ. But later Jesus revealed that, “Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee” (John 1:45). If we refuse to see things from God’s perspective, we will not understand the truth of election. Election is a truth that we should not ordinarily proclaim in preaching the Gospel. It is intended for the believer’s security and enjoyment; a family secret. In the gospel we ought to emphasize man’s responsibility and the sinner’s need. It has been explained like this: a sinner approaches the doorway of salvation; and above it he reads, “Whosoever will may come”, but when he gets through and looks back, the other side reads, “chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world”.