POST ELECTION

I purposely used the term "election" in a dual sense here: 1) the upcoming  primary election (which I already cast an early ballot for :) ; and 2) the election of God to save some but not all sinners (all of us).

I fully realize that today's post has absolutely nothing to do with the first meaning. But it has everything to do with the second.

Election is the call of God to choose sinners to be His people, the ones whom Jesus came to save. Are you one of them? I pray you are. Many will reject Him and His salvation.

"Many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:14)

The process is completely a work of grace.(Ephesians 2). We did nothing to earn, deserve, or merit salvation. But He offers it freely, and we must accept. Period.

Rejection is not a (good) option.

WHENCE ELECTION?

So we are left with the dilemma: how did we come to believe in election? The word itself is the English translation of the Hebrew word for "choice:" bachir.

"Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights." (Isaiah 42:1)

This is a Messianic reference to the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth. Interesting is the way God refers to His people using the same word, bachir ("chosen") in the very next occurence:

"For the sake of My servant Jacob, and Israel My chosen..." (Isaiah 45:4)

The first occurence of the word "choose" (bachar) used about God, to the best of my knowledge, is found in Numbers 16:5.

"The one whom He chooses, He will bring near to Him."

And,

"The man whom the LORD chooses shall be the holy one."(Numbers 16:7)

CHOSEN BY GOD

And just to beat a dead horse... dead, here is the more broad application of being chosen by God:

"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."(Deuteronomy 7:6)

 Sounds like God is in the business of "choosing" people, does it not? This is why we tremble at His Word, and thank Him for His grace. We need it. Anyone who will not see their need of God's grace is a "fool." (Psalm 14:1)

IT'S YOUR MOVE

The "freedom/bondage of the will" is a topic worth exploring separately. Suffice it to say, we all have a choice to make.

"Choose (bachir) this day whom you will serve."(Joshua 24:15)

ALL ISRAEL WILL BE SAVED

I did a search on this blog using my handy search box in the right side and found that I have not blogged about Romans 11:26... yet!

"And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:"

The futurist perspective is represented by the commentaries on Biblos.com, which I searched and found here.

The preterist perspective is represented on Eschatology.org, for example, by the article: "And So, All Israel Shall Be Saved! Romans 11:25-27."

Basically, there is a contrast between the two views because on the one hand, you have something to look forward to. On the other hand, you have something to look back on-- an historic event!

I regretfully admit the preterist view clears up all speculation as to the so-called "end of the world." It is also questionable in some circles whether there even is an end!

Worth thinking about and praying about.

THE LOST SHEEP OF THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL

It is incumbent upon Christian believers to discuss matters of faith and practice among ourselves, as iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). It behoves us to arrive at the same place in that conclusion as the Apostles and Prophets of old.

Witness Matthew 15:24.

"But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel."

It is good to know Jesus' mission on Earth as being a focused, but not exclusive, one. He came to seek and save that which was lost: that was the overall scope of His mission.  He came "for the lost sheep of the House of Israel:" that was His initial focus ("to the Jew first," Romans 1:16).

How fortunate (blessed) we are as Jews and Gentiles to have been included in that mission's scope! How sad that most of the Jews and Gentiles of His day were not saved because of their unbelief!

And so it is today.

Here is commentary from Biblos. By the way, RefTagger is functioning, i.e., hover your mouse pointer over the Scripture references.