The word elect generates a lot of discussion and debate in the Christian church. Both Jesus and the apostles used the term in their teachings. So, who are the elect in the New Testament? The term ‘chosen’ is used even more in the Bible. Are the elect and the chosen the same? According to most dictionary definitions, the elect are people who are chosen or singled out. We elect officials to fulfil certain specific roles in the government. The president elect is the person the people have chosen to be president. So, practically, the elect are also the ‘chosen’. WHY DO WE MAKE IT IN RELIGION “THE CHOSEN ONES”. THE CHOSEN OR SINGLED OUT, SINGLED OUT OF THE GROUP WE CALL HUMANITY. As verbs, elect and choose can be interchangeable. It comes as no surprise that New Testament authors use elect and chosen in similar contexts. So, what do these terms mean in the Bible? The elect must be chosen for something, but for what? Before we answer, let’s look at how the word chosen is used in Scripture, since it occurs more often, and the two words are closely connected. Many readers assume chosen in the Bible always refers to one type of choice—that of salvation. And many Bible commentaries and even secular dictionaries define elect as “the people chosen by God for salvation”. This has been the assumed definition by those holding to a Reformed (Calvinist) theology since the Protestant Reformation. But this is not well supported in Scripture as we will see. BUT IF WE TAKE THIS TEXT TO MEAN THE PEOPLE (ALL HUMANITY) CHOSEN BY GOD BY SALVATION. Actually, God has made many different choices and selections throughout history. In many contexts, God’s choices are in fact very different, depending on his purposes, plans and goals at a given time. Here are some examples: Moses standing in the breach, Levites to stand before God in temple service, certain kings to rule Israel, He chose Jerusalem to be the worship centre for Israel: And he chose prophets to speak his word to the people, as he chose Jeremiah: God also chose Pharaoh to let the people leave Egypt after 400 years in slavery, the Persian king Cyrus to allow the Jewish people to return to their homeland and rebuild Jerusalem and the temple (Isaiah 44:28). All the examples of people outside the people of Israel chosen for a particular job. Though many of them were God’s people, some were not, as in the case of Cyrus. God chose them to perform a task or function in his plan or take on a vocation to ensure the fulfilment of his promises. He chose Jesus to be his Messiah and Mary to bring forth Jesus, the saviour of the world. JESUS chose disciples, Israel as a chosen nation. But the main usage of elect in the New Testament originates from the Old Testament story of the deliverance of the Israelites. Notice that ‘chosen’ in these passages refers to the nation and not to any individual in the nation. As is clear from the story in Exodus, many in Moses’ time were not faithful to God. They rejected him by worshipping the golden calf and so God rejected them. But the nation as a whole was still chosen, though not all individuals in the nation were truly God’s people. So generally speaking, elect does not mean saved, but chosen by God for a purpose. I don’t know if you noticed that the elect is not believers only. But all humanity which is set aside for God’s purpose. Set aside above the animal world, above the plant world. If people adhere to this or not is not the question and does not take away from the truth. The New Testament we can read: “But you (or we) are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you (or we) may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9). Paul’s usage of chosen: “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen?” The answer will be: THE ADVERSARY- HE IS A LIAR- WHO CAME TO KILL, STEAL AND DESTROY- It is God who justifies. (Romans 8:33). Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Col 3:12). For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you… “ (1 Thessalonians 1:4). Just as God chose Christ from before the creation of the world to be the Savior, those who are in Christ by his faith are chosen in him and saved in him. Humanity is chosen because they are in Christ, not chosen to be in Christ. They are the people of God and the elect of God because they are in Christ who is the chosen (or elect) Messiah. We are the body of Christ. We can call this corporate election. In our society and culture we are so prone to the concept of individual faith, individual salvation, individual whatsoever that we don’t see the bigger picture of our corporate being. Even to the point that it’s difficult for us today to read the Bible in any other way. God has the right to give gifts and abilities to whomever he wants, and to promote anyone to a position that serves him best. This does not make one person more elect than another, or more chosen and above the other.
And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect , all humanity from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other (Matthew 24:31).
Humanity as a corporate body, the body of Christ: IS THE ELECT.
