Predestination And The Elect In The Bible
In the Bible, predestination refers to the belief that God, before the foundation of the world, has already determined who will be saved and who will not. This concept is most clearly outlined in passages like Ephesians 1:4-5, where Paul speaks of God choosing believers in Christ “before the foundation of the world” and predestining them for adoption as His children.
The elect are those individuals whom God has chosen for salvation, as seen in scriptures such as Matthew 24:31 and Romans 8:33. These “elect” are believed to be selected by God’s grace, not based on any merit or action of their own. The doctrine of election is often linked to God’s sovereignty and His plan for salvation. Emphasizing that salvation is ultimately a work of God’s will and not human effort.
Different Christian traditions interpret predestination and election in various ways. With some emphasizing unconditional election (God’s choice is not based on human actions). And others seeing it as conditional (God’s choice is based on foreknowledge of future faith).
Predestination And The Elect In The Bible
What is Predestination and the elect ? Is Predestination and the Elect in the Bible ? And does God really select or choose who will be saved ? There are many verses on Predestination and Election in the Bible, and on Salvation. At first glance many of these Bible verses seem to contradict one another.
1 Timothy 2:4 tells us that God wants all men to be saved. Other verses about Predestination in the Bible seem to suggest that God does select or predestines people for salvation. Still other verses call believers God’s elect, which suggests they are chosen for salvation.
Predestination And The Elect In The Bible
2 Part Bible Study on Predestination and The Elect
What is the truth about Predestination and the Elect in the Bible ? What is the truth about Salvation ? In this first part of our 2 part series of articles we will dive into God’s word to discover the meaning of Predestination and the Elect in the Bible. The doctrines of Predestination and Election are definitely in the Bible.
The 2nd part of these Bible study articles will look at the question of who is predestined for salvation. Also we will look into the question of who are God’s elect. When you look at both of these subjects and articles together, you will get a much clearer idea of Predestination, the Elect, and Salvation.
Predestination And The Elect In The Bible
Predestination In The Bible
Ephesians 1:5-6
In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:5 says that God predestined us to salvation and adoption as His sons or children through Jesus. Does this mean God’s will was to choose or predetermine who would be saved and not saved ? The definition of the Greek word used for “predestined” means: To define or determine beforehand. Or to plan from the beginning (of time)
Predestination and Election definitely exist in the Bible. God has determined or planned long ago to offer the gift of salvation to mankind. The real question is who is the us in Ephesians 1:5 when it says “In love God predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ ?
Other Bible Verses About Predestination And The Elect
Ephesians 1:11 “also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will.”
Acts 13:48 “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.”
Romans 8:30 “And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. “
1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
These verses also clearly show the plan of God and the predestination for salvation.
Predestination And The Elect In The Bible
Some of The Many Verses In The Bible About Salvation
1Timothy 2:4
“God wants all to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Hebrews 2:9
But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.”
1 John 2:2
and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
Psalm 98:3
He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel; All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Isaiah 45:22
“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.
Does God Offer Salvation to A Few Chosen People Or To All ?
God has determined or planned long ago to offer the gift of salvation to mankind. The real question is who does God offer salvation to ? Are some chosen people predestined for salvation and eternal life, or are all people offered the gift ?
Who is the us in Ephesians 1:5 – “In love God predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ ?
Predestination And The Elect In The Bible
The Elect – Greek word Eklektos
There are many Bible verses that talk about the elect. What does “the elect” mean, and who are they ? In many New Testament verses the Greek word “eklektos” is used to talk about the elect or God’s chosen ones. The Greek word eklektos appears 22 times in the New Testament. In many of these verses eklektos is used to describe the people that are “predestined” for salvation.
The Greek word Eklektos means “Chosen or appointed by God”. At first glance it would appear, when combined with the verses about predestination, that “the elect” are pre-chosen by God for salvation. But this quick glance and simple translation of these verses would cause there to be a contradiction between some verses in the Bible. Verses about predestination and the elect in the Bible seemingly contradict verses such as 1 Timothy 2:4 (God wants all men to be saved) and John 3:16 (For God so loved the world…).
