Thanks for the second attempt, I appreciate it. I understand now.
But now that I understand, I fail to see the vital importance of election.
For starters, if the Bible teaches it (and if you think what the Bible teaches is important), election must be important. And the Bible most certainly teaches that God "elected" us, aka "chose" us. (elect is a synonym for choose)
"He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world" - Eph 1:4 aka, "He elected us in Him before the foundation of the world"
Since the bible teaches it, and the Holy Spirit felt that He should take the time to inspire the Apostle Paul to write it, it must be important.
It seems to me to fall into the same category as "faith alone." Both seem to be legalistic arguments to differentiate from salvation via the response of faith and works to God's free grace. But in the end, all result in the necessity of having faith and doing works.
I see what you are saying, but there are certain implications to believing that a person has faith because he was elected.
For example, the Calvinist says "I owe my faith to my election", but the Arminian say "I owe my election to my faith"
In the former, the Calvinist is crediting God (and God's election of him) for the reason that he is a believer, and thus, is saved.
In the latter, the Arminian acknowledges that he was elected, but the reason he was elected is because of his (self-wrought) faith.
So, we could view this as the cart and the horse. Which is the cart, which is the horse? One is pulling the other, and whichever you think is the "cart" makes a big impact on the rest of your theology.
More examples:
It's a reason to thank God:
In his intro to Colossians and 2 Thess, Paul thanked God for the faith of the recipients of his letters. Why would Paul thank God for someone's faith, if God had nothing to do with the fact that a person is a believer?
It's motivation for evangelism:
2Ti 2:10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Paul, a missionary and evangelist who suffered many hardships and persecution, says he did so "for the sake of the elect", to bring about their salvation.
It's a reason to worship God:
2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord,
because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Election exalts the sovereignty of God:
Rom 9:13-23
(13) As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
(14) What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God's part? By no means!
(15) For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."
(16) So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
(17) For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, "For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."
(18) So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
(19) You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?"
(20) But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?"
(21) Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
(22) What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction,
(23) in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
Election is for the praise of God's glorious grace:
Eph 1:4-11
(4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
(5) he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
(6)
to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
(7) In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
(8) which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight
(9) making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ
(10) as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
(11) In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
This is just a small sampling of things I can think of off the top of my head, why Unconditional election (Calvinistic understanding of election) is important. it has implications for how you view your own salvation. It gives you all the more reason to be thankful for God's free grace and mercy which He chose to bestow upon you.
I know it has certainly had an impact on how I view my own salvation, and what I think and praise and worship God for, ever since I became convinced of this position.
He didn't have to save me, but he did, out of nothing but love, grace, and mercy.