Reference: Election
Fausets
(See ELECT.)
Hastings
The idea of election, as expressive of God's method of accomplishing His purpose for the world in both providence and grace, though (as befits the character of the Bible as peculiarly 'the history of redemption') especially in grace, goes to the heart of Scripture teaching. The word 'election' itself occurs but a few times (Ac 9:15 'vessel of election,' Ro 9:11; 11:5,7,28; 1Th 1:4; 2Pe 1:10); 'elect' in NT much oftener (see below); but equivalent words in OT and NT, as 'choose,' 'chosen,' 'foreknow' (in sense of 'fore-designate'), etc., considerably extend the range of usage. In the OT, as will be seen, the special object of the Divine election is Israel (e.g. De 4:37; 7:7 etc.); but within Israel are special elections, as of the tribe of Levi, the house of Aaron, Judah, David and his house, etc.; while, in a broader sense, the idea, if not the expression, is present wherever individuals are raised up, or separated, for special service (thus of Cyrus, Isa 44:28; 45:1-6). In the NT the term 'elect' is frequently used, both by Christ and by the Apostles, for those who are heirs of salvation (e.g. 24/22/type/worrell'>Mt 24:22,24,31; Lu 18:7; Ro 8:33; Col 3:12; 2Ti 2:10; Tit 1:1; 1Pe 1:2), and the Church, as the new Israel, is described as 'an elect race' (1Pe 2:9). Jesus Himself is called, with reference to Isa 42:1, God's 'chosen' or 'elect' One (Mt 12:18; Lu 9:35 RV, Lu 23:35); and mention is once made of 'elect' angels (1Ti 5:21). In St. Paul's Epistles the idea has great prominence (Ro 9; Eph 1:4 etc.). It is now necessary to investigate the implications of this idea more carefully.
Election, etymologically, is the choice of one, or of some, out of many. In the usage we are investigating, election is always, and only, of God. It is the method by which, in the exercise of His holy freedom, He carries out His purpose ('the purpose of God according to election,' Ro 9:11). The 'call' which brings the election to light, as in the call of Abraham, Israel, believers, is in time, but the call rests on God's prior, eternal determination (Ro 8:28-29). Israel was chosen of God's free love (De 7:6 ff.); believers are declared to be blessed in Christ, 'even as he chose' them 'in him'
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"Ye are the salt of the earth; but, if the salt become tasteless, with what shall it be salted? It is henceforth good for nothing, except, when cast without, to be trodden under foot by men. "Ye are the light of the world: a city, set upon a hill, cannot he hid. read more. Nor do they light a lamp, and put it under the measure, but on the lamp-stand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father Who is in Heaven.
"Behold, My servant Whom I chose, My Beloved, in Whom My soul delighted. I will put My Spirit upon Him, and He will declare judgment to the gentiles.
And, unless those days should be shortened, no flesh could be saved: but, for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.
for there will arise false Christs and false prophets; and they will give great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
And He will send forth His angels, with the sound of a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, the Chosen; hear ye Him."
And will not God avenge His elect, who are crying to Him day and night, and He is long suffering over them?
And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also were scoffing at Him, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself! if This is the Christ of God, the Chosen!"
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that every one who believes on Him should not perish, but have eternal life;
All that the Father giveth to Me shall come to Me; and him who comes to Me I will in no wise cast out;
And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that of all that He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
And this is the will of Him Who sent Me, that of all that He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
To him the porter opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out. When he drives out all his own, he goes on before them, and the sheep follow him; because they know his voice. read more. But a stranger they will in no wise follow, but will flee from him; because they know not the voice of strangers."
My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, nor shall any one snatch them out of My hand. read more. My Father, Who hath given them to Me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
Ye did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide; that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it you.
But the Lord said to him, "Go your way; because this man is to Me a chosen vessel to bear My name before nations, and kings, and the sons of Israel;
But the Lord said to him, "Go your way; because this man is to Me a chosen vessel to bear My name before nations, and kings, and the sons of Israel;
And Peter, opening his mouth, said, "Of a truth, I perceive that God is not a respecter of persons;
And, having heard these things, they were silent, and glorified God, saying, "Then, to the gentiles also God gave repentance unto life."
to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light, and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins, and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'
And we know that all things are working together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose;
And we know that all things are working together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose; because whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren.
