Category Election

“Born Again” – and a Woman in Travail

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“Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.“

John 3:3-7

What does it mean to be “born again?” Is it talking about Israel only, or is there a sense in which we (who are not Israel) can be and need to be “born again” too? It, of course, depends on the context and to whom the writer is writing to. Here in John 3, the Apostle John is in fact writing to the nation of Israel, not Gentiles. John is reporting what Jesus says to Nicodemus; and the response that Jesus gives him is in connection with the earthly Kingdom program. Their need to be “born of water” is connected to John’s (John the Baptist) baptism for the remission of sins (Mk 1:4). Their need to be “born again” or this time to be “born of the Spirit” is in connection to the new covenant, where Christ will baptize them with the Spirit and put the law in their hearts (Ezek. 36; Mt 3:11).

This passage also says that “that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.” While this passage is talking about Israel needing to be “born again,” the Apostle Paul in writing to the Gentiles also makes several statements about the difference between the flesh and the Spirit. For example, Galatians 4:29 says “But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now.” While Paul doesn’t ever use the phrase “born again,” he does still speak about being born. Another thing is that Paul doesn’t speak of being “born of water,” but only of the flesh and Spirit. Ephesians 5:1 tells us to be followers of God as dear children. Ephesians 2:19 says that we are of the “household of God.” So, God sees us (His saints) as part of His family, his household. We are His children. We are born into the family of God. We are born after the Spirit. We do “walk after the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1). The purpose of this is to show both the similarities and differences between what John and Paul wrote.

We can look at this in two different ways. First, we can look at it in a redemptive or spiritual way. Secondly, we can also look at it dispensationally (which we have already started to do in John 3). Lets look first at it redemptively.

Redemptively

Every person is of the race of Adam. We are all human beings. Romans 5:12 tells us that “as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin.” Since the fall of man, every person (excluding Christ) born into this world is born as a sinner. “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). And most of the world are Gentiles, which means we were never God’s chosen people. Gentiles, or the uncircumcision, were without God and Christ, and were strangers of the covenants of promise (Eph. 2:11-12). Even though God didn’t make a covenant with us we still are guilty of breaking His law (Rom. 1:14; 3:19-20). Therefore, we have need to be saved or “born again.” Not into Adam again, but this time into Christ. “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many” (Rom. 5:15). When we are in Christ, we are dead to sin, but alive unto God (Rom. 6:11). We now are “chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thess. 2:13). We are saved or “born again” as a new creature or as one new man, not as Israel (not as a nation). Christ made in Himself one new man (the Body of Christ) (Eph. 2:15). After we believe, we are joined to Christ, to His own body. Everyone does need to get out of Adam and into Christ.

Dispensationally

But what about dispensationally? Dispensationally, it is true that only Israel will be born again. While Jews are of the human race or the race of Adam, they are also of the race of Abraham. God called out one man from among the nations to form a new nation to be a light unto the world. They have sinned against God too, but they at least were God’s people. Exodus 4:22 says “And thou shalt say unto Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD, Israel is my son, even my firstborn.” They had been born as a nation before when God brought them out of the land of Egypt. He called them His firstborn. God made a covenant with them. Israel had the “oracles of God” and the “covenants of promise” (Rom. 3:2; 9:4). They were God’s people, but they broke His covenant. God considers them even to this day “Lo-ammi,” which means “not God’s people.” God has concluded them in unbelief (Rom. 11:32). Therefore, they need to be “born again.” They need to be “born again,” as a nation, but this time under a new covenant (Jer. 31:31-34). One that they won’t have to worry about breaking, because they will have the Spirit in them to cause them to walk after His statutes and commandments. And God will be their God and they will be His people once again. But, first they have to go through the Tribulation. They have to go through that day of wrath, just as travail comes upon a woman in labor. Then, in the end a nation will be born in a day, or at once (Isa. 66:8).

