When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were chosen for eternal life became believers. 49  So the Lord’s message spread throughout that region. Acts 13:48-49 (NLT)  

This is going to offend someone, but the Bible teaches that because of sin, none of us just naturally chooses God. Unless God does something on his end, we will never move toward him. We are his inveterate enemies until the Holy Spirit does his hidden internal work in our hearts. 

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. John 6:44–45 (NASB95)

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:8–10 (NASB95)

God chose those who would become his children before he created the world.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. 5  God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. Ephesians 1:4-5 (NLT) 

This theological truth has enormous implications regarding the gospel.

It means that when we share the good news with people, we can be confident that some will respond.

Despite our natural propensity to resist God and his Word, some will hear, believe, and receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. We do not know in advance who these chosen ones are. Neither to do they. Only God knows. That being the case, we share the gospel with everyone, knowing that God is working behind the scenes in ways we cannot necessarily comprehend or perceive, preparing hearts to receive the good news about Jesus.

Our responsibility is to share the gospel with everyone we can. The Spirit’s work is to bring people to Christ.

We find out who the elect are when they respond to the gospel, but God has known all along. If this offends me, it means that I have not yet come to terms with my own sinfulness. It means that I think everyone deserves to be able to go to heaven. No one deserves anything but death because all of us have rebelled against God. Rather, let us rejoice that God did not leave all of us in a deadly state of rebellion, but mercifully saves some.

Are we saying, then, that God was unfair? Of course not! 15 For God said to Moses, “I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose.” 16 So it is God who decides to show mercy. We can neither choose it nor work for it. 17 For the Scriptures say that God told Pharaoh, “I have appointed you for the very purpose of displaying my power in you and to spread my fame throughout the earth.” 18 So you see, God chooses to show mercy to some, and he chooses to harden the hearts of others so they refuse to listen. Romans 9:14–18 (NLT)

Thank you, Lord, for your mercy and grace! We are also promised that anyone who comes to Christ will not be turned away.

However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. John 6:37 (NLT)

If something in you is drawn to Christ, it is a wonderful sign that the Holy Spirit is at work in your life.

Why not go ahead and surrender? God’s election does not render us impotent. Rather, we too have a part to play. He wants us to respond to his grace by opening our hearts to him and receiving Jesus as both Lord and Savior.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20 (NASB95)

Do your part. Open your heart to God.

Prayer

Jesus, I can sense your tug on my heart. I have resisted you for too long. Come into my life! I give you my whole being and receive all that you died to provide for me – forgiveness, reconciliation, eternal life, and your enduring presence. Holy Spirit, fill me to overflowing. Transform me on the inside and empower me to boldly tell others this good news. Amen.