What does it mean to be elect according to God's foreknowledge?

The concept of election is rooted in God's sovereignty and foreknowledge, as articulated in passages such as Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29. To be elect means that God, in His infinite wisdom and grace, has chosen a specific people for His own from eternity past, not based on any foreseen merit, but according to His free and sovereign will. This election is accompanied by the work of the Holy Spirit, who applies the benefits of Christ’s redemption to the elect, bringing them to faith and enabling them to live in obedience. Understanding one’s status as elect fosters assurance in believers, as it reminds them that their salvation is grounded not in their own actions but in God’s unchanging purpose.