Election

The Hebrew word for election is bahar, and the Greek words are eklegomai or haireomai. These can be used in an active or passive sense, meaning to choose or to be chosen. The object can be a person or a thing. In the Bible, election refers to God, in His eternal will and lovingkindness, specially choosing certain people who are pleasing to Him. This kind of election is an act of God’s sovereign grace.

In the Old Testament, the Israelites were the people God chose from all the nations to be His people, and to whom He gave His blessings and covenant. “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing… And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you” (Genesis 12:2; 17:7). “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth. It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples” (Deuteronomy 7:6-7). This election was entirely from God’s eternal will and lovingkindness, setting the Israelites apart from all other nations to accomplish His plan.

In the New Testament era, the recipients of God’s election expanded from the covenant people of Israel to include Gentiles. Just as God chose the Israelites, Christians who are born again, saved by grace, are also “God’s elect” (Colossians 3:12) and “a chosen race” (1 Peter 2:9). Jesus said, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits” (Matthew 21:42-43). Those of us who are chosen become true Israelites by believing in Jesus. “…the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” (Galatians 3:16, 29; Ephesians 3:6; cf. Romans 9:6-33; Ephesians 2:11-22).

Our God is full of mercy and love. He does not wish for anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance. Those who repent and believe in Him can be saved and receive new life, so that we may be holy and blameless before Him. We were once dead in our sins and transgressions, our hearts were confused and dark, without light or hope. God caused us to believe and turn to Him, giving us new life, because He has a wonderful purpose to fulfill in us. God’s election is not based on our works, but is entirely by His grace, a gift we receive freely. He takes us, who were worthless materials, and makes us into His masterpiece, refining the hopeless into pure gold, to be displayed before the world, bringing complete glory to God.

The Bible records:

[Isaiah 65:9] I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, and from Judah possessors of my mountains; my chosen shall inherit it, and my servants shall dwell there.

[Colossians 3:12] Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

[1 Peter 2:9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

[1 Thessalonians 1:4-5] For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

[Ephesians 2:8-9] For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

According to the Chinese Union Version of the Bible, edited and compiled by Comprehensive Bible Commentary.