Who Are The Elect Throughout The Bible

A Rightly Divided Survey From The King James Bible

Introduction

The word elect simply means those who are chosen. In Scripture, God’s choosing is always unto a purpose that He revealed in His words. Confusion comes when readers lift promises and identities that belong to Israel under prophecy and place them on the Body of Christ under the mystery. The King James Bible uses the term elect for more than one group, and the context and the program decide the identity every time.

Christ Himself Is God’s Elect

Before any nation or program is named, the Lord Jesus Christ is called God’s elect. Isaiah prophesied of Messiah, Behold my servant, whom I uphold, mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth, I have put my spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles Isaiah 42 verse 1. Peter quotes that promise and calls Christ a chief corner stone, elect, precious First Peter 2 verse 6. At the cross the rulers mocked Him and said, let him save himself if he be Christ, the chosen of God Luke 23 verse 35. All election stands first in Christ, the chosen Son, and every other election serves His glory and work.

Israel As God’s Elect Nation In Prophecy

God chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, then set Israel apart as His peculiar treasure among the nations. The Old Testament speaks plainly. For the Lord hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure Psalm 135 verse 4. For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name Isaiah 45 verse 4. God promises a preserved seed called mine elect in Israel’s future kingdom Isaiah 65 verse 9 and verse 22. This national election is unto service and promise in the earth, with covenants, priestly identity, and a kingdom in Zion. It does not teach that every Israelite is saved automatically, for the prophets constantly separate a faithful remnant from the unbelieving in the nation.

Israel’s Elect Remnant In The Last Days

Prophecy narrows the focus to a purified remnant that endures the time of Jacob’s trouble and is brought into the kingdom. The Lord speaks of the elect in that tribulation setting. For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be, and except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved, but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened Matthew 24 verses 21 through 22. He adds that false Christs shall deceive, if possible, the very elect, and that He shall send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet and gather His elect from the four winds Matthew 24 verses 24 and 31. These instructions mention Judaea, the holy place, and the Sabbath, which mark Israel’s program on earth. Revelation shows twelve tribes sealed for service and a faithful company preserved for the King. See Revelation 7 verses 4 through 8. In short, the tribulation elect are Israel’s believing remnant, not the Body of Christ.

The Body Of Christ As God’s Elect In The Mystery

When Christ revealed the mystery to Paul, He made known a new creature with a heavenly calling. In this dispensation believers are identified as God’s elect in 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 Ephesians 1 verse 4. Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God First Thessalonians 1 verse 4. God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth Second Thessalonians 2 verse 13. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies Colossians 3 verse 12. Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect Romans 8 verse 33. This is not Israel’s national election under covenants on the earth. This is the Body’s spiritual identity in Christ in heavenly places. Notice that belief of the truth is present. God’s choice is in Christ and is received by faith in the gospel, never by ethnic standing or works.

Elect Angels And Elect Individuals

The Bible also speaks of elect angels. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things First Timothy 5 verse 21. John writes to the elect lady and her children, and he sends greeting from the elect sister Second John verse 1 and verse 13. These are simple uses that show the word can refer to chosen holy angels by office, and to particular believers by address, without changing the larger programs already described.

How To Keep The Uses Distinct

The context decides the identity of the elect every time. If the passage speaks of Judaea, a holy place, the Sabbath, or the twelve tribes, you are in Israel’s program on the earth, and the elect are Israel’s faithful ones. See Matthew 24 and James 1 verse 1 and Revelation 7. If the passage speaks of the Body seated in heavenly places, blessed in Christ, and saved by grace without works, you are in the mystery given to Paul, and the elect are members of the Body of Christ. See Ephesians 1 verse 3 through verse 7 and Ephesians 2 verse 6. If the passage names Christ as the chosen, then the elect is the Lord Himself, God’s Servant, the cornerstone of every purpose. See Isaiah 42 verse 1 and First Peter 2 verse 6. Right division keeps each use in place and removes the confusion.

Election Is Unto Purpose, Salvation Is By The Gospel

Election language is often mishandled to teach that God decreed that certain people must be saved and others must be lost. The King James Bible does not teach that. God will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth First Timothy 2 verse 4. The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men Titus 2 verse 11. In this dispensation, salvation comes by believing the gospel of Christ, and that gospel centers on His blood and resurrection. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures First Corinthians 15 verses 3 through 4. We are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood Romans 3 verses 24 through 26. When a sinner believes this gospel, God places him in Christ, and in Christ he shares the identity of the elect of God.

Before The Foundation Of The World, And From The Foundation Of The World

Scripture marks a useful distinction in timing language. The kingdom that Israel will inherit is prepared from the foundation of the world Matthew 25 verse 34. By contrast the Body of Christ was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Ephesians 1 verse 4. Israel’s election and kingdom are rooted in prophecy made known since the world began. The Body’s election and vocation are rooted in mystery kept secret since the world began and revealed later to Paul. See Romans 16 verse 25 and Ephesians 3 verses 1 through 9. This distinction helps you identify which elect a passage is describing.

Quick Reference Summary

Christ, God’s elect Servant and Corner Stone, Isaiah 42 verse 1, First Peter 2 verse 6.

Israel, God’s elect nation on earth, Psalm 135 verse 4, Isaiah 45 verse 4, Isaiah 65 verse 9 and verse 22.

Israel’s elect remnant in the tribulation, Matthew 24 verses 21 through 31, Revelation 7 verses 4 through 8.

The Body of Christ, God’s elect in Christ with a heavenly calling, Ephesians 1 verse 4, First Thessalonians 1 verse 4, Colossians 3 verse 12, Romans 8 verse 33, Second Thessalonians 2 verse 13.

Elect angels, First Timothy 5 verse 21.

Elect individuals by address, Second John verse 1 and verse 13.

Common Misapplications Corrected

Do not take tribulation texts that speak of the elect in Judaea and apply them to the Body of Christ. Matthew 24 is not the rapture of the Body and those instructions are not the church’s rule of life. Do not take Israel’s national election under covenants and turn it into a doctrine that the Body is a priestly nation on earth. First Peter 2 verse 9 belongs to the remnant epistles for Israel’s program. Do not use election language to deny the free offer of the gospel. Today God saves any sinner who believes the cross work of Christ, and faith in His blood places that believer among the elect in Christ.

Closing Gospel Clarifier For Today

In this present dispensation God is forming the one Body by the gospel of the grace of God. Believe that the Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood for your sins, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day. Trust His finished work alone, without works of your own. God will save you at once, forgive you completely, seal you with the Holy Spirit, and seat you in heavenly places in Christ. That is where the Body of Christ stands as God’s elect today.

Key passages to revisit

Isaiah 42 verse 1, Psalm 135 verse 4, Isaiah 45 verse 4, Isaiah 65 verse 9 and verse 22, Matthew 24 verses 21 through 31, Luke 23 verse 35, First Peter 2 verse 6, Revelation 7 verses 4 through 8, Romans 8 verse 33, Ephesians 1 verse 4, First Thessalonians 1 verse 4, Second Thessalonians 2 verse 13, Colossians 3 verse 12, First Timothy 5 verse 21, Second John verse 1 and verse 13, Romans 16 verse 25, Ephesians 3 verses 1 through 9, First Corinthians 15 verses 3 through 4, Romans 3 verses 24 through 26.