The Elect of God

by Elder Vernon Johnson, Pastor Denton PBC, Denton TX

   Elect on What Basis ? First we will consider on what basis God foreknew or chose a people to be his covenant people.

  One idea is that God looked down through the annals of time and saw who would do good or who would accept him or seek after him and thus chose them on that basis. God did indeed look down from heaven, but what he saw is recorded for us in Ps. 14:2, 3 and Ps. 53:2, 3 as follows: "The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one." (Ps. 14:2, 3) The fact is that because of the total depravity of man there is none that had the capability of doing good or of seeking after God until God imparts a new spiritual nature within in the new birth. Thus we see that of all mankind there was none that understood, or that sought after God or that did good. Thus God's choice of a people could not be on the basis of their understanding and seeking God or of their doing something good.

  Furthermore, that God's choice of a people is not of works is further illustrated for us in Rom. 9:9-13, "For this is the word of promise, At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (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;) It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. As it is written Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." Based on this passage we make the following observations:

  1. God's choice of Jacob over Esau was according to God's purpose of election. 

  2. God's election is not based on works, either good or evil.

  3. God's choice was made before the children were capable of doing any works.

  Again in Rom. 11:5, 6 we are told that God's choosing of a people is not based on works as follows: "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." Thus we are told that God's choice of a people is by grace and not works. Furthermore, we see the impossibility of mixing grace and work in this choice. It is not part grace and part work. It is either all grace or all works and he tells us plainly that it is all grace. Now grace is defined as the "unmerited favor of God." Thus those chosen have done nothing to merit God's choosing them!

  Finally we are told in Rom. 9:14-16 that God's choice of a people is not based on man's will (choice) or man's efforts: "What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 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." From this passage we draw the following conclusions:

  1.  God's choice of a people manifests God's sovereignty.

  2. God's choice of a people is pure and simply mercy and compassion toward them.

  3. God's choice of a people is not based on their will or choice.

  4. God's choice of a people is not based on their efforts (running).

  5. It is not unrighteous for God to make a choice based on his sovereign will.

  In conclusion, God's choice of a people is by grace (unmerited favor) alone. God was under no obligation to choose any one, but he did and we should be extremely thankful that he did.

  Elect Given to Christ: Next we will look at how the elect were given to Christ and when and for what purpose they were given to Christ.

  First that the Father gave the elect to his Son is evidenced by the following verses of scripture:

  A. Matt. 1:21 - "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.

  B. John 6:37-39 - "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 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."

  C. John 10:28, 29 - "And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

  D. John 17:1, 2 - "...Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."

  E. Heb. 2:13 - "And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given me."

  These verses of scripture are sufficient to prove that the Father gave to the Son a people.

  Now let us look to when this gift was made. In Eph. 1:4 we read, "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." This verse teaches us that God made choice of a people to be his before the foundation of the world and gave them to Christ in covenant at that time. These then are the ones that God foreknew in Rom. 8:29.

  Next, let us consider for what purposes were the elect given to Christ in covenant before the world began. In looking back at the scriptures we have already quoted we can make the following observations:

  A. The elect were given to Christ that "he may save his people from their sins." (Matt. 1:21)

  B. The elect were given to Christ by the Father that they all will come to him. (John 6:37)

  C. The elect were given to Christ by the Father that none of them be "cast out." (John 6:37)

  D. The elect were given to Christ by the Father that none of them be lost. (John 6:39)

  E. The elect were given to Christ by the Father that they all be raised up again at the last day. (John 6:39)

  F. The elect were given to Christ by the Father that they all be preserved in Christ Jesus. (John 10:29)

  G. The elect were given to Christ by the Father that he give eternal life to all the elect. (John 17:2)

  H. The elect were given to Christ by the Father that all the elect should be holy and without blame before God in love. (Eph. 1:4).

  In addition, the elect were given to Christ by the Father that:

  I.. The elect be adopted into the family of God. (Eph. 1:5)

  J. The elect be made accepted by God in Christ. (Eph. 1:6)

  K. The elect have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of God's grace. (Eph. 1:7)

  L. The elect obtain an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will. (Eph. 1:11)

  M. The elect should be created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. (Eph. 2:10)

  In all of the above we see where the Father gave the elect to Christ in covenant for the work that Christ would do on their behalf and thus procure all the blessings reserved for them in the covenant of redemption.