“…pangs and sorrows shall take hold of them; they shall be in pain as a woman that travaileth…Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger.“

Isaiah 13:8-9

According to prophecy, the nation of Israel has to still “accept of the punishment of their iniquity” (Lev. 26:41). They have to go through the Tribulation. That time is described for us in scripture as a woman in travail (woman in labor). In verse nine of Isaiah 13, it is called the day of the LORD. Jeremiah 6:2, Israel is likened to a delicate woman. Then the rest of the chapter is about God preparing Israel for war. Jeremiah 30:6-7 describes the time as the time of Jacob’s trouble. At the end of the tribulation period their sorrow will be turned to joy (John 16:20-21). In a day will a nation be born. All Israel will be saved and “born again.” They will be God’s people once again.

The good news for us is that we are not appointed unto wrath (1 Thess. 5:9). The last reference of the woman in travail is 1 Thessalonians 5:3. It says that it will come upon those that say “Peace and safety!” But, we are children of the light, not of darkness. We are “chosen to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thess. 2:13). In other words, because we believed the truth of the gospel we were then sanctified (set apart) of the Spirit; and therefore, we are chosen to salvation. When we believe today, we become crucified and buried with Him. And since He rose again the third day, we also are raised with Him and seated with Him at the right hand of God. We obtain our salvation the moment we believe. Israel, on the other hand, will be saved at the end of the Tribulation.

In summary, the phrase “born again” can be used of Israel and the Body of Christ. However, there is a difference. Dispensationally, only Israel will be “born again,” according to prophecy. They were God’s chosen nation before, and they will be His people once again. Redemptively (or spiritually), those who believe that Christ died on the cross their sins, was buried, and rose again the third day will be “born again” into Christ. Ultimately, it is Christ who is God’s firstborn. Colossians calls Him the “the firstborn of every creature…the firstborn from the dead” (Col. 1:15,18). He is also the “firstborn among many brethren” (Rom. 8:29). We are crucified, buried, and risen with Christ Jesus our Lord. We are joined to His Body. We are the firstborn today, because He is.

If you haven’t believed yet, do so now! Believe that Jesus Christ our Lord died for your sins, was buried, and has risen again the third day for your justification. Believe and you will be saved.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.“

1 Cor. 15:3-4

The Day of Salvation

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“(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)“

2 Corinthians 6:2

There is a day of salvation for Israel and there is a day of salvation for the Body of Christ. Last week, we talked about the old and new covenant (see Prophecy Overview). The new covenant is Israel’s salvation. Israel broke the first covenant, and they would need a new covenant to be made with them where they could achieve eternal life. Christ came the first time to die on the cross for their sins and the sins of the whole world. The second time that He will come (He hasn’t come back yet), He will come to save Israel from her enemies, bring her out of the fire and into the Kingdom. That will be Israel’s day of salvation. Our day of salvation, on the other hand, is happening right now in the current Dispensation, the Dispensation of the Grace of God.

First, let’s go to Isaiah 49 to understand why Paul uses the quotation that we find in verse two. Isaiah 49:8 says, “Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, and in a day of salvation have I helped thee: and I will perserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, to establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages.” God has heard His people Israel and has helped them. God will in the person of His Son, the King of Israel, come back and make a new covenant with them to establish the earth. God had promised Abraham that he would inherit the land/the earth (Gen. 12; Mt. 5:5). Earlier in Isaiah 44:2, Jacob is said to be God’s servant and Jesurun (Israel in their uprightness/righteousness, or redeemed Israel) is God’s chosen. Then, Isaiah 45:4, Israel is called God’s elect. (Election has to do with being chosen to service, not chosen to be saved.) In 49:6, it says “And he said, it is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.” Over and over again, we see that Israel was and is to be a light unto the world. They are to be God’s salvation unto the end of the earth. They are to be the channel/vessel in which God uses to bring salvation to the world. And the LORD would help them to do that (being a light to the world) by making a new covenant with them, where He would put the law in their inward parts and give them a new spirit to cause them to walk in His statutes (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:26-27)

