The doctrine of redemption has two parts: the doctrine of election and the doctrine of the atonement.  This first part will deal with what the Bible teaches about the doctrine of election.

Love is the characteristic motive for God's actions.  It was because God so loved the world that He sent his only Son.  In 1 John 4:9-12, John tells us that it was because God loved us that he sent Jesus to provide our atonement, not because we loved Him.  The Apostle Paul writes something similar in Romans 5:6-11.  God acted and demonstrated His love for us by sending Jesus Christ while we were still His enemies.

Therefore, God's motive in election is love.  He chooses us because He loves us.  This motive is characteristic of God as He is understood in all three manifestations of the Trinity.  1 John 3:1 says that the Father has shown us His love in making us His children.  Galatians 2:20 says that it was Jesus who showed His love for us in giving Himself up for us.  Romans 5:5 teaches that God's love is poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

God chose and predestined us in love to be adopted as His children.  In Ephesians 1:4-5, the phrase "in love" is sometimes translated as belonging with the earlier sentence in verse 4 and sometimes as introducing the words in verse 5, but either way, whether the verses teach we were chosen in love or predestined in love, we can know that God acted for our redemption in this manner out of His love.

Election is God's sovereign choice in eternity past to bring some lost men to salvation.  His choosing is not arbitrary, but is based in His love.  It seems arbitrary to us because it is not based on human merit.  It is not just good people, wealthy people, educated people, or any other reason we can understand.  But God's choice is based on His wisdom, His righteousness, and His love.  Romans 8:28-37 reveals that we are called according to His purpose, not according to capriciousness or random draw.  In love He did these things, therefore nothing can separate us from Him and no one can bring any charge against us.  Election is clearly taught in scripture, but it is not arbitrary.

Many examples of Old Testament illustration of God's sovereign choosing can be found.  In Genesis 6 we see that God's heart was grieved over the sin of mankind and He was ready to destroy everyone and everything, but Noah found favor with God.  Verse 9 says that Noah was blameless among the people, but scripture teaches that our righteousness is like filthy rags before God.  Yet God fines Noah righteous in his generation and shows him grace and mercy.

In Genesis 22:17-18, God chooses Abraham and Abraham's descendants to receive His promises.  Abraham's descendants have not lived to do anything to merit God's favor,