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There are many people who will honestly confess they have never studied the Bible doctrine of
election. There are others who, though they have studied the subject, admit that they have failed to
understand it to their satisfaction. Admittedly it may be somewhat difficult to understand, but that
is because we are exploring a teaching that comes from the mind of God. However, the fruit of such
a study can be well worth the effort. Like a nut the shell may be hard and difficult to crack, but once
inside the meat is sweet to the taste. Therefore, it is the objective of this tract, to share some
scriptures and teachings that may help others understand Divine election and be blessed.
It is important for us to understand that "election" has been the subject of many books; and
volumes have been written about it. Many brilliant people have explored the depths of this divine
doctrine. However, the Bible is without doubt the greatest source of information on this subject?
In addition to this tract, please study prayerfully the holy scriptures. Through Paul God said, "Study
to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the
word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).
We are going to approach this study in a two-fold manner. First, we want to verify that it is a
teaching of the Bible. If it exists only in the minds of mortals, it would be questionable as to how
much time and effort should be expended in understanding it. However, if in fact it does exist in the
pages of the Holy Bible, then it has emerged from the mind and purposes of God and will enrich
lives while at the same time honor Him. Second, after we establish that it does exist in the pages of
holy scriptures, we shall try to simplify these truths for a better understanding. As a doctrine of God
it is worthy of an exhaustive study. Hopefully as we focus on the scriptures, they will be clarified
so we can embrace them and rejoice in God's work of grace.
With our first objective in mind we will endeavor to establish the fact that election is taught in
the Bible. If you have access to a Bible concordance, look up words like: choose, chosen, elect,
elected and election. In the event that one is not available, let me list a few verses that contain these
words so that you might begin your study by reading them in your Bible. Please study these verses
prayerfully: Deuteronomy 7:6-8, Psalm 64:4, Isaiah 45:4, Matthew 24:22 & 31, Luke 18:7, John
15:16, Acts 9:15, Romans 9:11, Romans 11:5-6, Ephesians 1:4, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 2:9-10.
Having established that the Bible does indeed teach divine election, we can move on to the
second objective. We will now endeavor to understand the doctrine in its application to our
salvation. At this point we need to realize that divine election simply means divine selection. This
truth can be easily understood by looking at our political process. By an election we select a person
to fill an office or position. Therefore, we should understand that God also selects or elects people
who in time will inherit heaven. However, there is a very noticeable difference between our
elections and God's. With us MANY people usually elect ONE person to hold office; while in divine
election, ONE God elects MANY people to be saved and enjoy heaven.
Election teaches that God chose an incalculable number of people out of Adam's fallen race. He
chose us and gave us to His beloved Son, in the covenant of grace. Jesus said, "And this is the
Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should
raise it up again at the last day" (John 6:39). Why was this necessary? Because everyone is a
sinner and unable to save himself. The Bible says, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory
of God" (Romans 3:23). Then in the fullness of time, Jesus came into this world to redeem His
covenant people from their sins. The Bible says, "But when the fulness of the time was come, God
sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law,
that we might receive the adoption of sons" (Galatians 4:4-5). Christ allowed Himself to be
crucified to pay our sin debt and thus to save His people from the penalty of their sins. The angel
declared, "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his
people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).
Thank God that He chose in eternity past, before the world was created; all who will spend
eternity with Him in heaven after this world ends. I believe that to help us understand this truth,
God chose the Jews as a special nation. Therefore, I want us to consider three similarities between
God's choice of the Jews and His choice of us. They hold true for both the natural nation of Israel
and the spiritual nation of the elect.
First, the Jews were chosen by God. They did not choose God, He chose them. God did not
issue a decree to all the nations of the world saying "If you will choose Me, then I will be your God
and bless you." Instead, God chose the Jews sovereignly and made them the "chosen nation."
Therefore, as their God He blessed them as a special people. So we read in Deuteronomy 7:6 these
words: "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee
to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth."
The same pattern holds true for the redeemed church. God chose us, not the reverse. Because
He chose us, we are His people and the blessings He bestows upon us as His elect transcend time
and extend into the endless ages of eternity. We might well repeat the words that Jesus spoke to His
disciples and apply them to ourselves. He said, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and
ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that
whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you" (John 15:16). Though we
may never fully understand why He chose us, it is sufficient to believe that He did so. Because of
divine election we are a people special in God's sight.
