Election and salvation
I read "Predestination Chosen in Christ" and it explains predestination very well. Everything made sense and is backed by Scripture. But the one thing that I have trouble wrapping my mind around is God's election. I understand He has his own plan of whom He elects, and that He wants all to be saved. But the term election means some are chosen, while some are not. How can that be if he wants all to be saved?
Your question addresses a mystery that our human minds cannot comprehend. With the Bible’s teaching regarding salvation, we learn that God wants all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9). With the Bible’s teaching regarding election, we learn that God has elected some to salvation (Ephesians 1:3-14). When it comes to people being condemned instead of enjoying salvation, the Bible puts the blame squarely on people (Jeremiah 15:6; Matthew 23:37).
When we encounter teachings of the Bible that our minds cannot grasp, we do well to adopt the attitude of the apostle Paul in his doxology in the book of Romans: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! ‘Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?’ ‘Who has ever given to God, that God should repay them?’ For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.” (Romans 11:33-36)
The Bible’s teaching of election to salvation has the purpose of assuring us that our salvation is a sure thing: it’s all God’s work from beginning to end. There is nothing mysterious about that.