Who are the elect of God?

The concept of the “elect” or “chosen” of God is found throughout Scripture. In the Old Testament, God chose Israel to be His special people through whom He would reveal Himself and accomplish His purposes (Deut 7:6-8). In the New Testament, the emphasis shifts from a nation to individuals who are chosen by God for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (John 6:44, Eph 1:4-5). So who exactly are the elect of God?

Old Testament Background

The nation of Israel was clearly chosen by God to be His treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation (Ex 19:5-6). As God’s chosen people, they enjoyed unique privileges and blessings but also had greater accountability to walk in obedience to God’s commands. Their election was an act of God’s grace and sovereignty, not because of anything inherently worthy in them (Deut 7:7-8). Yet God still held them responsible to “choose life” by loving and obeying Him (Deut 30:19).

Within national Israel, there was also an elect “remnant” – those who trusted in the Lord and remained faithful to Him during times of widespread apostasy (Isa 10:20-22, Rom 11:2-5). The concept of election in the OT highlights God’s initiative in choosing, while human responsibility and faith are still emphasised as necessary responses.

New Testament Teaching

In the New Testament, election is now tied to being “in Christ” by faith rather than nationality. God chose believers in Christ for salvation before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4). This election is an expression of God’s sovereign grace and love, not human merit, so that no one can boast (Eph 2:8-9, Rom 9:10-13). Election is primarily unto salvation but also includes election to sanctification (Eph 1:4) and service (John 15:16).

Several key aspects of NT election include:

• It is corporate – God has chosen a people for Himself (Titus 1:1, 1 Pet 1:1).
• It is christocentric – election is in Christ as the Chosen One (1 Pet 2:4).
• It is unconditional – based on God’s sovereign choice, not foreseen faith (Rom 9:11-13).
• It requires faith – God’s sovereign election does not exclude human responsibility (2 Thess 2:13-14).
• It promotes holiness – election leads to good works (Eph 1:4, 2:10).
• It provides assurance – confidence in God’s sovereign purpose (1 Thess 1:4-5).

Election is ultimately a mystery, being both an act of God’s sovereignty and somehow requiring a human response of faith. It should produce humility from being chosen by grace rather than merit, assurance of salvation because of God’s will, and gratitude that overflows into godly living. The elect are chosen by God to enjoy the riches of His redemption and live for His glory.

Who Are the Elect?

Based on the NT teaching about election, the “elect” or “chosen” refers broadly to all those who are in Christ by faith, irrespective of nationality. It includes both Jews and Gentiles who have trusted in Christ for salvation (Rom 9:24). More specifically, the elect refers to:

• OT saints – While election in the OT was primarily corporate, there was a faithful remnant chosen by grace (Rom 11:5).
• The disciples – Jesus said He chose the 12 disciples for a special purpose (John 15:16).
• All believers – Scripture refers to the church corporately as the elect (Rom 8:33, Col 3:12).
• Gentiles – Election dismantled the racial barriers to include Gentiles by faith (1 Pet 1:1-2).
• Angels – Some angels are also termed elect (1 Tim 5:21), which means they were chosen by God for service.

However, the New Testament also teaches that not everyone within the visible community of faith is part of the elect. Jesus warned that false converts who appear to be believers but ultimately fall away demonstrate they were never truly elected or saved (Matt 24:24). Paul says those who desert Christ show they had “no root” and were never planted by God to begin with (1 John 2:19). Therefore, election distinguishes true believers who are eternally secure in Christ from false professors who eventually fall away.

How Do I Know If I’m Elect?

Since election is a sovereign choice of God, one may ask how can a person know if they are among the elect. There are several marks from Scripture that provide assurance of election:

• Faith and repentance – God grants repentance to the elect (2 Tim 2:25), and all the elect will trust in Christ.
• Indwelling of the Spirit – The Spirit seals believers as evidence of election (Eph 1:13-14).
• Sanctification – The elect are chosen to be holy and bear fruit (Eph 1:4, John 15:16).
• Perseverance – The elect will endure to the end because of God’s preserving grace (Mark 13:20).
• Hunger for God – Those chosen by God long to know and obey Him (1 Peter 1:2, 2 Tim 2:19).

While true believers can enjoy assurance of election, we cannot infallibly know God’s hidden decree. What is evident through the internal call of the Spirit should provide confidence that one is elect. But this assurance rests on Christ’s merits, not determining one’s own election.

Common Questions

The doctrine of election raises many questions, so here are some common ones briefly addressed:

• Is election fair? – No, but God’s grace is never fair because no one deserves it. Thankfully, God sovereignly chooses to save people who don’t merit His favor.
• Does election remove free will? – No, God’s sovereign choice does not coerce human response. People still make willing choices to trust or reject Christ.
• What about those not chosen? – Scripture affirms human responsibility, so people freely choose condemnation by rejecting Christ. No one is saved apart from hearing the gospel.
• Can the elect lose salvation? – No, God preserves those He has chosen so they will persevere by His grace and never be lost (John 10:28).
• How were people saved in the OT if Jesus hadn’t come yet? They were saved by trusting in God’s promised Messiah who would come (Rom 4, Heb 11).
• Does election promote pride or fatalism? – No, election humbles us and prompts gratitude for God’s grace. The elect still have a responsibility to share the gospel.

While there are challenges in this doctrine, election ultimately highlights God’s glorious grace in choosing to save hell-deserving sinners for His glory. The only proper response is worship.

Purpose of Election

Why did God choose some and not others for salvation? Scripture reveals several divine purposes:

1. To glorify His grace – Election displays God’s sovereign mercy (Eph 1:6).
2. To reveal His power – The weak and lowly are chosen to show God’s strength (1 Cor 1:27).
3. To accomplish His will – God chooses those He can use for His plans (John 15:16).
4. To receive worship – The elect praise God for His glorious grace (1 Pet 2:9).
5. To conform to Christ – The elect are predestined to be like Jesus (Rom 8:29).
6. To holiness – The elect are chosen to bear spiritual fruit (Eph 1:4).
7. To adoption – Election results in the privileges of being God’s children (Eph 1:5).

God’s supreme purpose in election is for His own glory and praise. All other aspects of election serve this overarching purpose. The only proper response is profound worship, humility, and gratitude.

Objections to Election

The doctrine of election faces several objections:

• It’s unfair – Is it fair that God chooses to save some but not all? No, but God declares He will have mercy on whom He wills (Rom 9:14-16).
• It removes free will – Does God’s choice override human responsibility? No, God’s sovereignty does not eliminate meaningful choice (John 3:18).
• It discourages evangelism – If the elect will be saved anyway, why share the gospel? Because it is a privilege to be used by God and we don’t know who the elect are.
• It can promote pride – Does election tempt people to boast? Yes, but those who understand it properly will be humbled that they did not merit God’s grace.
• It violates God’s love – How can a loving God not choose everyone? God’s ways are higher than ours, and He gloriously loves the whole world (John 3:16).

While election raises difficult questions, we can still affirm both God’s sovereign choice and human responsibility from Scripture. Objections should drive us to marvel at God’s glorious grace.

Conclusion

The biblical doctrine of election teaches that God, according to His sovereign will, has mercifully chosen some sinners for salvation for His glory. This choice is an act of God’s free grace apart from human merit. Election provides assurance for believers, promotes humility and gratitude, and spurs us on to holiness. While challenging aspects remain, the truth of election magnifies God’s glorious grace in redeeming undeserving sinners through the saving work of Jesus Christ.