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What is election? Clarifying what election is not can help to understand what it is.

Source: The Banner of Truth (NRC), 1987. 2 pages.

What Election Is Not

Not salvation, but unto salvation. – 2 Thess. 2:13,14; Eph. 1:4; Rom. 8:29,30.
Not exclusive of means. – 1 Thess. 2:14; Eph. 1:5,13; 2 Tim. 2:10; 1 Pet. 1:2.
Not a respecter of persons. – Romans 9:18-24. Fame, wealth, wisdom, position, etc., did not cause God to have respect for some and elect them (Job 34:19). All being ungodly, none could have been saved had He not shown grace to some.
Not “salvation regardless,” but unto a salvation for certain through the redemption of Christ, applied by the Spirit through the gospel. – John 6:37; Rom. 10:17; 1 Thess. 1:4,5; 2 Thess. 2:13,14; Acts 13:48.
Not opposed to the Gospel, but the Gospel is a means in accomplishing election's purpose. (See scriptures already cited).
Not an enemy of righteousness, but through its appointed means causes those once ungodly to live godly. – Eph. 1:4; 1 Thess. 1:4-10.
Not based on foreseen faith or works, but it produces faith and works. – Rom. 9:11-16, 11:5, 6; Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 1:9; Eph. 2:8-10; Acts 13:48; 1 Cor. 3:5; Rom. 12:3; Eph. 4:7; Acts 5:31; 2 Tim 2:25.
Does not shut the door of salvation, but opens that door for all those who come to Christ. –John 6:37, 44, 63, 65, 10:9, 14:6.
Not a hindrance to gospel preaching, but assures the gospel of success. – Isa. 55:11; John 10:27, 6:37, 45, 17:20,21; Acts 15:14, 16:14, 18:27; 2 Tim. 2:9,10.
Not of the Jews only. – Rom. 9:24, 11:5-8, 11, 12, 25; John 11:52.
Not merely to service, but to salvation. – 2 Thess. 1:13, 14; 2 Tim. 2:10.
Not fatalism, but is the work of God. – 1 Thess. 1:4; Rom. 28,30.
Does not destroy man's ”will.” The will of man is his desire, wish or choice. His choice is sin (Jn. 3:19, 20, 5:40, 3:11, 2:2, 3, 4:17-19; Jer 17:9, 13:23, etc.) Man “freely” chooses sin and by God's grace the elect freely choose Christ – (Ps. 65:4, 110:3; John 6:44, 65; Acts 13:48.)
Not anti-missionism but gives the foundation for missions. – John 6:37, 17:20, 21; 2 Tim. 2:10; Isa. 55:11; 2 Peter 3:9, 15.
Does not destroy the responsibility of man. Men are responsible for whatever light they have, be it conscience (Rom. 2:15), nature (Rom. 1:19, 20), written law (Rom. 2:17-27), or the gospel (Mark 16:15, 16). Man's inability to do righteousness no more frees him from responsibility than does Satan's inability to do righteousness.
Does not make God unjust. His blessing of a great number of unworthy sinners with salvation is no injustice to the rest of the unworthy sinners. If a governor pardons one convict, is it injustice to the rest? – 1 Thess. 5:9.
Does not discourage convicted sinners, but welcomes them to Christ. ”Let him that is athirst come” (Rev. 17:17). The God who convicts is the God who saves. The God who saves is the God who has elected men unto salvation. He is the same God who invites.
Does not discourage prayer. To the contrary, it drives us to God, for He it is who alone can save. True prayer is the Spirit's prompting and thus will be in harmony with God's will (Rom. 8:26).
Not of man. Some say, “God votes, the devil votes, and man votes.” The Bible teaches that election is not of the devil and man, but “of God.” – 1 Thess. 1:4; John 10:16; 1 John 4:10, 19.
Not of reason, but of revelation. At first, it does not appeal to man's reason, but when God's Word is received, it is seen to be the only thing that could be “reasonable” (Matt. 20:15).