So, how does this apply to us? How does Paul use this verse in 2 Corinthians? Just how God will help Israel to be that light unto the world during the Kingdom, He helps us during this Dispensation of Grace to preach the message of reconciliation for today. We have been “committed the word of reconciliation” (2 Cor. 5:19). And therefore, we are the ambassadors of Christ (5:20). Therefore, Paul starts chapter six with “we then are workers together with him [Christ].” We are to preach the gospel of Christ to the world, to both Jew and Gentile, and everyone that simply believes will be saved. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it [the gospel] is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek” (Rom. 1:16). Instead of Israel being that chosen vessel to bring a message of salvation to the world, the members of the Body of Christ are chosen as His ambassadors. We are literally workers together with Him, because we belong to His Body. We have been entrusted with the glorious gospel of the blessed God (1 Tim. 1:11), the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24), as God’s servants for Jesus’ sake to bring the word of reconciliation to those who are lost.

“According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.“

1 Timothy 1:11

Why was Paul saved? According to Acts 26:18, it was “to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” In Colossians 1:12-13, we read that God has made us “partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” and has “translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” 2 Corinthians 4:6 says “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” God has concluded all in unbelief, so that He might have mercy upon all. Paul is a pattern to all those who will believe on Christ as their Savior. Today, we are saved by grace through faith and it is not of ourselves. We are saved by God’s mercy and grace. Paul was made a minister, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to preach the man Christ Jesus as the one mediator between God and men, and that He came into this world to save sinners like you and me (1 Tim. 1:15; 2:5). He came preaching Jesus Christ, so that we might obtain salvation by Him.

“For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby.“

Ephesians 2:14-16

How fitting is it that the Body of Christ should be that chosen vessel to bring the message of reconciliation! For the Body is that message. God today is reconciling both Jews and Gentiles into one Body. And He did it by the cross. Christ died on the cross for all of our sins, whether you are Jew or Gentile, male or female, bond or free. We are all sinners. Christ came to save all of us. Those of us who will simply believe on Him will be joined to Him. Salvation isn’t just for the Jews in this Dispensation. Salvation is offered unto all by the grace of God! God isn’t imputing the world’s trespasses unto them. “Through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 13:38-39). If we believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, then we will be justified. And we become members of His own Body. As members of His Body, God has chosen us in His Son “to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth” (2 Thess. 2:13). “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thess. 5:9). He has saved us from the Lake of Fire, but also that prophesied day of wrath called the Tribulation.

“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.“

1 Thessalonians 1:10

The wrath to come is the Tribulation, the day of the Lord, the day of vengeance of our God. The prophet Isaiah spoke of the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of vengeance of our God (Isa. 61:1-2). In Luke 4, Jesus Christ stood up in the synagogue and read from this passage in Isaiah, but He stopped short. He only read the acceptable year of the Lord and He said that was fulfilled in their ears. The day of vengeance is still to come. In Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost, Peter says “But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days.” It goes on to say that the Spirit will be poured upon them and they will dream dreams, prophesy, and see visions. This was fulfilled on the day of Pentecost. However, verses 19-20 have not been fulfilled yet. The signs in heaven and earth have not happened yet. But what we learn is that the last days were beginning. So, the next thing on the prophetic timeline was to be the Tribulation. The next thing was that day of the Lord. Zephaniah 1:14-15 says “The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hasteth greatly, even the voice of the day of the LORD: the mighty man shall cry there bitterly. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of wasteness and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness.” But Paul wrote in 1st Thessalonians that we wait for His Son, which has delivered us from the wrath to come. God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9).

God interrupted the prophetic timeline in order to usher in a day of grace, a day of salvation. Instead of continuing on with the day of wrath, He decided to postpone that day. He decided and He planned to do this from before the foundation of the world to send His Son to make in Himself one new man, which is the Body of Christ (Eph. 1:4; 2:15). It was kept a secret, but now God had made it known to the Apostle Paul (Rom. 16:25-26; Eph. 3:9). He planned to reconcile both Jew and Gentile, whomsoever would believe, into one Body by the cross. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16). “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). He died on the cross for our sins, buried our sins away forever, and rose again from the dead for our justification. He did that for us, so that we may be identified with Him. That is, with His death, burial, and resurrection (Rom. 6:3-4). He died and rose again, so that we also may be resurrected with Him. He did that for us, so that we may obtain salvation by Him.

