As 1 Peter 2:9 indicates, the proper response to being chosen by God is to declare God’s praise and give Him worship. It is not because of who we are that God chooses us but because of who He is. Apart from Jesus all deserve death (Romans 6:23). We are all sinners who fail to measure up to God’s glory (Romans 3:23). As we know from Ephesians 2:8–9, we are not saved because of our good works but solely because of God’s grace. God’s choosing of us highlights His gracious character, not our merit. God’s choice is something that gives Him pleasure and brings Him praise. We see that God’s choosing of us is linked to His love. He chose us out of His love and mercy, and for His glory.Įphesians 1 goes on to say, “In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will-to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (verses 5–6).
But why? Is there something special about me that led God to choose me? The short answer is, no, God did not choose us because of anything inherent in ourselves. In John 15:16 Jesus says, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit-fruit that will last-and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” Ephesians 1:4 says, “He chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” First Peter 2:9 says, “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” It is undeniable that God has chosen those who are believers in Jesus.