Who Chose Who?

One of the biggest debates over the course of the history of the church is who chose who. That is, has God chosen (elected) those who will be saved, and therefore they believe in him, or have some believed in him (i.e. God foresaw that some would believe), and therefore God chose them?

My purpose here is not to persuade you in just a few sentences to accept one position or the other (though maybe the Lord will use this to cause you to reflect on what you believe, and in so doing persuade you). But as I was reading Isaiah I came across a verse that, I think, states the answer to the question very clearly. Here it is, Isaiah 43:10, ""You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.""

Did you see it? Did you follow what the Lord said? He said that he has chosen Israel, so that they may believe. What came first: Israel's believing or God's choosing? God said God's choosing.

I am wholly persuaded that this is the testimony of all Scripture. God is screaming through the pages of his word that he has acted decisively for his glory and our good in choosing a people for his own possession. Call this what you will: sovereign grace, Calvinism, or unconditional election, but the point is clear, "because of [God] you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord"" (1 Corinthians 1:30-31).

This ought to make us the most joyful, thankful, and loving people in the world! We, of all people, have someone to thank for doing the impossible, which left to ourselves we would have never done. He has opened our blind eyes, softened our hard hearts, and "caused us to be born again into a living hope" (1 Peter 1:3), so that we might taste and see the glory of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and so believe in his name.

Your answer to the question, who chose who, will revolutionize how you think about God, how you pray, how you love people, how you evangelize, and how you think about your own salvation (just to name a few things). May God give you ears to ear what he has spoken, to hear his answer to the question, and grace to believe what he has said.

So I ask you: who chose who?