Who will bring an accusation against God's elect? It is God Who justifieth;
Who will bring an accusation against God's elect? It is God Who justifieth;
For I am persuaded that, neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But it is not as though the word of God has failed: for they are not all Israel, who are of Israel; neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children; but, "In Isaac shall your seed be called." read more. That is, the children of the flesh are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are reckoned for a seed. For the word of the promise is this: "At this season I will come, and Sarah shall have a son." And not only so; but Rebecca also having conceived by one, even by our father Isaac (for, the children being not yet born, nor having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him Who calleth),
(for, the children being not yet born, nor having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him Who calleth),
(for, the children being not yet born, nor having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him Who calleth),
(for, the children being not yet born, nor having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him Who calleth), it was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger." read more. Even as it has been written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." What, then, shall we say? Is there unrighteousness with God? It could not be!
So, then, it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God Who hath mercy.
So, then, it is not of him that wills, nor of him that runs, but of God Who hath mercy.
Even so, then, at this present time also, a remnant, according to an election of grace, has been reserved.
Even so, then, at this present time also, a remnant, according to an election of grace, has been reserved.
What, then? What Israel is seeking for, this he did not obtain; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened;
What, then? What Israel is seeking for, this he did not obtain; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened;
For I do not wish you, brethren, to be ignorant of this mystery (lest ye be wise in your own conceits), that a hardening, in part, has befallen Israel, until the fulness of the gentiles come in;
As touching the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake; but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Father's sake;
and salute the assembly that is in her house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruit of Asia unto Christ.
For we are God's fellow-workers; ye are God's husbandry, God's building.
Ye are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being made manifest that ye are Christ's epistle ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh.
because it is the God Who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," Who shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
But, when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace,
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: Grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. read more. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; according as He chose us in Him before the founding of a world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love;
according as He chose us in Him before the founding of a world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love;
according as He chose us in Him before the founding of a world, that we should be holy and without blemish before Him in love;
to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He graciously bestowed on us in the Beloved;
in Whom we also were made a heritage, having been predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will;
For by grace ye have been saved through faith: and this, not of yourselves, it is the gift of God:
for it is God Who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
for it is God Who is working in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
giving thanks to the Father, Who made us meet for the portion of the inheritance of the saints in light; Who delivered us out of the dominion of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of His love;
Put on, therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering;
I solemnly charge you before God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the full knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
that they may train the young women to be lovers of their husbands, lovers of their children,
not keeping back anything, but showing forth all good faith; that they may adorn the teaching of our Savior God in all things.
looking for the blissful hope and appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ;
Now the God of peace, Who brought up from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep, in virtue of the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus,
Now the God of peace, Who brought up from the dead the Great Shepherd of the sheep, in virtue of the blood of an eternal covenant, even our Lord Jesus, make you perfect in every good thing to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be the glory forever. Amen.
make you perfect in every good thing to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to Whom be the glory forever. Amen.
Having willed it, He brought us forth with a word of truth, that we might be a certain first-fruit of His creatures.
But ye are "an elect race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation," a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
But ye are "an elect race, a kingly priesthood, a holy nation," a people for a possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
These are those who were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are those who follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth. These were redeemed from among men, a first fruit to God and to the Lamb.
Morish
??????, 'choice.' Spoken of :
1. the Lord Jesus: "Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect (bachir) in whom my soul delighteth." Isa 42:1; 1Pe 2:6. He was fore-ordained to be a mercy-seat through faith in His blood. Ro 3:25, margin; 1Pe 1:20.
2. Cyrus, who was called by God to be His 'shepherd' to work out His will, saying to Jerusalem, "Thou shalt be built; and to the temple, Thy foundation shall be laid." Isa 44:28; 45:1-4. It was Cyrus who released the captives to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Ezr 1:2-3.
