Scripture teaches plainly and straightforwardly that God purposed our salvation before time began, that he chose us individually and personally for salvation, predestining us (setting our destination of eternal life ahead of time itself), and marked us out as belonging to Him.

The passages are numerous, and we cite a few: Rom. 8:29-30, "For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." Eph. 1:4-5, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will." Eph. 1:11, "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will."  2 Thess. 2:13, "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." 1 Peter 1:1-2, "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance." 2 Tim. 1:9, (God) "who has saved us and called us to a holy life" not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time." Acts 13:48, "When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed."

When Erasmus of Rotterdam, humanist of the sixteenth century, sought to downplay the importance of this doctrine, Martin Luther responded by asserting that this doctrine, that of predestination, was the hinge on which everything turned.  As we assess how God has saved us, we see written on the other side of the arch through which we have passed "predestined."  From God's perspective, our salvation was sealed and certified in the eternity before time began!  That's how much God loves us!