Being elect according to God's foreknowledge means God chose those whom He knew would believe, based on His advance knowledge of their response to the gospel.
As Les Feldick explains, this does not mean God arbitrarily picked some and left others without a chance. Rather, God in His foreknowledge knew what every individual would do with the offer of salvation, and election is His choosing of those believers. It still involves human choice, because God did not take away anyone's freedom.
1 Peter 1:2 — This is the exact verse where the phrase 'elect according to the foreknowledge of God' appears, defining the elect in relation to the Spirit's sanctifying work and Christ's blood.
Ephesians 1:4 — This verse shows that God's choosing in Christ happened before the foundation of the world, which connects directly to His foreknowledge.
1 Peter 1:2 says, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied." This verse uses the exact phrase and identifies the elect as those who are sanctified by the Spirit, obedient, and covered by Christ's blood. Ephesians 1:4 says, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love." Jesus also told His disciples in John 15:16, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you." Paul asks in Romans 8:33, "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."
Les says the key to understanding election is found in 1 Peter 1:2 where the word 'elect' is directly connected to 'foreknowledge.' He explains that God, because He knows the end from the beginning, knew before He ever created the world what every person would do with His offer of salvation. This is why Paul could say in Ephesians 1:4 that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world — God could choose us because He already knew how we would respond. At the same time, Les insists this does not remove human responsibility. When Jesus told the disciples 'you have not chosen me, I have chosen you,' and when He told Peter that flesh and blood had not revealed that truth to him, it shows that no one comes to God of his own prerogative. Yet Les also emphasizes 'whosoever will.' God did not take away anyone's choice; He simply knew what they would do with it. Election is not God putting His finger on certain ones with no chance for anyone else. It is God choosing on the basis of His foreknowledge.
Les answers with a firm "Oh yes, we do." God knew what every individual would do with the offer of salvation, but He did not take away their choice. At the same time, no one comes to God of his own prerogative; flesh and blood cannot reveal the truth about Christ, as Jesus told Peter. Both realities stand together: God chooses on the basis of foreknowledge, and human free will remains.
No, Les explains. The idea that God has "just put His finger on certain ones" is not the biblical picture. Rather, God in His foreknowledge knew what each individual would do in the exercise of their own free will. The unsaved person does not need to worry that he doesn't have a chance unless God elects him, because election follows what God foreknows about a person's response.
God could choose us before the world was formed because of His foreknowledge — He knew what every person would do with the gospel offer. In 1 Peter 1:2 the elect are "elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." This is the secret to understanding the doctrine of election. God knows the end from the beginning, and that is what makes His electing choice certain.
Les points out that God knew which of the Jews Peter was writing to would be believers in His foreknowledge. The verse describes the elect as those who are sanctified by the Spirit, obedient, and sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ. Thus the elect are believers — not arbitrary selections removed from all human response.
Chosen in Christ Before the Foundation of the World
Les connects being chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world with the believer still having a part to play; he refuses to say we have nothing to do with it, and he moves to 1 Peter 1:2 to develop the theme.
Election Is God's Act of Choosing
Les explains that 'elect' means chosen and that God has chosen believers. He insists no one can come to God of his own prerogative, yet also acknowledges the 'whosoever will' side.
God Foreknew Every Person's Response
Les says God in His foreknowledge knew what every person would do with His offer of salvation, including Israel. This did not take away their choice; He knew what they would do with their choice.
Foreknowledge, Not Arbitrary Finger-Pointing
Les uses Ephesians 1:4 to show that election does not mean God arbitrarily left some without a chance. God in His foreknowledge knew what each individual would do in the exercise of their own free will.
Rebekah as an Example of Foreknown Willingness
Les uses Rebekah's willingness as an illustration: God drew her to the servant because she was willing, and God knew beforehand that she would be willing. This explains why some are saved and others aren't.
The Secret to Understanding Election
Les points to 1 Peter 1:2 where 'elect' is connected with 'foreknowledge.' He says this is the secret to understanding why God can choose some and not others.
No One Can Claim They Had No Chance
Les teaches that the unsaved person does not need to worry about election or say 'I don't have a chance unless God elects me.' God's election is based on His foreknowledge of who would become believers.
Predetermined Position vs. Whosoever Will
Les describes the counsel of the triune God placing believers in a predetermined position, while acknowledging the 'whosoever will' side. This balances God's election and human free will.
1 Peter 1:2: Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
This verse is the source of the phrase and defines what election involves.
Ephesians 1:4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Shows that election is in Christ before the world was created.
John 15:16: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Jesus told the disciples that He chose them, which Les cites to show God's part in choosing.
Romans 8:33: Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.
Paul's reference to God's elect shows that election is part of the believer's assurance.
Yes. According to Les Feldick, God in His foreknowledge knew what every person would do with His offer of salvation, but He did not take away their choice. Election is based on what God knew they would choose, not on Him overriding their will.
Because, as Les teaches, God knew who would believe. He did not put His finger on some and leave others without a chance. In His foreknowledge He saw what each individual would do with the offer of salvation, and that is the basis of election.
The elect in 1 Peter 1:2 are believers — those who are sanctified by the Spirit, obedient, and sprinkled with Christ's blood. God knew which ones would be believers in His foreknowledge.