Election

In the Bible narrative, from Genesis all the way to the book of Revelation, there is one subject put forth that in today’s church world is mostly ignored or avoided, for the simple reason that in today’s multicultural and politically correct churches, it is a subject that is very difficult to deal with. And that subject is Election. The election of God to choose for Himself one particular people, and one people only. In this regard the concept of election is either looked upon as discriminatory or racist, regardless of whether it is of God or not. When God chose the people of Israel, it was not to favor Israel and to glorify those people, but that God would be glorified in them, for they, the people of Israel were to be God’s servant people, so that through their example and conduct God would be made known to all people and be glorified as the One and Only God, the God of all the earth and universe. Israel had no choice in this matter, for before they even left Egypt, God said, “I will take you to me for a people, and I will be to you a God.” (Ex. 6:7). “For thou art a Holy people unto the Lord thy God; The Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people who are upon the face of the earth.” (Deut. 7:6) If Israel had been true to their vow made at Mt. Sinai, the people would have then already reigned with God, as kings and priests in God’s theocratic kingdom here on Earth, the kingdom that now awaits us at Christ’s Second Advent.

But back to the word election or elect. In the Old Testament elect is only mentioned two times, both times it is mentioned by Isaiah in chapter 42:1 and 45:4, but the word chosen is used frequently throughout the OT. In the New Testament it is used a few more times, but in all cases it is referring to Israel or to the people of Israel, thus we can clearly see that the elect or chosen people are none other than Israel and Israel only, not just one tribe but all twelve tribes, now scattered over all the Christian nations of the world.

The Covenants, both the Old and the New, are directly tied to the elect or chosen and not only promised great blessings, but gave the Israelite people a great responsibility, which through our ignorance, the people have greatly neglected, both then and now. In 1Pet. 2:9-10 we read, “But ye are a select race, a royal priesthood, and holy nation, a people for action, that you may display the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light who once were not a people, but are now the people of God, who were unpitied, but now have secured compassion.” (F.F. translation)

I wonder how many of us act like priests of the Most High, and how often we display through our actions His virtues. “Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, … you only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore, I will punish you for all your iniquities.” (Amos 3:1,2) But God in His mercy gave His only begotten Son in order that we, Israelites, could be re-united unto our sovereign God, for we read in Mat. 1:21, “And she, {Mary}, shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus; for he shall save his people from their sins.” Now, who are the people that Jesus came to save? Jesus identifies those people in Mat. 15, there he said, “I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” (Mat. 15:24)

Thus you can see that the concept of an elect and chosen people is confirmed in the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and must still be true today, for we read in Malachi 3:6, “For I am the Lord, I change not, therefore you sons of Jacob [Israel] are not consumed. It is quite evident throughout all the passages in Scripture that election is by race. It pertains only to Israel and none other. But, we must also remember that Salvation is by grace. “For by grace are ye saved through faith;” (Eph. 2:8) When the Israel nations of the West became firmly established in the Gospel and faith in Christ Jesus they, in their zeal for the Gospel, sent missionaries to all parts of the globe, proclaiming the Good News of the Gospel, with the result, although there were a lot of failures, that there are enclaves of true Bible believing Christians in almost all parts of the world.

In John 10 Jesus is talking about being the Good Shepherd, how He is the door to the sheep (v7) and that any man that enters by that door shall be saved (v9). He goes on to say that He is this Good Shepherd and that He knows His sheep {Israelites}, and that the sheep know Him, since they are His own. “But now, thus sayeth the Lord who created thee, O Jacob, and he who formed thee, O Israel, fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name, thou art mine.” (Isa. 43:1) Back to John 10, Jesus said, “And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold {Israelites}, them also must I bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.” (John 10:16) This statement of Jesus is confirmed in Isaiah’s prophecy, “The Lord God, who gathereth the outcasts of Israel, saith, yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him.” (Isa. 56:8)

These two verses make it plain that those that call upon the name of Jesus, even though they are not of Israel, and are baptized and redeemed in and by the Blood of Jesus, will be welcomed into the Kingdom of our Lord and partake of all the wonderful blessings that that Kingdom will bring. But to Israel alone is promised rulership with Christ.

“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.” (Eph. 1:5) “For ye are a chosen generation [race], a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a people of his own, that ye should show forth the praise of him who called you out of the darkness into his marvelous light.” (1Pet. 2:9) “And hast made us unto our God a kingdom of priests: and we shall reign on the earth.” (Rev. 5:10)

O Israel, wake up, there is much in store for you, and required of you. The best is yet to come!