The Elect are those the Father has chosen in Christ and given to the Son.
Jesus spoke of them when He warned that false christs would try, if possible, to lead even the elect astray,
and when He promised that the angels would gather His elect from the four winds.
Paul blessed God who chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world.
The word does not flatter pride.
It names mercy.
The chosen are a people called, kept, and gathered by grace.
Israel was called the Lord’s chosen. He set His love on them not because they were many, but because He loved them and kept the oath He swore to the fathers. Within Israel a remnant was chosen by grace.
Jesus took the language and applied it to those the Father had given Him: His sheep, who hear His voice and cannot be snatched from His hand. He said the days of tribulation would be cut short for the sake of the elect. He said the angels would gather them at His coming.
The apostles wrote to the elect lady, to those elect exiles, and to a church chosen of God.
Election in Scripture is never an excuse to sit still. It is the fountain of holiness, humility, and hope. Those whom He predestined He also called; those whom He called He also justified; those whom He justified He also glorified.
The gospel is still to be preached to all. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.
The elect are made known in history as those who hear, believe, and endure.
- Elect means chosen. The choice is God’s, and it is in Christ.
- Israel was chosen as a nation; the church is spoken of as elect in the Son.
- Jesus used the word for those who belong to Him in the last days and at His appearing.
- Election produces comfort, not arrogance. Boasting is excluded.
- The same God who chooses sends the gospel to all nations.
- False signs aim at the elect and cannot finally succeed.
- Those the Father gave the Son will be raised up at the last day.
- Chosen in Christ – Before the foundation of the world, in the Beloved.
- Loved First – Not chosen because they were lovely; loved and then made holy.
- Called through the Gospel – The eternal choice meets people in the preached word.
- Kept – No one snatches them out of the Son’s hand or the Father’s hand.
- Gathered – At the coming of the Son of Man they are collected from the four winds.
- Holy and Beloved – Chosen unto sanctification, not unto carelessness.
- A Remnant by Grace – What Israel sought, the remnant obtained; the rest were hardened.
- Matthew 24:22, 24, 31 – “And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short… For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect… And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds…”
- Mark 13:20, 22, 27 – The Lord cut short the days for the sake of the elect whom He chose; the angels gather His elect from the four winds.
- Ephesians 1:4-5 – “Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will.”
- Romans 8:29-33 – “For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son… Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.”
- Romans 9:11-16 – “Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls… So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.”
- Romans 11:5-7 – “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”
- Colossians 3:12 – “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
- 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 – “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”
- 2 Thessalonians 2:13 – “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”
- 2 Timothy 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.”
- Titus 1:1 – “Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God’s elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness.”
- 1 Peter 1:1-2 – “To those who are elect exiles… according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood.”
- 1 Peter 2:9 – “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession…”
- 2 Peter 1:10 – “Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.”
- John 6:37, 39 – “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out… And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.”
- John 10:27-29 – “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.”
- John 15:16 – “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…”
- Deuteronomy 7:6-8 – “The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession… It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the Lord set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the Lord loves you…”
- Isaiah 45:4 – “For the sake of my servant Jacob, and Israel my chosen, I call you by your name.”
- Luke 18:7 – “And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night…?”
- Revelation 17:14 – “They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him.
The elect are not a club of the superior. They are the beloved of the Father, given to the Son, kept by His hand.
Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies.
Preach the gospel to all. Endure for the sake of the elect. Confirm your calling and election by a holy life.
False signs will try, if possible, to lead even the elect astray. They will not succeed.
The angels will gather His elect from the four winds.
Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
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