3. When Jacob and Esau were born, Jacob was elected for blessing, and his descendants as the only nation chosen by God for His special favour. Ro 9:11-13; Am 3:2.
4. When God again restores Israel into blessing it will be a remnant that will be chosen, whom He calls His 'elect.' Isa 65:9,15,22; 24/22/type/worrell'>Mt 24:22,24,31; Ro 11:28.
5. Elect angels. 1Ti 5:21.
6. Election of persons to eternal life. Ro 8:29-30,33; 11:5,7; Col 3:12; 1Th 1:4; 2Ti 2:10; Tit 1:1; 1Pe 1:2; 5:13; 2Pe 1:10; 2Jo 1:13.
The reason Christians feel a difficulty as to the doctrine of election to eternal life, is because they do not see the extent of the fall of man, and his utterly lost condition. Were it not for election, and the prevailing grace that follows it, not one would be saved. Christ died for all, and the gospel is proclaimed to all, Ro 3:22; Heb 2:9; but alas, except for the election and grace of God, none would respond. Lu 14:18. God must have all the glory.
Another error that has caused a difficulty as to 'election ' is the idea which some maintain that as some are ordained to eternal life, others likewise are fore-ordained by God to perdition, called 'reprobation.' But this is not taught in scripture
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And, unless those days should be shortened, no flesh could be saved: but, for the sake of the elect, those days will be shortened.
for there will arise false Christs and false prophets; and they will give great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
And He will send forth His angels, with the sound of a great trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.
"And they all, with one consent, began to make excuse. The first said to him, 'I bought a field, and I must go out to see it; I pray you, have me excused.'
even a righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ, to all who believe; for there is no distinction;
Whom God set forth as a propitiation, through faith in His blood, for the manifestation of His righteousness, because of the passing over of the formerly-committed sins in the forbearance of God:
because whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first born among many brethren. And whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
Who will bring an accusation against God's elect? It is God Who justifieth;
(for, the children being not yet born, nor having done anything good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of Him Who calleth), it was said to her, "The elder shall serve the younger." read more. Even as it has been written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
Even so, then, at this present time also, a remnant, according to an election of grace, has been reserved.
What, then? What Israel is seeking for, this he did not obtain; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened;
As touching the Gospel, they are enemies for your sake; but as touching the election, they are beloved for the Father's sake;
Put on, therefore, as God's elect, holy and beloved, tender affections of compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, long-suffering;
Who wisheth all men to be saved, and to come into a full knowledge of truth.
I solemnly charge you before God, and Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
Paul, a slave of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the full knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,
not keeping back anything, but showing forth all good faith; that they may adorn the teaching of our Savior God in all things.
But we behold Him Who was made a little lower than angels, Jesus, on account of the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that, by the grace of God, He might taste death for every one.
foreknown, indeed, from a founding of a world, but manifested in the end of the times for you,
Watsons
ELECTION. Of a divine election, a choosing and separating from others, we have three kinds mentioned in the Scriptures. The first is the election of individuals to perform some particular and special service. Cyrus was "elected" to rebuild the temple; the twelve Apostles were "chosen," elected, to their office by Christ; St. Paul was a "chosen," or elected "vessel," to be the Apostle of the Gentiles. The second kind of election which we find in Scripture, is the election of nations, or bodies of people, to eminent religious privileges, and in order to accomplish, by their superior illumination, the merciful purposes of God, in benefiting other nations or bodies of people. Thus the descendants of Abraham, the Jews, were chosen to receive special revelations of truth; and to be "the people of God," that is, his visible church, publicly to observe and uphold his worship. "The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." "The Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you, above all people." It was especially on account of the application of the terms elect, chosen, and peculiar, to the Jewish people, that they were so familiarly used by the Apostles in their epistles addressed to the believing Jews and Gentiles, then constituting the church of Christ in various places. For Christians were the subjects, also, of this second kind of election; the election of bodies of men to be the visible people and church of God in the world, and to be endowed with peculiar privileges. Thus they became, though in a more special and exalted sense, the chosen people, the elect of God. We say "in a more special sense," because as the entrance into the Jewish church was by natural birth, and the entrance into the Christian church, properly so called, is by faith and a spiritual birth, these terms, although many became Christians by mere profession, and enjoyed various priviledges in consequence of their people or nation being chosen to receive the Gospel, have generally respect, in the New Testament, to bodies of true believers, or to the whole body of true believers as such. They are not, therefore, to be interpreted according to the scheme of Dr. Taylor of Norwich, by the constitution of the Jewish, but by the constitution of the Christian, church.
