The Elect

2022-04-08

The word elect, or a form of the word, appears numerous times in the Bible.

Old Testament

God’s people are called His elect, or His chosen. “They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree are the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands” (Isaiah 65:22). But of greater consequence is that the coming Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ is called His elect:

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. (Isaiah 42:1)

This is key in understanding the elect. God’s people can only be called the elect because they were the people of the Elect Person, Jesus Christ.

New Testament

In the Olivet Discourse, the word is used in Matthew and Mark. One thing we can deduce is that the elect will not be deceived by false prophets (Matthew 24:24; Mark 13:22). “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect” (Matthew 24:24).

These also will be gathered to the Lord upon His return (Matthew 24:31; Mark 13:27). “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31).

The elect prays to the Lord without ceasing. As a result, God avenges His elect. “And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8).

Because the elect has been made righteous (in the new man) by God, no one can condemn them. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Romans 8:33-34).

The elect refers to saved people. In some instances, the elect refers to Jewish believers, which is a small subset of the larger Jewish nation. “Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded” (Romans 11:5-7)

The elect should be aware of their election, being chosen of God. “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God” (1 Thessalonians 1:4). This should make us think that there was something special about us. Consider the example of Jacob and Esau: “For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth” (Romans 9:11). We are chosen because Jesus Christ was chosen; we are elect because He is the elect, as we saw in Isaiah 42:1.

The elect is holy and beloved of God: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering” (Colossians 3:12)

The elect is a saved people: “Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:10). They are the ones that have faith: “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness” (Titus 1:1).

The churches of God are comprised of elect people: “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you...” (1 Peter 5:13). “The elder unto the elect lady and her children” (2 John 1:1). “The children of thy elect sister greet thee. Amen” (2 John 1:13).

How Are People Elected?

Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2)

The Trinity is involved in the election of God’s people.

• The Father. By His foreknowledge, He knew those who would be regenerated ahead of time. Because of Christ’s eternality (from eternity past), He knew the “offspring” (Romans 5:12-21) that would come from Christ, His Son and Elect man. He saved those people found in Christ. He predestinated these to many glorious riches found in Christ.
• The Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and regenerates those people the Father foreknew. This is the rebirth.
• Jesus Christ. The elect is saved to obedience and the cleansing from their sin in experience. This is growth of the Christian life, that is a life-long process.

However, it takes more than the Trinity, which is by God’s design. The preaching of the Gospel is carried out by the church of God to save humankind.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God... For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:18, 21)

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (Romans 10:13-15)

Preaching the Gospel is how people are saved, because faith comes by hearing and understanding the Word (Romans 10:17). God does His part by the convicting of the sinner by His Holy Spirit. Jesus already did His part on the cross of Calvary. The work that needs to be done is by Christians. The Bridegroom and His bride produce the offspring.

Israel was the elect nation because of the elect Man that would come from them. Our election is because Jesus was the elect Man. Our election is a corollary of His election.

Though God wants all to be saved, not everyone gets saved. God fulfills His role to draw people to salvation through the shed blood of Christ and conviction of sin by the Spirit. The Word is preached by His people. However, that seed of the Word of God is falling on all kinds of soil. Some of that soil is much more prepared than others. Different amounts of preparation of that soil may be required, depending on their exposure to truth (Matthew 13:1-23).