The Salutary Tendency of the Doctrine of Election

Sometimes the thought of election leads Paul to issue an invitation to praise: ‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who … chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy … in love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons … to the praise of his glorious grace …’ (Eph. 1:3ff., NIV). Sometimes, again, Paul invokes election to bring Christians assurance and encouragement (‘comfort’ in the strong Bible sense of the word): ‘Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?’ (Romans 8:33ff.). Sometimes, too, Paul makes election a basis for ethical appeal: ‘Put on therefore, as God’s elect … a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering …’ (Col. 3:12, RV). … [W]e can hardly be right in treating the doctrine of election as an unedifying encumbrance when in Paul’s hands it becomes a motive and mainspring of worship and assurance and holy living. A doctrine which has this salutary tendency cannot really be either unedifying or unimportant. 

From the chapter on election in  18 Words: The Most Important Words You Will Ever Know by J. I. Packer.