In these words, God states it plain as day: He has the right to give mercy or withhold it according to his sovereign will. Just as a king holds the power of life and death, so the Judge of all the earth has the right to spare or condemn the guilty as he sees fit.

Here's the truth we must face: every human being has forfeited any claim on God through sin. We deserve to perish—and if we all perished, not one of us could file a complaint. If the Lord chooses to step in and save any, he may do so, as long as justice is satisfied. But if he decides to leave the condemned to face their righteous sentence? No one can drag him into court.

How foolish, how impudent are all these arguments about the "rights" of humanity to equal treatment! How ignorant—if not worse—are these protests against God's discriminating grace. What are they but the rebellions of proud human nature against the crown and scepter of Jehovah?

But when we are brought to see our own utter ruin, when we understand what we truly deserve, when we grasp the perfect justice of God's verdict against sin... then everything changes. We stop caviling at the truth that God is not bound to save us. We stop murmuring when he saves others, as if he's wronging us somehow. Instead, we realize that if he deigns to look upon us, it will be his own free act of undeserved goodness. And we will bless his name forever for it.

Those who are the subjects of divine election—how can they ever sufficiently adore the grace of God? They have no room to boast. None! Sovereignty most effectually excludes it. The Lord's will alone is glorified, and the very notion of human merit is cast out to everlasting contempt.

There is no doctrine in all of Scripture more humbling than election. None more promotive of gratitude. And consequently, none more sanctifying. Believers should not be afraid of it—they should adoringly rejoice in it.