In conclusion, the Dispensation of the Grace of God right now is the day of salvation. It is the accepted time for us to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. God has committed to Paul’s trust, and therefore, our trust as well the glorious gospel of Christ. That is, that Christ came into this world to save sinners. He came and died for our sins at the cross, was buried, and rose again the third day. He sent the Apostle Paul with this gospel, the word of reconciliation, in order to open our eyes and to turn us from darkness to light. It is the gospel of Christ that does that. “For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). Those of us who have believed this gospel, God has translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son. He has made us members of the Body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:12-13). He has reconciled all believers together in one Body by the cross. Therefore, all believers are workers together with Him. But, it’s of course our job to “make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery” (Eph. 3:9), so that we would all know that we are all a part of this one Body. We are justified by His grace. We are made the righteousness of God in Christ. Therefore, He has delivered us from the wrath to come. He has delivered us from that day of wrath. Thanks be unto God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ for saving us.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.“

Acts 16:31

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.“

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

According to His Own Purpose and Grace

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Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

2 Timothy 1:9-10

In the first part, we learned that Paul was chosen by the will of God to be an apostle and minister of Jesus Christ to make known the mystery, the mystery of Christ. And that God chose to reveal his word through the act of preaching (Titus 1:2; 1 Cor. 1:18). Also, we saw that even when we are talking about Paul, the focus still comes back to Christ Jesus our Lord.

In this lesson, we will look at the believer’s salvation and holy calling today in the dispensation of the grace of God. From the passage above, it says that we are saved and called with a holy calling, “not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace.” This does not say that God chooses or has chosen certain individuals to be saved and others not to be saved. The next part of the verse explains how God has given us salvation according to His own purpose and grace.

It says “in Christ Jesus before the world began.” First, take notice of the phrase “in Christ Jesus.” All that God the Father has planned to do according to His will, according to His purpose and grace, He has purposed to do it in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. That is true whether we are talking about the prophetic (kingdom) program concerning the nation of Israel, or we are talking about the mystery program concerning the Body of Christ. Jesus Christ is to be the King of Israel in the future; and, Jesus Christ is also the Head of the Body today. There are those things that were prophesied about Christ, and things that were kept secret as well. Since we live in the dispensation of grace today, we should take a special interest in what God is doing today and how Christ plays a major role in this dispensation (not that He doesn’t play a major role in the kingdom program, because He does). So, our salvation is given to us in Christ. We are chosen in Him. It is Christ that was chosen. When we believe the gospel for today, we become chosen in Him.

When we talk about the topic of election and the elect of God, we should also think of it in terms of service, rather than salvation. God uses different people, or nations to carry out His purpose at different times, even if they are unsaved. We see this with the example of Judas Iscariot (Luke 6:16). Judas was chosen as one of the 12 apostles, but he was not saved.

For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Isaiah 45:4

Israel is called God’s servant (Jacob’s name was later changed to Israel) and His elect (cf. Isa. 44:1-2). Israel was chosen to be God’s elect to be a light unto the world, to be a kingdom of priests. In Gen. 12, we have the Abrahamic Covenant which promised that Abraham would be made a great nation and all the families of the earth would be blessed through him and the nation that would come from his seed. In Exodus 19:5-6, we have where it says that “if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then shall ye be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.” All of this concerns itself with what “God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began” (Acts 3:21).

But concerning that which God “kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25), God has a new elect group for this dispensation of grace that He is using. The elect of God today is not Israel, but the Body of Christ (also called the one new man). Speaking of the new man in Colossians 3:10, in verse 12 of the same chapter Paul tells us to “put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.” He now refers to the new man as the elect of God. And as the elect of God, we are to serve God by putting on bowels of mercies, etc.