Second, we can understand that God's choice of the Jews did not come because of anything they
did. God did not see some rare and wonderful quality that moved Him to chose them. In fact,
history reveals that the opposite is true. Throughout the Old Testament, they were often disobedient
and even rebellious to God. They repeatedly turned from the worship of the true God, to the pagan
gods worshipped by various adjacent nations.
Nothing about them indicates they were a people worthy of divine choice. They were not even
numerous and strong. God had to multiply their numbers and be their strength. Listen to
Deuteronomy 7:7: "The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more
in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people."
The same holds true of God's elect today in that nothing in our being deserves His special favors.
He did not choose us because we were good, for we have all sinned. Nor did He see some good in
us, for apart from His grace there is none. Paul held up Jacob and Esau as examples of election. To
convince some who might suppose there is some merit or worthiness in man, He wrote Romans 9:11.
He said, "(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the
purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)" Paul
plainly declares that the election was before they were born and even before the world was made.
Ephesians 1:4 says, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that
we should be holy and without blame before him in love." He chose us to make us holy.
Third, we need to note that because God chose them, they were blessed and enriched. All they
enjoyed came because God loved them. He chose them and redeemed them from bondage. Moses
wrote, "But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn
unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the
house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 7:8). It tells us that God
loved them and made them a standard before the nations of the world. When He blessed the Old
Testament Jews, no nation was their equal. God ultimately blessed them to enjoy the land "flowing
with milk and honey."
The elect of God are blessed in many ways because He loves us too. Because of His love, He
works mightily in our lives. He chose us and gave Jesus to die for our sins. He also sent the Holy
Spirit into us, to quicken us into spiritual life. The Bible says: "And you hath he quickened, who
were dead in trespasses and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). Even now He leads us by His Spirit, teaches us
by His word, allows us the privilege of His fellowship, makes us new creatures in Christ. Paul said,
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all
things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). God is the gracious force Who gives salvation to us
and binds us eternally to Himself.
So then "election" is not because of our goodness, nor because of any goodness we might do.
It is altogether because of His goodness to us. He chose us and drew us by His sovereign power.
Psalm 65:4 declares, "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee,
that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy
temple." The truth is election comes first, then by His grace we are enabled to do good, to love and
serve, to praise and worship God. He says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not
of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we
should walk in them" (Ephesians 2:8-10).
The "elect" are a spiritual nation, chosen out of every nation of the world (Revelation 5:9). God
chose us that we might praise Him the world over. God inspired Peter to write, "But ye are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the
praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light" (1 Peter 2:9). Apart
from divine election, and the provisions of His grace, these spiritual qualities would be absent from
our lives. Let us always praise Him for choosing us and saving us through Christ our Lord.
If you wonder how this doctrine can be true or suppose that God would be unjust if it were, let
me remind you that God can and will do as it pleases Him. He is sovereign. "For he saith to Moses,
I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have
compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth
mercy" (Romans 9:15-16). Think about it this way; you choose your friends and decide to whom
you will be benevolent. Surely God has the same privilege of choice. He has the right to choose
those upon whom He will bestow His blessing. So God devised the plan, chose the people and paid
for their sin debt with the precious blood of His sinless Son. Who has the right to say He did it
wrong? No one!
I know beyond a doubt that the Bible teaches election. It is a matter as simple as reading the
scriptures and by faith believing they are eternally true. I can also see evidence of it in the lives of
many people because God has made a difference in them. Though you and I cannot possibly know
all God's elect, we have the blessed assurance that God knows each one. Paul said, "Nevertheless
the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let
every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity" (2 Timothy 2:19). Those of us who
truly claim the name of Jesus, do so as the result of His electing grace.
When we embrace the truth of divine election, God is honored and praised for His grace towards
us. This doctrine gives none of the glory of salvation to man. No glory is shared with man because
it all rightfully belongs to Him Who chose us. We should rejoice that divine election is taught in the
Bible and we should share this wonderful truth with others. Are you willing to do so? Do not be
ashamed of this blessed doctrine, though it has been abused by vain men. Let us herald this truth as
we manifest our deep gratitude for His DIVINE ELECTION.
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