As our Church is currently exploring the book of Ephesians, I have had to do some serious study, to get my head around this idea that God chooses people to inherit the blessings He lavished on us through Jesus Christ. Trying to understand that although I have reached out to God and asked for salvation, this action was not initiated by me and never could be.

The Bible teaches that no human being has the the capacity or desire to seek God, that we are spiritually dead in our sins, without hope and without God. So if not everyone believes, it must be that God determines who He gives the capacity to have faith.

The difficulties and worries about this doctrine are usually of 2 types:

1. What happens to those who are not chosen?
2. How does God determine who He saves?

As Jesus chose 12 disciples to become Apostles, this does not mean He rejected all His other followers. As the tribe of Levi was chosen to be priests, God did not reject the other 11 tribes. Apart from this understanding of election form the Old Testament, the Bible is silent on those who are not chosen. There is not much that can be said because the Bible reveals little else.

God determines all things through His base nature - love. He chose Israel because He loved them. He chooses the elect on the same basis.

Some will say that in John 3:16, Jesus uses the phrase "whosoever will will be saved". Does this not mean that whoever reaches out to Christ is saved. Yes, but other parts of the Bible teach that no-one can reach out unless God enables them.

The more important question is - what are you doing with His offer of salvation to you?