There are elect races, elect nations – even elect people. Like King Saul. And these have been called to particularly impart or communicate whatever advantages and blessings that have been entrusted to them. They are “elect” for a reason. In a biblical sense “elect” simply means to have been sovereignly chosen by God for a purpose.
Being “elect”, however, provides no automatic guarantee of God’s ongoing favour. The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Church at Rome, laments at length that Israel – the people called into elect relationship with God to be blessed in order to be a blessing to the world – had missed the privileges that were ordained for them. They regarded their election very selfishly. They revelled in their election status but saw it as being for their own comfort and enrichment. God’s purpose for them as an elect people did not concern them. Speaking of Israel’s greatest failing the apostle writes …
Romans 9:31-33 (NIV) “… but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone. 33 As it is written: "See, I lay in Zion a stone that causes people to stumble and a rock that makes them fall, and the one who believes in Him will never be put to shame.”
Of all people on earth, God’s elect failed to recognise their own – and the world’s – Messiah. The Hebrew nation, enormously privileged by adoption as God’s firstborn and with the divine anointing to go with the privilege, missed out on the blessing - and so did the world in many ways. Of course, because God is a faithful God, who does not break covenant, He will “graft” Israel back into His great purposes – if they do not persist in unbelief.
Romans 11:23 (NIV)
“And if they do not persist in unbelief, they will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.”
The apostle maintains his hope in a faithful God for his people – but it is not automatic for every Hebrew. There are plenty of biblical examples of “election”, too. And each provides us salutary lessons. Esau, by birthright was, in a real sense, an elect person. But his election was no automatic thing. He had to live out and value that election for the blessings of it to be realised. He did not. In a moment of fleshly recklessness, he lost that birthright election to his brother, Jacob. The point here is that with both Israel and Esau election is a powerful thing. Within the election call itself resides tremendous anointing and power for success to carry out God’s purposes – and in the process to be amazingly blessed. But election must be handled with great respect and integrity – something Israel and Esau lacked. Then there was King Saul – the first of Israel’s kings. He was elected (chosen) by God and anointed to be a particular kind of king over God’s people. He was an impressive man. His Godly destiny had been mapped out by God, Himself, and would endure for generations. It did not happen. Why?
Election alone does not grant entitlement to oneself. God’s election is the bestowal of great privilege with all the power and resources needed to see God’s purposes realised. Saul, who started so well, remained in the position of an elect person in the visible realm – but the anointing that would ensure his elect responsibilities would be achieved, departed. This can happen to anyone! This was so tragic that the prophet Samuel, who had anointed the young king, grieved long and bitterly. Saul, though an elect person, began to take himself far too seriously. He began to stray beyond the clear parameters of his responsibilities until he couldn’t tell the difference anymore between elect duties and his own ambition. This is, basically, disobedience – soulishness. It started with very small missteps but, though repeatedly warned, he did not heed correction. The anointing departed from his election.
And God regretted ever calling him to such a place of election.
From the biblical perspective, election refers to God's sovereign choice of individuals or groups to fulfill specific purposes or to receive His favour. This concept, particularly prevalent in the Old Testament regarding Israel's selection as God's chosen people and in the New Testament regarding believers in Christ, has sparked considerable theological debate. To our human understanding election seems arbitrary, even unfair. It is often linked to the doctrine of predestination, which some argue is about God's predetermined plan for salvation – and that is not predestination, by the way! Suffice to say here that election is rooted in God's own will and purpose, not based on any merit or foreseen actions of those chosen, or what may seem fair, or not, from a human perspective. This choice is not based on human merit but on God's grace and decision. Think Gideon!
Election is one of the mysterious ways in which God works through men and women to accomplish His purposes. The critical issue in all election scenarios is that election is only a sure thing when the elect faithfully obey God’s commands with humility, sacrifice and integrity. To these men and women of God is given the unlimited anointing and resources to carry out their call as ones elect – and succeed. In the Old Testament the idea of election (apart from the nation of Israel) was with individuals upon whom God bestowed His favour in order to achieve His purposes - think, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob for example. In the New Testament this idea of election extends to all believers. And this is not about God choosing who and who will not receive salvation before the creation of the world, either!
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) “The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
So, what does election mean for Christians? Election certainly brings comfort to believers by affirming that their salvation is rooted in God's eternal plan and not based on their own efforts. It also emphasises God's grace and sovereignty in salvation. But as with election in the Old Testament, in the New Testament election carries with it certain responsibilities. The first of these is to live in such a way that Christ is glorified. Our understanding of election should lead to humility, recognising that salvation is a gift from God and that this gift should not be trashed or used selfishly. It should motivate us to reach out to others with God's love and hospitality, reflecting God's own love for them.
To reiterate: election is an act of God’s grace in both Testaments. It carries within it the anointing and power to carry out the responsibilities of those elect. Election is, in itself, not a guarantee of the final outcome. It is a statement of divine intention that God wants to see realised. But that depends on the elect fulfilling their responsibilities. This does not ever mean that our salvation is some fragile thing – it most definitely isn’t. It means that we, as ones elect, must do something with it. We are to steward our salvation. Many do not. The great danger for believers is treating their salvation as so unimportant as to not treasure it, steward it, and use it for God’s purposes. The apostle Peter made this very point.
2 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV)
“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, 11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
This does not mean that we have to frantically, obsessively work ourselves to the bone to hold on to our salvation lest it slip away - not at all. It means, we who have been saved must live as elect people now - for God’s purposes, and not be sitting around as a saved person awaiting the return of Jesus.
Romans 11:7-8 (NIV)
“What then? What the people of Israel sought so earnestly they did not obtain. The elect among them did, but the others were hardened, 8 as it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that could not see and ears that could not hear, to this very day."
Nothing has changed. Be careful, then, how you live as one elect.
Ps Milton