Wednesday, September 21, 2011

The Elect of God

God says We are the Elect
Metaphor: Elect
Concept:  Elect here defines those who because they at some point in time will follow Jesus as savior have been selected by God in his foreknowledge of their actions and are his elect or chosen ones.

Mark 13:20-27 And if the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would be saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom he chose, he has cut short those days. 21 And if anyone says to you at that time, 'Look! Here is the Messiah!' or 'Look! There he is!' — do not believe it. 22 False messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 But be alert; I have already told you everything. 24 "But in those days, after that suffering, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, 25 and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. 26 Then they will see 'the Son of Man coming in clouds' with great power and glory. 27 Then he will send out the angels, and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven. NRSV

Rom 11:7 What then [shall we conclude]? Israel failed to obtain what it sought [God's favor by obedience to the Law]. Only the elect (those chosen few) obtained it, while the rest of them became callously indifferent (blinded, hardened, and made insensible to it). AMP

Titus 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God's elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness— NIV

ELECT: A person or group chosen by God for special favor and for the rendering of special service to Him. In the Old Testament the Hebrew people were described as God's elect. The New Testament speaks of Christ as God's Chosen One (1 Peter 2:4,6) and of the church as God's new chosen people (Rom 8:33; 2 John 1,13). (Thomas Nelson's Bible Dictionary.

The interesting thing here is that God not only knows His elect but also knows what the boundaries or limits of their faith are and proactively protects them so that they will not be lost or defeated in their life long pursuit of a life of faithfulness to Him.

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