The New Testament contains 23 different references to the word “elect”. In the Greek, the word is “eklektos” meaning to be chosen or selected for God’s divine purposes.
Below are 13 facts about God’s elect.
1. Many are called, but few are elect (chosen)
Jesus utters this cryptic phrase twice in the Gospel of Matthew.
“So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.”
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
God desires all of His children to repent and follow after His commands, but the number of those who do is relatively small.
2. The Great Tribulation will be cut short for the sake of the elect
“And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.”
“Unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect, whom He chose, He shortened the days.
In his Olivet Discourse, a sermon focused specifically on the events preceding His Second Coming, Jesus explains that the time period just prior to His return, known as the Great Tribulation, would be so difficult that no human life would be saved. However, for the sake of the elect, Jesus reveals that the world’s darkest hours will be shortened.
3. The elect cannot be deceived
“For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.”
“For false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect.”
Demonic deception just prior to Jesus’ Second Coming will become so great, even the elect would be deceived if it were possible. Fortunately, these scriptures indicate that a deception of the elect that results in the loss of their eternal life is not possible.
4. The elect will be gathered together and kept from harm just prior to the final outpouring of God’s wrath upon the earth
“And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.”
“And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth to the farthest end of heaven.”
5. God will vindicate the elect
“Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly.”
6. Jesus Christ was God’s elect
“And the people stood by, looking on. And even the rulers were sneering at Him, saying, “He saved others; let Him save Himself if this is the Christ of God, His Chosen One.”
The word used for “Chosen” in this verse is the word “elect.” As the firstborn of all creation, Jesus Christ was the first “elect” or chosen of God.
“For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
The word used for “choice” in this verse is the word “elect.” Again, the Bible refers to Jesus as “elect.” He is our example and provides the pattern for the Christian life.
7. The elect have been justified by God and are free from spiritual accusation by men
“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;”
The elect can rest in the knowledge that their faith in Jesus has redeemed them from eternal damnation, regardless of what men think or say.
8. The elect are instructed to clothe themselves with nine things: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, love, peace, and gratefulness
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things [put on] love, which is the perfect bond of unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
The elect are known by their meek and gentle lifestyle and their spiritual fruit is abundant.
9. God has angels who are elect
“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.”
10. Paul’s ministry was dedicated to ensuring the salvation of the elect
“For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”
“Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,”
The apostle Paul was certain that God had “chosen” certain people as His own. Paul spent the final days of his life and ministry in an attempt to reach and minister to God’s elect.
11. The elect are chosen by the foreknowledge of God and by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood:”
All who have been chosen by God have been foreknown by Him and have been sanctified by the power of God’s Spirit. The elect are known for their obedience to the commands of Jesus and their sins are covered in His blood.
12. The elect are a chosen people called to declare the goodness and mercy of God
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”
13. The elect will accompany Jesus Christ in His defeat of those who wage war against Him
“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
incoming searches: god elect predestination, god elect angels, does bible say god elect, who god elect, god elect definition, who are elect bible, who are elect god, who elect god, elect definition bible
Featured image courtesy of: balein / Shutterstock
Thought-provoking! Enlightening! Life-changing! A great article about the importance of being in Christ! The believers are the elect of God!
I can’t figure out is Christ the elect or him and his followers, the way a lot of this is interpreted is very confusing
Hummm, yes good article, but if the elect cannot be deceived why do i see SO many Christians deceived by their governments into worshipping the state, the army, the modern false state of israel, false pastors, false prophets, false doctrines, etc?
Either those christians are in reality not christians, nonse of them, or we are not interpreting that text correctly.
Not every Christian is elected only a few which is obvious.
The Bible says not everyone who says Lord! Lord! Will inherit the kingdom of God. A true follower of Christ has a relationship with God, but some who claim to be Christians only use God’s name in vain. You are to know them by their fruits.
So glad you know that this is a difficult subject where a lot of people think just because a person serves Jesus that they are elect and they are not people don’t understand this subject and they think everybody is they lacked that is not the case
You know as a child that you are part of the elect, when the Holy Spirit enters you it’s such a profound experience that you know and others won’t understand , the end of this Earth age is apon us such a glorious time , I feel it and welcome it, I’m ready to be brought before the senigog of satan so the Holy Spirit can speak through me , Yahua is my Lord and Yashua is King of Kings and RuachHacodesh is my Holy Spirit, praise and glory be to the Lord God Almighty !!