But, as I mentioned earlier whether we are talking about Israel or the Body of Christ, Jesus Christ is still the focus in both elect groups, in both programs.

Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

Isaiah 42:1

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias [Isaiah] the prophet, saying, Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles.

Matthew 12:17-18

Both of these passages are talking about the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is ultimately God the Father’s elect. Christ is the one God chose. It is Christ that His soul is well pleased with. We can compare this with Christ’s baptism, where it says that God the Father says “this is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Matt. 3:17; cf. Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22).

So, how does this relate to us in the dispensation of the grace of God today? Our salvation and holy calling was given to us in Christ Jesus. In Ephesians 1:4, it says “According as he [God the Father] hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…” We are chosen in Christ!

The next thing is to notice the timing of this. We are chosen in Him “before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4) and “before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:9). Again, this doesn’t mean that God chose us some and not others. Remember, it is Christ that was chosen. He was chosen before the foundation of the world. God had this plan all along. He just kept it a secret, until it was the right time to reveal it. And only He knew when that time would come. He didn’t reveal it in the Old Testament. He kept it hidden in Himself (Eph. 3:9).

When God did reveal this mystery, the mystery of Christ, He did so first to the Apostle Paul. He gave Paul the responsibility to make known “what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27). Also, we talked about us being chosen in Christ. Here, it says Christ is in you [us]. Both are true!

The Lord Jesus Christ has “made known unto us the mystery of His will” (Eph. 1:9). In Colossians 1:9, Paul prays that the saints “might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.” God has now made manifest this knowledge to his saints. He wants us to know this. His will [or desire] is that “all men be saved, and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). He wants us to know this mystery, which is the Body of Christ (us in Christ, and Christ in us).

The purpose for us to be filled with this knowledge is so that we “might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge in God” (Col. 1:10). “That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (Col. 1:28).

In conclusion, God gave to us salvation and a holy calling “according to His own purpose and grace” (2 Tim. 1:9). He gave it to us in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. It is Christ (Christ is still the focus) that is considered God’s elect. Therefore, it was Christ that was chosen before the foundation of the world. And anyone today that believes the gospel (Christ died for our sins, was buried, and rose again the third day) is said to be chosen in Him. This plan for the Body of Christ was a mystery, “kept secret since the world began” (Rom. 16:25), until God revealed it first to the Apostle Paul to make known to His saints. And as we fill ourselves with this knowledge, it will help us to walk worthy of the Lord. Praise the Lord that we are members of His body! We are chosen in Him [Christ] before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4).

Election: What is it and What is it not?

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According to Calvinism, the doctrine of election teaches that God has chosen only certain people to be saved. That is, God has only selected some to believe. Some Calvinists, not all, even will say that God has chosen all the rest (those who He didn’t choose to be saved) to be condemned. However, that is not the true Scriptural teaching of the Word of God. To be elected, does not mean chosen to be saved or chosen to be condemned. Instead, election refers to being chosen to a position of service. We will look at the election of Christ, the election of Israel, the election of the 12 Apostles, the election of the Body of Christ, and the election of the Apostle Paul.

The Election of Christ:

The first time we find election in the Bible is Isa. 42:1.

Isa. 42:1 Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

This verse is speaking of our Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ. He is God’s (God the Father) elect or chosen one. We know this is speaking of Christ, because it is quoted in Matt. 12:18-21. We will see that Scripture defines “election” to mean “to call someone out for a specific purpose.” In other words, they were chosen for a position of service, not to be saved. And this makes sense when we think of the Lord Himself. He didn’t need to be saved, for He knew no sin. He was never lost to begin with. He is God in the flesh. Instead, He was chosen for a specific purpose. In this verse, it says that He would “bring judgment to the Gentiles.” The Lord was given as the passage in Isaiah continues in verse 6, “for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles.” The “people” in this verse are the children of Israel. He was not chosen unto salvation, but to be a channel of blessing to the people of the earth.

