What does the Bible say about God's election and calling?

In the Bible, particularly in the narratives of the patriarchs, we see the doctrine of election clearly illustrated. Abraham was called out of a land steeped in idolatry and chosen by God to be the father of a great nation, which ultimately leads to the coming of Christ. This act of God's sovereign choice reflects the deeper truth of salvation by grace through faith, as revealed in Ephesians 1:4-5, where it states that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world. This concept emphasizes that salvation is purely an act of God's grace, not dependent on any human merit.