How are they his? By his own sovereign choice. He chose them and set his love upon them, not because of any goodness in them, then or foreseen.

He had mercy on whom he would and ordained a chosen company to eternal life. They are his by unconstrained election. They aren't only his by choice but also by purchase. He bought and paid for them completely, leaving no room for dispute. Not with silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, the Lord's portion is fully redeemed.

There's no mortgage on his estate, and no one can claim otherwise. The price was paid openly, and the Church is the Lord's forever. There is a blood-mark on all the chosen—hidden from human eyes but known to Christ. "The Lord knows those who are his." He never forgets those he has redeemed; he counts the sheep for whom he laid down his life and remembers the Church for which he gave himself. They're his by conquest, too. What a battle we had within ourselves before we surrendered!

How long he laid siege to our hearts! How often did he offer us peace terms, but we resisted. Don't we recall that glorious moment when he took our hearts by storm?

When he placed his cross against the wall, scaled our defenses, and planted his mercy there? We are the conquered captives of his love. Chosen, purchased, and subdued, his claim on us is fixed. We rejoice that we can never be our own, and we want to do his will each day and show his glory.