Election

 "Just as scripture teaches a general, gracious will of God for the salvation of all men, so also it certainly teaches the special election of individuals to salvation. The eternal election of God is the cause of faith in the elect, however election did not happen in view of the faith of the elect. One may ask, can you make sense of that for yourself? What then? God wants to save all, but again he has elected only a few who alone are saved? No, I can't make sense of that for myself, however, has God revealed his truth to us, so that we should make sense of it for ourselves? No, exactly the opposite. We believe it as he has revealed it to us." -Adolf Hoenecke, The Election Controversy (nph.net)