THE ELECT OF GOD

I PETER 1:1

A. "PETER, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, TO THE ELECT"
  1. The careful reader of the Bible will note:
    1. That the words "elect, election" are used frequently in the Bible
    2. The word "elect" simply means "chosen" as in the case of Abraham - Neh. 9:7; Moses - Ps. 106:23; Israel - Is. 43:20
  2. In our text we find that Peter broadens out the word "elect;"
    1. To include the believers from the Gentiles
    2. All who have embraced the gospel of Jesus Christ - Gal. 3:26-28 B. THE ELECT OF GOD
  3. Two forms of Divine "election" are spoken of in the Bible:
    1. The election of officers to perform certain duties in the church or nation - Examples; the priest, the prophets, and the Kings were duly chosen to serve their people in the Old Testament economy. In the New Testament, men were chosen to serve the church as elders, deacons, and related duties
    2. The elections of individuals to represent the Lord Jesus on earth, to do his work among men - I Pet. 2:9-11; John 15:16
  4. The divine basis for the election:
    1. Not according to the flesh - for God is no respecter of persons - Acts 10:34- 35
    2. But because of character - Examples: - God chose Jacob but rejected Esau because Jacob was a believer and Esau was an infidel 0 Rom. 9:11-13; Heb. 12:16; God chose David to be king, but rejected his older brethren because of their character - I Sam. 16:6-12
    3. The election of God is of grace only; this is a fact one must never overlook - "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no grace" - Rom. 11:5-6
    4. God's infinite love is the motive of election at all times - Deut. 4:37; Is. 43:21 C. LET US NOTE A NUMBER OF RELATED FACTS CONCERNING THE ELECTION AS TAUGHT IN THE BIBLE
  5. The source of the election:
    1. By the foreknowledge of God; the calling of God is not an afterthought, a detached link, a transient isolated act with no organic connection between it and the past or the future
    2. Our salvation originates of has its sole cause in the mind of God. "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you" - John 15:16; 13:18
  6. The divine purpose of election:
    1. "I have chosen you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain" - John 15:16
    2. "That ye should shew forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light" - I Pet. 2:9-10
    3. "Having predestined us into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved...that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" - Eph. 1:4-6
  7. The divine means of the election:
    1. "Elect through the sanctification of Spirit" - I Pet. 1:2
    2. Thus it becomes crystal clear that our election is the work of the Holy Sprit, who transforms our sinful nature into the Divine image - 2 Cor. 3:17-18. "Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord" - Zech. 4:6
    3. The fruit of the Spirit makes us beloved and suitable to be sons and daughters of God - Gal. 5:22-24; Matt. 7:16
  8. The end of the election:
    1. "Elect unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ" - I Pet. 1:2
    2. Note, please, the election has for its end obedience - and this obedience is of a twofold nature
  9. the obedience of faith - the faith that produces loyalty in the believer, loyalty to the perfect will of God - obedience which comes from the heart
  10. the faith which produces the fruit of divine love - that is the obedience which will say, "I delight to do thy will O my God, yea, thy law is within my heart" - Ps. 40:8


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