Who are the Elect?

[Hammster]

The "elect " are those who choose Jesus Christ of Nazareth, God in the Flesh, in turn they are chosen to receive His Holy Spirit for eternity and enter The Kingdom of God.
Blessings.

That would make Jesus the elect, not us. Words mean things.

 

[Freth]

The chosen, according to Ephesians 1:

Ephesians 1:4-6 According as he hath [1]chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.​

The elect, according to Matthew 24:

Matthew 24:22-24 And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the [2]elect's sake those days shall be shortened. Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it not. 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.[/B]​

The saints according to Revelation 14:

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the [3]saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

​

Conclusion:

God chose us. We must choose Him.

1 Peter 2:9-10 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

1 John 2:4-6 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

Titus 2:11-14 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.​

Footnotes:

1. Strong's G1586 chose (eklegomai):

• to pick out, choose, to pick or choose out for one's self
  • choosing one out of many, i.e. Jesus choosing his disciples
  • choosing one for an office
  • of God choosing whom he judged fit to receive his favours and separated from the rest of mankind to be peculiarly his own and to be attended continually by his gracious oversight
    • i.e. the Israelites
  • of God the Father choosing Christians, as those whom he set apart from the irreligious multitude as dear unto himself, and whom he has rendered, through faith in Christ, citizens in the Messianic kingdom: (James 2:5) so that the ground of the choice lies in Christ and his merits only

2. Strong's G1588 elect (eklektos):

• picked out, chosen
  • chosen by God, to obtain salvation through Christ
    • Christians are called "chosen or elect" of God
  • the Messiah is called "elect", as appointed by God to the most exalted office conceivable
  • choice, select, i.e. the best of its kind or class, excellence preeminent: applied to certain individual Christians

3. Strong's G40 saint (hagios):

• most holy thing, a saint; sacred (physically, pure, morally blameless or religious, ceremonially, consecrated):—(most) holy (one, thing), saint

 

[Maria Billingsley]

That would make Jesus the elect, not us. Words mean things.

Ah, not sure where you get that from my post. Those who choose Jesus Christ of Nazareth are the elect.

 

[Hammster]

Ah, not sure where you get that from my post. Those who choose Jesus Christ of Nazareth are the elect.

Right. That makes Jesus the elect (chosen).

 

[John Mullally]

The chosen, according to Ephesians 1:

Ephesians 1:1-6 is not about God predetermining which individuals will be in Christ. It is about God predetermining what will become of those who are in Christ through belief in His truth.

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
​

The text seems to clearly indicate that God has predetermined that the “the faithful in Christ Jesus” (vs. 1) will become “holy and blameless” (sanctification – vs. 4) and they will be “adopted” (glorification – vs. 5). (Note: Romans 8:23 clearly indicates that Paul sees “adoption” as a future hope for all who come to faith.)

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Right. That makes Jesus the elect (chosen).

Um, ok. Not seeing that but thanks for engaging!

 

[Hammster]

Um, ok. Not seeing that but thanks for engaging!

Elect mean chosen. You said we choose Jesus. That makes Him elect.

 

[TedT]

Are the elect all those chosen by God to receive salvation?

Or are the elect only those chosen by God to serve a certain purpose, mission, ministry?

ImCo:
these options are NOT mutually exclusive but the elect are those chosen for salvation, not just service...election is the promise of salvation from sin to specific people:
2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Elect mean chosen. You said we choose Jesus. That makes Him elect.

Haaa, I said choose. In other words we choose first and in turn we are chosen. I guess you can twist that if you want.

 

[ChetSinger]

Are the elect all those chosen by God to receive salvation?

Or are the elect only those chosen by God to serve a certain purpose, mission, ministry?

Here's how I was taught:

In the OT every Israelite was one of the elect. And every Gentile was not. Being elect meant being chosen by God, and all Israel was chosen and set apart.

That didn't guarantee salvation, though. The northern tribes abandoned belief in God, were conquered, and vanished from history. Conversly, Gentiles could convert and become elect.

Post-resurrection, every Christian is elect: we've been chosen and set apart. But it remains possible for a Christian to abandon the faith. And some do.

 

[Jake Arsenal]

Jesus summed up all the commandments into just 2 commandments: Love God and love people.(Matthew 22:37-40)

People can know who is a follower of Christ by the love they have for one another.(John 13:34-35)

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Elect mean chosen. You said we choose Jesus. That makes Him elect.

For clarity, "choose to belive in Jesus Christ of Nazareth".

 

[ozso]

I don't know.

Forgive me for saying so, but that sounds rather hopeless.

 

[HTacianas]

Forgive me for saying so, but that sounds rather hopeless.

It's not hopeless. But hold yourself to the standard of the gospel:

Rom 11:20 Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

Rom 11:21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.

Rom 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

With that in mind, give us all of the reasons you will be spared.

 

[Freth]

Ephesians 1:1-6 is not about God predetermining which individuals will be in Christ. It is about God predetermining what will become of those who are in Christ through belief in His truth.

Ephesians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.
​

The text seems to clearly indicate that God has predetermined that the “the faithful in Christ Jesus” (vs. 1) will become “holy and blameless” (sanctification – vs. 4) and they will be “adopted” (glorification – vs. 5). (Note: Romans 8:23 clearly indicates that Paul sees “adoption” as a future hope for all who come to faith.)

As per Ephesians, verse 1, Paul is writing to the faithful Ephesians, but he is speaking to the future reader as well, potentially, non-Christians.

In my previous post, the only words of my own (pertaining to the subject matter) are, "God chose us. We must choose Him.", which is a paraphrased summary of verses 4-6.

Ephesians 1:4-6 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

• According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world ... Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself.
  
• That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.

Revisiting my words, in light of the above:

• "God chose us." All of us (John 3:16-17) are chosen before creation, predestined as His.
• "We must choose Him." That we should be holy and without blame before Him in love. "Should be" points to the free will choice that we all have, to choose Him or not, to choose belief, repentance, obedience, eternal life; or to choose unbelief, sin, death, perishment. If we love Him, we will keep His commandments (John 14:15). If we love Him, we will love each other (James 2:8-9).

 

[Hammster]

Haaa, I said choose. In other words we choose first and in turn we are chosen. I guess you can twist that if you want.

It’s not twisting. It’s what you just verified. And you put His choosing us in subjection to us choosing Him.

 

[The Righterzpen]

Elect mean chosen. You said we choose Jesus. That makes Him elect.

Well, I guess in one sense one could say Jesus was "elect"; just not by us. Isaiah 42:1 does call Jesus "mine elect"; totally different context than election of believers though!

 

[The Righterzpen]

@Jake Arsenal - You have an interesting profile icon! Humorous; yet ironically sad in this day and age!

 

[Maria Billingsley]

It’s not twisting. It’s what you just verified. And you put His choosing us in subjection to us choosing Him.

I'm not smart enough to understand what you are getting at I guess.
Thanks for engaging.

 

[John Mullally]

It’s not twisting. It’s what you just verified. And you put His choosing us in subjection to us choosing Him.

God, in His Sovereignty, chooses to save those who choose to respond to the promise of Acts 2:38-39.

Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.​