Some Bible Verses About The Elect
Here are some of the 22 Bible verses that use the Greek word “eklektos” or “the elect” or chosen ones.
Romans 8:33 “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect (eklektos) ? God is the one who justifies.”
Colossians 3:12 “So as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
2 Timothy 2:10 “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.”
1 Peter 2:9 “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;”
Revelation 17:14 “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.”
These verses and others that talk about God’s elect or chosen ones do not give a clear description or definition of who these people are. But it appears at first glance that only certain people are chosen or predestined for salvation, while others are not.
Predestination And The Elect In The Bible
Jesus’ Parable of The Wedding Feast
We will look at another group of verses and Jesus’ words in the Bible about the elect. The Greek word eklektos is used in the final verse of this parable. In the first 7 verses of Matthew 22 Jesus tells the parable of the wedding feast. Many people are invited to the wedding feast, but many do not go. The entire parable found in Matthew 22:1-14 paints a clearer picture of what is mean by “the elect” or those chosen and predestined for salvation.
Matthew 22:1-7 “Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, 2 “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. 3 And he sent out his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding feast, and they were unwilling to come. 4 Again he sent out other slaves saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited, “Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and my fattened livestock are all butchered and everything is ready; come to the wedding feast.”’ 5 But they paid no attention and went their way, one to his own farm, another to his business, 6 and the rest seized his slaves and mistreated them and killed them. 7 But the king was enraged, and he sent his armies and destroyed those murderers and set their city on fire.
The people in these verses that were invited to the banquet (to salvation and God’s kingdom) are the Jews. Israel and the Jewish people are God’s chosen people, and they were the first to be invited. But most rejected the King’s invitation.
All Are Invited to The Wedding Feast
Matthew 22:8-10 “Then he *said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore to the main highways, and as many as you find there, invite to the wedding feast.’ 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered together all they found, both evil and good; and the wedding hall was filled with dinner guests.
In these verses Jesus is saying that all people are invited to the wedding feast, which represents the Kingdom of God. This contradicts the translation and belief that many people use that says that there are only a few “chosen ones”, or “the elect” that are chosen for salvation.
Predestination And The Elect In The Bible
Not All Will Be Able to Be In God’s Kingdom
Matthew 22:11-13 “But when the king came in to look over the dinner guests, he saw a man there who was not dressed in wedding clothes, 12 and he *said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without wedding clothes?’ And the man was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
These verses reveal a man that was invited to the wedding feast, which represents salvation and the Kingdom of God. Jesus tells the story of how the man did not put on wedding clothes. He was in effect disobedient and did not have the “clothing” or meet the requirements that entitled him to the wedding feast.
Many (All) Are Called – But Few Are Chosen
Jesus concludes the parable of the wedding feast in Matthew 22:14. He says “For many are called, but few are chosen (eklektos).”
Jesus’ parable in Matthew 22:1-14 is one of the only passages in Scripture that seems to define what is meant by “chosen” or “eklektos”. In essence, “eklektos” was fulfilled only in repentance & obedience. In this commentary of Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ, to be “eklektos” seems to be predicated on human decision. The invited are not coerced to come. The invited have the choice to come freely or not. But if the invited come, they must put on the proper clothing for a wedding feast.
Many were called or invited to the wedding feast, but few were permitted in. The Parable of the wedding feast indicates that those who believe and repent/obey (see Mark 1:14-15) are of the “elect”. Repent and believe in Jesus Christ are the “wedding clothes” required to be allowed to enter God’s Kingdom. All others who do not believe in Jesus Christ and repent, even though they are invited, are not able to receive salvation and be a part of God’s Kingdom.
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Kevin Bart has been a follower of Jesus for over 40 years. Kevin has taught Bible study classes, small groups, and discipleship classes for many years. He developed Pursuing Intimacy With God Bible studies website and book after many years of seeking God and studying His word. Kevin and his wife Nancy have 3 sons and 2 precious grandchildren.
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