Election is the foundation of the gospel.  Election is good news because sinful man is incapable of reaching God through the power of his parents, the power of his own will, or the power of his ethnicity.  God does not choose to save everyone, because the devil real, and Adam’s decision to sin against and defy God was one of eternal proportions (Romans 1:18-25).  God is so holy that sin cannot go unpunished (Proverbs 11:21).

Throughout the Old Testament, Israel (God’s elect, chosen, earthly nation, the physical seed of Abraham, Deuteronomy 7:7, Isaiah 45:3-4) broke God’s commandments and covenants with Him.  A hope for a new Israel – an Israel that would fulfill all of God’s commands and plan – echoed across the centuries and into New Testament times.

This new Israel, this great Hope arrived  – as prophesied  – in the person of Jesus the Christ.  Like the physical nation of Israel, Jesus:

  • was chosen by God (Isaiah 42:1)
  • came up out of Egypt (John 2:13–15);
  • was tested in the wilderness (John 4:1-3); and
  • passed through the waters of baptism (Matthew 3:13–4:11)

Unlike the physical nation of Israel, Jesus demonstrated that is only through spiritual means that belief that the elect enter the covenant of Grace and become God’s covenant children.  It is not through the faith of one’s parents.  It is not through the flesh and blood (1 Corinthians 15:50).  It is through the One who is the spiritual fulfillment of the physical seed:  Jesus, the true Israel of God.

Because of what Jesus accomplished in His flesh while here on earth, being tempted without sin, He is worthy to be called God’s Son and bring fellow heirs (Ephesians 3:6, Romans 8:17) into fellowship with God.

Μόνο ο Χριστός:  In Christ Alone

Election is significant because God does not save everyone (Matthew 25:41-46).  The elect enter the new covenant (Luke 22:20) through the shed blood of Christ alone.  As the perfect sacrifice for sin, Jesus makes fellowship with God possible for those God chose in Him to be holy and blameless in His presence (Ephesians 1:4).

Posted in Salvation