This article helps Christians determine if they are one of God’s “Elect”.
The word “elect” (referring to God’s people) is written in the King James Bible 27 times. As this term closely associates with Salvation, therefore Christians should understand what it means.
‘The Elect’ is written 23 times in the New Testament, and is spoken by Jesus in the following verses:
“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but FOR THE ELECT’S SAKE those days shall be shortened.” (Matthew 24:22)
"...they [Antichrist's people] shall deceive THE VERY ELECT." (Matthew 24:24)
"...and they [God's angels] shall GATHER TOGETHER HIS ELECT..." (Matthew 24:31)
Conforming to the Bible – God’s ‘Measuring Standard’
The following illustration represents just a few qualities that every Christian must attain in this life to become one of God’s “elect“.
In scripture, there is not the slightest reference to an “elect” of God whereby one person is chosen to be saved—and another person is not. There is no teaching that a man is saved simply because of God’s choice alone:
"Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:" (Acts 10:34-35)People either accept God for who He is and His words in the Bible, or they reject Him and His words in the Bible.
Therefore, God’s “standard” that determines whom His “elect” are chosen from represents His words in scripture and whether His people are conforming their lives to His words or not. In this, Jesus said:
"So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do." (Luke 17:10)
The requirement for Salvation changes in each ‘Dispensation’
In this, it is a requirement from God that each individual MUST meet God’s terms of Salvation in the dispensations shown below. This is what God judges His people on whether our choices conform to His requirements or not.
The following three examples demonstrate how God’s plan of Salvation has changed during the three dispensations shown:
1. Adam and Eve – God required them to OBEY just ONE commandment (Genesis 2:17).
2. Israel – for the entire nation had to OBEY ALL of the commandments (Deut 11:27-28).
3. Christians – for each to:
- EXPERIENCE the ‘new birth’ (John 3:3-8) and to then
- WALK in the Spirit (Rom 8:1) and
- DO the will of God (Matthew 12:50). To become a
- FUNCTIONING MEMBER in the Body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:27) by
- PERFORMING the necessary “works” so as to do God’s will (Ephesians 2:10; John 14:12)
- USING the various spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:8-11) that each Christian has been allocated by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 12:11)…and all other things necessary to become a “good soldier of Jesus Christ” (2 Tim 2:3)
A Christian’s choices determine their Salvation
Salvation (or eternal life) in any generation of souls living on the Earth is based on the many choices made during the individual’s lifetime. It also includes their conformity to God’s commandments at the time they were living in. See examples 1 to 3 above.
Any failure of an individual at the end of their life to conform with God’s requirements means such a soul will be lost forever. There can there be no exception to this outcome for anyone in God’s divine plan of Salvation.
"Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: THE SOUL THAT SINNETH, IT SHALL DIE [daily throughout eternity in the Lake of Fire - Isaiah 66:23-24]." (Ezekiel 18:4)
It must be appreciated that God’s part in Salvation for all men has been completed as follows:
- In the dispensation of the Law for Israel, God provided the Ten Commandments and other ceremonial laws through Moses that He required Israel to obey.
- In the Christian dispensation, God has provided the blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection AND GRACE – together with the empowerment from on High of the Holy Spirit for Christians to seek, obtain and demonstrate God’s POWER in their lives:
"For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in POWER." (1 Corinthians 4:20)
"Behold, I give unto you POWER to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY: and nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)
Therefore, whoever meets God’s required “STANDARD” in any dispensation will be saved from Hell, and will spend eternity with God and Christ. This means they become one of the “Elect of God” because they have overcome the lies and deceptions of the Devil.
"I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one [i.e. Satan and his deceptions]." (1 John 2:14)
Summary — God’s plan for Christians today
God has plainly stated in scripture that He plans to renew the heavens and the Earth to become:
"...NEW HEAVENS and a NEW EARTH: and the former [heavens and Earth] shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. " (Isaiah 65:17)
God plans to send down from Heaven, the New Jerusalem. This gigantic building will become the temple on Earth in which God the Father, Jesus Christ and His “Elect” will live throughout eternity.
"And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful." (Revelation 21:1-5)
The only people in this life who will see and be a part of that glorious ‘next’ life throughout eternity will be “The Elect” of God! —those who have become:
"...an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God." (Philippians 4:18)
"And there shall in no wise enter into it [the New Jerusalem] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: BUT THEY WHICH ARE WRITTEN IN THE LAMB'S BOOK OF LIFE." (Revelation 21:27)
In other words, THE ELECT have obtained this status in God’s eyes by studying the scriptures (2 Tim 2:15) to determine God’s plan for Salvation. They then apply to their life what they have learned while following Christ—wherever He leads them (John 10:27).