Because it is obvious they’re not the elect of GOD…. That speak for it self
The verse seems to indicate that the elect would not be deceived about antichrists and false prophets. While he doesn’t clearly say it the implacation is clear. The verses isn’t saying the elect will never be decieved about anything… but ur talking about people being deceived into worshiping wrongly that sounds like someone following a false prophet and that shouldn’t be either they are not really saved or this God only protects he elect from false prophet’s and antichrists during he last days…I have always felt that someone who was truly obedent to Christ couldn’t be deceived since the Bible gives us clear instructions on knowing who is from God and who isn’t. But someone who is very backsild idk maybe they could or a new babe, I would think since you have to have read the Bible to know and have discernment
There is no one in the category of the elect now as we are talking.
In the prophetic timetable of Revelation, we are still in the time of probation.
There is coming a time and from the look of things happening in the world, it is very soon, when probation will close.
That is when Jesus as the High Priest comes out of the
heavenly Sanctuary and
throws the censor unto the Earth.
He then proclaims: ” let the righteous be righteous still, let the unrighteous be unrighteous still.
It is at that time that the elect are confirmed.
After this is the unleashing of the great tribulation upon the earth which God will have to shorten for the sake of the elect and then Christ will come to take the elect from all nations, all tongues, all peoples home to heaven.
☆ Note: There is no secret rapture, all eyes shall see Jesus coming in the clouds.
☆ The elect will not be captured before tribulation, the elect are those who come out of tribulation pure and spotless.
Jesus is coming for a spotless Church, He told us before he left.
JESUS made Disciples not christians. Christianity is pagan just like all the rest of these religions. God’s TRUE Chosen ppl are scattered, hidden, and isolated in this last hour waiting on the (change) or what we call the rapture. Only 144000 will be saved before the up and coming Great Tribulation.
You really need to study your Bible thoroughly.
God sends his Holy Spirit to live in those elected.
He calls them to Salvation in his own time.
I have had this experience at the age of 70. Read your Bible and then understand it thoroughly.
Matthew 24:29-32 King James Version (KJV)
29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:
30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
31 And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.
Christianity is not a pagan religion like other religions.
It is the only true religion.
Though it started from what historians call Judaism but really it started from Adam and traced back to God Himself when you check the genealogy of Jesus in the books of Matthew and Luke.
No other religion has that luxury of being traced back to God Himself.
Hallelujah!
After the mention of the 144’000 in Revelation 6, immediately in Revelation 7 : 9 we read of a multitude that are uncountable that will be saved after the tribulation.
The elect that will be saved are made up of both the 144’000 and the multitude.
The 144’000 is earmarked for Israel as stated in Revelation 6.
It is however not sacrosanct that this is an absolute number or a figurative number.
But whatever, everyone should try to be in one of the 2 groups – 144’000 or the multitude.
I thank the author for this article.
I have been blessed immensely.
My mind went to the word “elect”, that I needed to really understand it and you have helped me to do so.
Thanks again.
this is an awesome article if you understand what it means to be the 11th to be obedient to the word of God to understand grace and mercy and love in the fivefold ministry then you would also understand that there are people and spirits in opposition to the elect and only God could shorten the days to protect them and his word praise be to the most high in the name of Jesus
sermons on this subject of the called ones and the elect seems to be avoided in most protestant churches . reading the above points it seems to confirm that only the elect will be in the first resurrection and without being judgemental but just being observant I see churches full of called ones but hardly any elect ones . An OT example :600 000 Israelites were called out of Egypt but only two of those were allowed to reach the promised land .
Very accurate article with no disagreement. I would like to know what is meant by Ezekiel 44-28 Speaking about the Elect. ” They shall have no inheritance, for I am their inheritance; you shall give them no property in Israel, for I am their property.”
The Levites were given no inheritance of land when they first entered the promised land, every tribe received a lot but God was their inheritance. They would live among the other tribes and live off the tribute but they were to devote themselves solely to the work of the priesthood.
Here, generations later, God tells Ezekiel the priests failed by serving Israel in the presence of their idols, in doing so and not correcting the error, led them astray. The priest by tribe were no longer worthy of God’s elect priesthood, except the descendants of Zadok who guarded the Sanctuary as Israel went astray. God said they could still serve the people before him.
God was reminding Ezikiel of the rules of the priesthood found in Leviticus for those still worthy to serve.
Many are called few are chosen