2. To understand the nature of this "election," as applied sometimes to particular bodies of Christians, as when St. Peter says, "The church which is at Babylon, elected together with you," and sometimes to the whole body of believers every where; and also the reason of the frequent use of the term election, and of the occurrence of allusions to the fact; it is to be remembered, that a great religious revolution, so to speak, had occurred in the age of the Apostles; with the full import of which we cannot, without calling in the aid of a little reflection, be adequately impressed. This change was no other than the abrogation of the church state of the Jews, which had continued for so many ages. They had been the only visibly acknowledged people of God in all the nations of the earth; for whatever pious people might have existed in other nations, they were not, in the sight of men, and collectively, acknowledged as "the people of Jehovah." They had no written revelations, no appointed ministry, no forms of authorized initiation into his church and covenant, no appointed holy days, or sanctioned ritual. All these were peculiar to the Jews, who were, therefore, an elected and peculiar people. This distinguished honour they were about to lose. They might have retained it as Christians, had they been willing to admit the believing Gentiles of all nations to share it with them; but the great reason of their peculiarity and election, as a nation, was terminated by the coming of the Messiah, who was to be "a light to lighten the Gentiles," as well as "the glory of his people Israel." Their pride and consequent unbelief resented this, which will explain their enmity to the believing part of the Gentiles, who, when that which St. Paul calls "the fellowship of the mystery" was fully explained, chiefly by the glorious ministry of that Apostle himself, were called into that church relation and visible acknowledgment as the people of God, which the Jews had formerly enjoyed, and that with even a higher degree of glory, in proportion to the superior spirituality of the new dispensation. It was this doctrine which excited that strong irritation in the minds of the unbelieving Jews, and in some partially Christianized ones, to which so many references are made in the New Testament. The were "provoked," were made "jealous;" and were often roused to the madness of persecuting opposition by it. There was then a new election of a new people of God, to be composed of Jews, not by virtue of their natural descent, but through their faith in Christ, and of Gentiles of all nations, also believing, and put as believers, on an equal ground with the believing Jews: and there was also a rejection, a reprobation, but not an absolute one; for the election was offered to the Jews first, in every place, by offering them the Gospel. Some embraced it, and submitted to be the elect people of God, on the new ground of faith, instead of the old one of natural descent; and therefore the Apostle, Ro 11:7, calls the believing part of the Jews, "the election," in opposition to those who opposed this "election of grace," and still clung to their former and now repealed election as Jews and the descendants of Abraham; "But the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded." The offer had been made to the whole nation; all might have joined the one body of believing Jews and believing Gentiles; but the major part of them refused: they would not "come into the supper;" they made "light of it;" light of an election founded on faith, and which placed the relation of "the people of God" upon spiritual attainments, and offered to them only spiritual blessings. They were, therefore, deprived of election and church relationship of every kind: their temple was burned; their political state abolished; their genealogies confounded; their worship annihilated; and all visible acknowledgment of them by God as a church withdrawn, and transfer red to a church henceforward to be composed chiefly of Gentiles:
and thus, says St. Paul, "were fulfilled the words of Moses, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish," ignorant and idolatrous, "people I will anger you." It is easy, therefore, to see what is the import of the "calling" and "election" of the Christian church, as spoken of in the New Testament. It was not the calling and the electing of one nation in particular to succeed the Jews; but it was the calling and the electing of believers in all nations, wherever the Gospel should be preached, to be in reality what the Jews typically, and therefore in an inferior degree, had been,
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What, then? What Israel is seeking for, this he did not obtain; but the election obtained it, and the rest were hardened;