Satan’s plan is to corrupt “Sound Doctrine”
God allows the Devil to corrupt and pervert His plan of Salvation to Christians. He achieves this by introducing heresies into the churches—through “his ministers” in the pulpits:
And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers [in the pulpits] also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor 11:14-15)
"For THERE MUST BE ALSO HERESIES AMONG YOU, that they [THE ELECT] WHICH ARE APPROVED [by God - 2 Tim 2:15] may be made manifest among you [by the Bible truths they reveal]." (1 Corinthians 11:19)
For the time will come when THEY [today's Christians] WILL NOT ENDUE SOUND DOCTRINE; but after their own lusts [for entertainment rather than Bible study] shall they heap to themselves [false] teachers [preaching false doctrines], having itching ears [to hear more of their lies]; (2 Tim 4:3)
Regardless of how the Devil tries to corrupt God’s word (2 Cor. 2:17), God allows for His plan of Salvation to remain available to the [THE ELECT] who are truly seeking Him – i.e. through THE TRUTH in the scriptures (1 Thes. 1:4)!
For those who are overcome by the Devil’s lies (i.e. heresies), they are no longer considered to be ‘THE ELECT‘. These are then termed – ‘THE DECEIVED‘ (Job 12:16).
An example of God staying true to His Word to His ‘Elect’
Romans chapter 9 deals with the choice of God in choosing Jacob over Esau. Jacob would not have been chosen by God if he had behaved toward God as Esau did. One becomes a special subject of God’s dealings when he or she chooses to be—and remains that way. If one chooses to rebel against remaining ‘Saved’, no benefits of God can apply to him or her.
The word “elect” also refers to Israel as the chosen nation of God in all scriptures other than these: Luke 18:7; Romans 8:33; Col. 3:10; Titus 1:1; 2 John 1:1,13. These verses relate to all Jews and Gentiles who have conformed their lives to the plan of God for Salvation – Christ’s ‘sheep’.
Thus, Scripture makes it clear that only those who meet the terms of Salvation become the elect of God. This means, “CONDITIONAL SALVATION“.
Those who meet these conditions will share in the blessings of God promised to conforming Christians throughout eternity. This will be in contrast to those who choose not to conform. These will receive the predestined curses associated with their rebellion throughout eternity.
Truly God is "...just, and the Justifier of him [or her] which believeth in Jesus" (Romans 3:26).
Please feel free to leave a comment or a question.
Hello Lyn – and thanks for a great comment!
Your statement “…that election is often tied in with God’s foreknowledge and the concept of predestination” is correct.
You are also correct in saying, “…Election therefore encompasses the foreknowledge of God, involving Him reaching out to us at some stage in our life”.
I also agree where you say, “… that He knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb & ultimately how we would respond to the good news of Jesus Christ”.
However, I would like to clarify God’s position in this.
If God were to predestine one to be saved and another to be damned in Hell as many Christians imagine predestination to mean – it would demonstrate God’s unjust regard for one and an unjust disregard for another. This isn’t what the Bible says about God – not that you said this.
God offers mercy and His grace to all alike. His invitations, promises, provision, and warnings of punishment when reaching out to all unsaved rebels are numerous, as stated in the word “longsuffering” below :
“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is LONGSUFFERING to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH [in Hell], but that all should come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)
All people are invited to choose eternal life through the Gospel message – and are warned of eternal punishment if they choose not do so, or are led astray from journeying along the ‘Narrow Way’ by Satan’s people (2 Cor 11:14-15).
In summary, predestination and foreknowledge that says God chooses one over another is inconsistent with God’s statement that He is “no respecter of persons” (Acts 10:34).
Thanks Lyn!
Thank you for your article on election. I believe that election is often tied in with God’s foreknowledge and the concept of predestination. The apostle Peter (Peter 1:2) addresses his letter to the ‘elect’, strangers in the world, who had been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. Election therefore encompasses the foreknowledge of God, involving Him reaching out to us at some stage in our life; the fact that He knew us before we were formed in our mother’s womb & ultimately how we would respond to the good news of Jesus Christ. “For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. And those He predestined He also called; those He called He also justified; those He justified He also glorified…………Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth (Rom 8:29-30 & 33).