Shoter Catechism: Question 20

Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to die in sin and misery?

A. 20. From all eternity and merely because it pleased Him, God chose some to have everlasting life. These He freed from sin and misery by a covenant of grace and brought them to salvation by a redeemer.

Friday:

If God only chose some to have everlasting life, why did he chose them instead of others?  Did He chose those who were smarter than other people, or those who behave better?  The Bible answers "no". There was nothing about anyone God chose that would make Him want to chose that person.  No one can be proud that God chose him.  God chooses someone just because He wants to chose him, not because there is something especially good about that person. 

The Bible tells us about two twin brothers, Jacob and Esau.  Although God was good to both of them, He chose Jacob to know God and to be one of the ones from whom the Messiah would come.  Before the twins were even born, God told their mother, Rebecca, that he had chosen Jacob to love in a special way.  Since niether baby had been born yet, neither one had done anything to make God want to choose him.  God chose Jacob simply because He wanted to choose Jacob.

Romans 9:10-17

10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,

11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—

12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.”

13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!

15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”

16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.

17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

-Training Hearts, Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism