Being chosen by God is a theme woven throughout the Bible. Today, we’ll uncover the meaning of being called and set apart for His purposes and how it changes our lives.
Also Read: What Does The Bible Say About Choosing Your Friends Carefully
What Does The Bible Say About Chosen
Ephesians 1:4
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.”
This verse reminds us that God chose us even before the world was created. He has set us apart to be holy and blameless in His sight. Our worth and identity come from being chosen by God.
1 Peter 2:9
“But 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.”
We are not only chosen by God, but we are also called to be a chosen people. As chosen ones, we have a special purpose of declaring His praises and shining His light in the darkness.
John 15:16
“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.”
In this verse, Jesus reminds us that it was Him who chose us. He has appointed us to bear lasting fruit and promises that whatever we ask in His name, the Father will give us.
Deuteronomy 7:6
“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.”
God’s choice of His people is not based on anything they have done, but out of His love and grace. We are His treasured possession, set apart to bring glory to His name.
1 Thessalonians 1:4
“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you.”
We can have confidence and assurance in our faith because we know that God has chosen us. His love for us is evident in this divine selection.
Isaiah 43:10
“You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me.”
As chosen ones, we are called to be witnesses for the Lord. He has chosen us to know, believe, and understand Him, and to proclaim His uniqueness as the one and only true God.
Romans 8:33
“Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.”
God’s choice of us is so powerful and secure that no accusation or condemnation can stand against us. He justifies and defends those He has chosen.
Colossians 3:12
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.”
Being chosen by God comes with responsibilities. We are called to reflect His character by living lives filled with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
1 Corinthians 1:27-28
“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are.”
God’s choice often goes against the expectations of the world. He delights in using the weak, the humble, and the despised to confound the wise and show His power.
1 Peter 1:2
“Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.”
Being chosen by God is intricately connected to His foreknowledge and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is through this divine orchestration that we are called to be obedient to Jesus Christ.
Matthew 22:14
“For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
While many are invited to accept God’s invitation, only a few respond and are chosen by Him. This verse emphasizes the significance and exclusivity of being chosen by God.
Isaiah 65:9
“I will bring forth descendants from Jacob, and from Judah, those who will possess my mountains; my chosen people will inherit them, and there will my servants live.”
In this prophecy, God reveals His plan to bring forth a chosen people who will inherit His blessings and live as His servants. His choice guarantees their secure future.
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.”
We should be grateful to God for His choice of us as firstfruits. Our salvation is made possible through the work of the Holy Spirit and our unwavering belief in the truth of the Gospel.
Joshua 24:15
“But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
Although this verse does not directly mention God choosing us, it highlights our ability to choose whom we will serve. We have the freedom to choose God and commit our lives to Him.
John 6:70
“Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
Jesus chose the twelve disciples, including Judas Iscariot, who would ultimately betray Him. This verse reminds us that even in our selection by God, not everyone will remain faithful.
John 13:18
“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’”
Jesus knew those whom He had chosen, and even among the twelve disciples, betrayal was foretold. This verse demonstrates Jesus’ divine knowledge and the fulfillment of prophecy.
Matthew 20:16
“So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
This verse suggests that God’s choosing is not based on our human understanding of merit or ranking. His selection goes beyond our earthly standards and often brings surprises.
John 13:19
“I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen, you will believe that I am who I am.”
Jesus declared His choices beforehand to build faith in His disciples. His ultimate goal was to reveal Himself as the great “I AM” through His actions and fulfill His purpose.
Matthew 24:22
“If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.”
In times of great distress, God intervenes and shortens the suffering for the sake of His chosen ones. He protects and preserves them according to His divine plan.
1 Peter 2:4
“As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him.”
Jesus, the rejected cornerstone, was chosen by God to be precious. Our connection to Him as believers also reflects God’s choosing and special favor on our lives.
John 15:19
“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
As chosen ones, we are set apart from the world’s values and systems. This often leads to opposition and persecution, as the world does not understand or accept God’s choice.
Isaiah 41:9
“I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.”
God’s choice is not based on our location, background, or circumstances. He calls us from every corner of the earth and affirms that once chosen, we will never be rejected.
Acts 9:15
“But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel.””
In this verse, Saul (later known as Paul) is called God’s chosen instrument to spread the Gospel to both Jews and Gentiles. It illustrates God’s purposeful selection of individuals for specific tasks.
Matthew 24:31
“And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”
In the future, God will send His angels to gather His chosen ones from all corners of the earth. This verse alludes to the ultimate reunion and eternal dwelling of God’s elect.