Election, privileges of

God chose a people to enjoy a unique relationship with him which entailed the privilege of belonging to him, sharing in all his inheritance, serving him, praising him and proclaiming him.

God elected Israel out of all the nations of the world

Deuteronomy 7:6 See also Deuteronomy 14:1–2; 1 Kings 3:8; 1 Chronicles 16:13; Psalm 105:6, Psalm 105:43, Psalm 135:4; Isaiah 41:8–9; Ezekiel 20:5–6

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.

The election of the nation is anticipated in the election of the patriarchs

Deuteronomy 4:37–38 See also Deuteronomy 10:15; Acts 13:17–19

Because He loved your fathers, He chose their descendants after them and brought you out of Egypt by His presence and great power, to drive out before you nations greater and mightier than you, and to bring you into their land and give it to you for your inheritance, as it is this day.

Election was not based on merit

Deuteronomy 7:7–8 See also Deuteronomy 9:4–6; Ezekiel 16:1–14

The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

God conferred privileges on the people he elected

Election meant that God dwelled in their midst

2 Chronicles 6:6 See also 1 Kings 14:21 parallel 2 Chronicles 12:13; 2 Kings 21:7 parallel 2 Chronicles 33:7; 2 Chronicles 6:34–35, 2 Chronicles 7:12, 2 Chronicles 7:16; Nehemiah 1:9; Psalm 132:13

But now I have chosen Jerusalem for My Name to be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’

Election meant that God showed divine favour

Psalm 33:12 See also Psalm 65:4, Psalm 106:4–5; Isaiah 14:1, Isaiah 43:1, Isaiah 43:20, Isaiah 44:1–5, Isaiah 45:4; Zechariah 1:17

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!

God gave responsiblilities to the people he elected

Election calls for obedient and holy living

Leviticus 20:26 See also Exodus 19:5–6

You are to be holy to Me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be My own.

Election means increased accountability

Amos 3:2 See also 2 Kings 23:26

“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”

God's choice of Israel does not automatically imply election to salvation

Romans 9:6–8 See also Romans 11:7–8

It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring.