1 Peter 1.1,2 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of 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, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
How and why does God elect us and choose us? How? Through the sanctifying work of The Holy Spirit. Why? To be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with His blood of redemption.
Election and responsibility unto God can not be separated in Scripture. We are chosen to obey God, and be conformed to the image of Jesus Christ. We are not simply “chosen” with no “strings attached.” Listen to Scripture. Colossians 3.12,13 “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
Election is not a passive pursuit of following Jesus Christ. It IS putting on Christ. That is what the elect of God are called to do.
Ephesians 4:24 tells us that we are to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. The elect of God are those who bear the fruit of regeneration. Peter writes, “giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.”
How are the elect drawn to Christ and saved? John 12.32 “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. How do you know if you are the elect of God?” Acts 2.38 “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Matthew 3.8 “Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance.”