Concerning the Dispensation of the Grace of God today and the gospel of the grace of God, we are also told in 1 Tim. 2:6 that Christ “gave Himself for a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” Verse seven goes on to say that this is the reason why Paul was made (ordained) a preacher and an apostle. “To be a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.” 1 Cor. 1:23 tells us that we “preach Christ crucified,” which is in contrast to the Jews seeking signs and the Greeks seeking wisdom.

1 Cor. 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are [being] saved it is the power of God.

The Lord Jesus Christ was chosen or elected by God the Father to be a blessing to the world, not to be saved. He was chosen to the position of our Savior.

The Election of Israel:

Isa. 45:4 For Jacob my servant’s sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.

Now, Israel is called God’s elect. This does not mean that all who were in Israel were saved (Rom. 9:6). An individual still needed to exercise faith as well as perform certain works. In order for an individual to be identified with the chosen nation of Israel, they needed to be circumcised (Gen. 17:9-14). Gentiles also could be identified with Israel if they too be circumcised (Gen. 17:12). Gentiles needed to go through the nation to be saved. They didn’t have direct access to God like you and I do today. Ephesians 2:11-12 explains the Gentile’s past position under the law. Among the items listed, one of those things were that they were “without God.” That is because God had chosen Israel to serve Him, under the law, to bring blessing to the rest of the nations. Israel was elect through the covenant that God made with them. To them were “committed the oracles of God (Rom. 3:2).” Christ, in chapter 42, was said to be chosen to be a “covenant of the people.” In other words, those who identified with Israel by being circumcised were therefore, identified with Christ Himself through the covenant. Therefore, they were elect.

Deut. 7:7 – They were chosen because of the covenant that God made with their fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob).

Rom. 9:11-13 – Jacob and Esau represented the two nations in Rebekah’s womb (Gen. 25:23). God didn’t choose one individual to be saved over the other.

To sum up, Israel was elected to be a channel of blessing and salvation to the Gentile nations. This is based on God’s promise to Abraham in Gen. 12:2-3. They were chosen to serve God as being a channel of blessing to the rest of the world. They were not chosen to be saved.

Gen. 12:2-3 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

The Election of the 12 Apostles:

Luke 6:13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;

We see again, this time with the 12 Apostles, that they too were not chosen to be saved, but to serve God. For example, Judas Iscariot is named as one of the Apostles (Luke 6:16). And in Acts 1:17, it is said of Judas that he was “numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.” Judas was elected to be one of the twelve apostles, but he was not elected to be saved. For Christ knew that Judas was an unbeliever, a traitor, because He said Himself in John 6:70 that one of them (one of the apostles) is a devil.

And then with the choosing of a new Apostle, the lot fell upon Matthias. Matthias was then chosen to take the place of Judas so that he could “take part of this ministry and apostleship” (Acts 1:25). Again the twelve were chosen to a position of service. They were not chosen to be saved.

John 13:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.

This verse is important because it tells us that while the Apostles went out to preach to people, including Judas, the people who came by faith under their teaching genuinely received Christ, the Father, and themselves as well as the message they were proclaiming. Once again God hasn’t elected any of these people to be saved, but has elected those who would serve.

Election of the Body of Christ:

Eph. 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

The key words here are “in Him.” This is one of the spiritual blessings that we have in Christ. That is to be elected/chosen in Him. Paul doesn’t write here that we are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, so that we would be saved. In other words, He doesn’t say that God chose us in Christ to be saved. Instead, it says we are “chosen in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” He is calling us out to live separated lives unto Himself and separate from the world. Once we believe, we now have the honor of being “in Him” so that we can live for Him too.

Eph. 1:5 – “predestinated us unto the adoption of children [sons].” He didn’t predestinate us to be saved. Instead, He predestinated us to the adoption of sons.

Eph. 1:6 – Another spiritual blessing of being in Christ is being made “accepted in the Beloved.” If you believe the gospel, then you are “accepted in the Beloved.” It doesn’t say anything about God choosing who is accepted. Instead, everyone who happens to believe is, therefore, accepted.

