How do we reconcile man’s ability to choose and God’s choice, being chosen in him before the foundation of the world?

This text is from a transcript of a talk by David Gooding, entitled ‘God is on the Throne and in Control’ (1998).

As to choice, I would apply our relationship with the Lord to the situation that men and women face in marriage. I was born after Queen Victoria died, a long time ago, when it wasn't thought right for the woman to make the proposal. The man was the first of the two to make his choice known. If he chose Joan Smith rather than Sheila Brown, did that automatically mean that Joan Smith had no choice? Most certainly not. He chose her, and she in response chose him.

Firstly, the fact that God sovereignly chooses does not eliminate choice on our side. Secondly, and I say this with due deference to those who hold a different view, I myself understand Ephesians 1 to be saying, not that 'he chose us'—full stop; but 'he chose us in Christ'. God's scheme that he had in his heart before the world was created, was to have children, which is what Ephesians is talking about.

How could he arrive at having children? The answer was, of course, that he would have a human race. He would need a universe to put them in, and a planet to put them on. So those things had to be done. Then they would need to be educated by his law. But the key would be that his own dear Son would become human, so that when human beings repented of sin and put their faith in him, they could be joined to the Saviour and put in Christ. You can't be a son of God without being in Christ. You don't first become a son, and are then put in Christ.

So how do you get into Christ? That's the point. You get into Christ when God, through Christ, offers you salvation and you make your response. You have to 'choose life', as Moses said to the people (Deuteronomy 30:19). It is God's election, then; it was his choice that he would have sons chosen in Christ and there will be multitudes of human beings who have become children of God. How you get into Christ to start with is laid out in the rest of Scripture. It is by hearing the word of God, hearing the Saviour, responding in repentance and faith, and choosing him.