Elect only refers to the Jews

[Greatfull]

I have a friend who believes in freewill and this is the explanation she gives for verses that talk about election. She believes that these verses refer to the Jews only. My only response was that the fact that God chose the Jews as His elect is in itself "proof" that God does choose or elects. Can anyone comment on this? Thanks and God bless all of you.

Can you please give examples of verses of election that are very clear in that it is not being addressed to the Jews only.

 

[DeaconDean]

I have a friend who believes in freewill and this is the explanation she gives for verses that talk about election. She believes that these verses refer to the Jews only. My only response was that the fact that God chose the Jews as His elect is in itself "proof" that God does choose or elects. Can anyone comment on this? Thanks and God bless all of you.

Can you please give examples of verses of election that are very clear in that it is not being addressed to the Jews only.

Just simply point out to her, in the New Testament, all of Paul's epistles were addressed to "Christians" with the exception of the Pastoral epistles.

Paul is commonly called the "Apostle to the Gentiles."

"But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:" -Acts 9:15 (KJV)

And it is also true that wherever there was a Jewish presence, he preached to the Jews first, then the Gentiles:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." -Rom. 1:16 (KJV)

"And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law." -1 Cor. 9:20-21 (KJV)

Remembering that Paul's epistles were written to a "Christian" audience and not to any unsaved, in Eph. 1:4-5, Paul teaches most clearly the doctrine of predestination and election.

"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," -Eph. 1:4-5 (KJV)

When Paul was addressing the Ephesian audience, he wasn't teaching the doctrine of election to the Jews, he was teaching it to Gentiles.

Election is simply God choosing who He wants.

And Paul clearly and simply tells the Gentile audience at Ephesus, they were chosen "before the foundation of the world."

Sounds like your friend suffers from "tunnel vision." Not open to other explanations.

Hope this helps.

God Bless

Till all are one.

 

[Greatfull]

Thnx Deacon. Very helpful response.

 

[heymikey80]

Because "elect" is simply "choose/chosen" ...

"Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe." ... "Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name." Ac 15:7,14

even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? Rom 9:24

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? Rom 8:30-33

The Roman church is a mixed group, definitely including a number of Gentiles (check out Romans 4 for instance describing that those God justifies are both Jewish and Gentile, then moving to Romans 5 where Paul talks about "us" as the whole of Christians).

 

[beloved57]

Actually there is truth in this statement..elect and salvation only pertain to and is for Jews or Israel..acts 13:

23Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

acts 5:

31Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.

The point however is that Israel is not a physical nation over in the middle east, its a spiritual nation, a people given to christ before the world began..

rom 2:


28For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: 29But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

rom 9:

6Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel[spiritually], which are of Israel:[nationally]

National Israel was raised up to house and typify spiritual Israel..until the promised seed arrived..which is christ as the head of the Israel or church his body..

 

[heymikey80]

I have a friend who believes in freewill and this is the explanation she gives for verses that talk about election. She believes that these verses refer to the Jews only. My only response was that the fact that God chose the Jews as His elect is in itself "proof" that God does choose or elects. Can anyone comment on this? Thanks and God bless all of you.

Can you please give examples of verses of election that are very clear in that it is not being addressed to the Jews only.

You know, we probably missed one in the middle of Paul's exposition on election, that chapter of Romans 9:

...in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles? Rom 9:23-24
​

 

[BBAS 64]

I have a friend who believes in freewill and this is the explanation she gives for verses that talk about election. She believes that these verses refer to the Jews only. My only response was that the fact that God chose the Jews as His elect is in itself "proof" that God does choose or elects. Can anyone comment on this? Thanks and God bless all of you.

Can you please give examples of verses of election that are very clear in that it is not being addressed to the Jews only.

Good Day, Greatful

Are only the Jews gathered...

Mar 13:26 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in clouds with great power and glory.
Mar 13:27 And then shall he send forth the angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven.
Mar 13:28 Now from the fig tree learn her parable: when her branch is now become tender, and putteth forth its leaves, ye know that the summer is nigh;


Peace to you,

Bill

 

[Elect]

Romans Chapter 11 also reveals that not all the decedents of Abraham were elect. God even had an election within the Jewish people.

 

[GodsElect]

Romans 9:6 But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel, 7 nor are they all children because they are the seed of Abraham; but, “In Isaac your seed shall be called.”[b] 8 That is, those who are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God; but the children of the promise are counted as the seed. 9 For this is the word of promise: “At this time I will come and Sarah shall have a son.”[c]
10 And not only this, but when Rebecca also had conceived by one man, even by our father Isaac 11 (for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls), 12 it was said to her, “The older shall serve the younger.”[d] 13 As it is written, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.”[e]
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? Certainly not! 15 For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”[f] 16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”[g] 18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
19 You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?” 20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory, 24 even us whom He called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?