1 Thessalonians 1:4

4. Election of, or by,

God Lunemann says, concisely and peremptorily: “Election signifies the action of God by which he predestines from eternity the individual to faith in Christ.” But we have shown, in the first chapter of Ephesians, that this election must have a definite and conditioned object, namely, the actual believer. God chooses him, however, not only from his faith, but also unto still further faith, to a holy life, and to a blessed eternity. The apostle was knowing this, not from any special revelation or inspiration in the case, but from the evidence they furnish both of having met the condition of faith, and having carried out in life the blessed results of faith. In 1 Thessalonians 1:5, he shows how the gospel came to them in power, offering them that election, and in 1 Thessalonians 1:6 he shows how they accepted it.