1:4 What does the word "election" refer to here?
1:4 What does the word "election" refer to here?
Throughout the New Testament election refers to God's choice of a people in Christ for Himself; people who have put their faith in Jesus for their salvation. It refers to the church as a divinely ordained spiritual institution, and pertains to every person - Jews and Gentiles alike - who conform to God's plan of redemption (cp Lk 18:7; Ro 11:5-7, 28; Col 3:12; 1Pe 1:1-5; 2Pe 1:10-11; 2Jn 1, 3).
Election is primarily corporate - it embraces individuals only in association and identification with Christ and His church (cp Ro 3:21-26; Eph 1:3-13; 2:4-10; 3:1-12; 2Th 2:13-14; Tit 1:1-3; 2:11-14; He 2:9-13; 1Pe 2:3-9; 5:13).
See also comments on Mt 11:28-30, 13:10-11, 20:16, Jn 3:36, 6:37, 12:37-40, Ac 13:48, 28:23-29, Ro 9:10-13, 9:14-18, 11:4, 11:7-10, 2Ti 1:8-9.