Anyone can be saved and enjoy these spiritual blessings if they just believe the gospel of their salvation (Eph. 1:13). If they believe that Christ died for all their sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, then they automatically become identified in Christ. They are considered as being “in Him.” We are elected not to salvation,  but to live unto the Lord in order to be ambassadors for Christ to preach the gospel to the lost, so that they too can believe the gospel of their salvation and enjoy these same blessings.

While God chose Israel to be a channel of blessing to the earth under the Law, now He has chosen the Body of Christ to be that channel of blessing in the Dispensation of the Grace of God. Israel was chosen because of the covenant promise that was made with their fathers. The Body of Christ was chosen, on the other hand, entirely by the grace of God.

Election of the Apostle Paul:

While the 12 Apostles were given the ministry and message concerning the Kingdom on the earth(according to prophecy), Paul on the other hand was committed the ministry/message concerning the heavenly program (according to the revelation of the Mystery (Rom. 16:25)). In Matt. 19:28, Peter and the rest of the apostles were told they would “sit on twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” In Phil. 3:20, Paul tells us that our “conversation [citizenship] is in heaven.”

Acts 9:15 – Paul was God’s chosen or elected vessel to go to Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. The twelve, on the other hand, were told to go to the Jews and then eventually the Gentile nations.

1 Cor. 1:1 – Paul was “called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God.” It was God’s choice that Paul be made an apostle.

1 Tim. 2:6 – He was appointed a preacher and teacher of the Gentiles. To proclaim the gospel that Christ died for the sins of the whole world and rose again the third day.

Ultimately, the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s elect. Election is not about God choosing certain people to be saved. Instead, it is about God choosing people to serve Him in different ways. Under the Law, God chose one nation, Israel, to proclaim the good news of the King and His Kingdom with twelve chosen apostles. Today, under the Dispensation of Grace, God has chosen to bless the world by proclaiming the message of the cross (1 Cor. 1:18) through the Body of Christ which has one apostle, the Apostle Paul.

Does Acts 13:48 prove Calvinism?

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Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

What it does not say? – It doesn’t say that God chooses or has chosen certain people to believe.


What it does say? – Instead, it simply states the fact that those who have eternal life (those ordained/appointed to eternal life) are the same ones that believed. In other words, those who believed are the same ones who have eternal life. That’s true! Certainly, those people who don’t believe are the ones that don’t have eternal life. But, God does not choose certain people to believe.

In context, we must look at Acts 13:38,39. Paul here is telling us the gospel. He is saying that through this “Man, Jesus Christ, is preached unto you (speaking to Jews and Gentiles) the forgiveness of sins.” All of the world’s sins have been paid for by the death of Christ on the cross. 2 Cor. 5:19 tells us that “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing [not counting] their trespasses [sins] against them.” This doesn’t mean that everybody is saved yet. They still need to be declared righteous. Having righteousness is the same as having eternal life.

Rom. 3:22a says, “even the righteousness of God, through faith of Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe.” The gospel (free gift of eternal life or righteousness) is offered to all, but it is only on all (conferred upon/granted to/awarded to) those who believe. What is that they have to believe? They need to believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for all of their sins, was buried, and rose again the third day (1 Cor. 15:3,4).

Now come back to Acts 13:39. “And by Him (Christ) everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.” Again, it’s only those people who believe that it is talking about. And out of those that believe, everyone of them is justified or declared righteous.

So, their is an elect group, who are the saved (it’s made up of believers). But, that doesn’t mean that God has chosen who those people are. They weren’t elected to be saved. He has offered salvation to all of mankind. Anyone can believe the gospel. And out of all the people that do believe, every single one of them are justified from all things. All those that believe are “made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:20).

So, (getting back to the verse) as many as are ordained to eternal life, those people are the ones that believed the gospel. In conclusion, it does not prove Calvinism.

For more reading material on Calvinism, check out The Power of God unto Salvation: Is the Gospel Enough? by Joel Finck