The Elect of God

Section 1

What Does It Mean to Be the Elect of God?

The word elect means chosen. Throughout Scripture, God describes His people as those whom He has called and set apart for Himself.

Jesus told His disciples, “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…”

Peter describes believers this way: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…”

God’s people are chosen so that they may proclaim the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. We are not chosen merely from something. We are chosen for something.

• Called out of darkness.
• Called into His light.
• Called to holiness.
• Called to bear fruit.
• Called to proclaim His goodness.
• Called to become like Christ.
• Called to walk worthy.

You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit…

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people…

Section 2

Chosen in Christ

Our identity as God’s elect must always lead us back to Jesus. Paul writes, “Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.”

Notice those two important words: “in Him.” Our election is Christ-centered. Our identity is in Christ. Our salvation is through Christ. Our righteousness is in Christ. Our transformation is into the likeness of Christ. Our purpose is to glorify Christ.

This keeps the doctrine of election from becoming centered upon ourselves. The Elect of God should not walk around saying, “Look how special I am.” Our lives should declare, “Look how gracious God is.”

Everything we have received is grace. Therefore, election should produce humility rather than pride.

For who makes you differ from another? And what do you have that you did not receive?

Section 3

The Elect Are Holy and Beloved

Colossians 3:12 doesn’t simply say “elect.” Paul says, “the elect of God, holy and beloved…” These three descriptions belong together.

Elect means chosen by God; our identity originates with Him. Holy means set apart for God; holiness means being consecrated for His purposes. Beloved means loved by God; our obedience does not cause God to begin loving us. We respond to the love He has already demonstrated toward us through Christ.

Being set apart doesn’t mean isolating ourselves from everyone who doesn’t believe as we do. Jesus sent His disciples into the world while calling them not to become of the world. We are called to live differently while loving people deeply.

• Chosen by God.
• Set apart for God.
• Loved by God.
• Sent out for the purposes of God.

But as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.

We love Him because He first loved us.

Section 4

How Should God’s Elect Walk?

Colossians 3 doesn’t leave this question unanswered. Immediately after identifying believers as God’s elect, Paul tells us what to put on.

These are not merely personality traits. They are evidence of transformation.

• Mercy.
• Kindness.
• Humility.
• Meekness.
• Patience.
• Forgiveness.
• Love.

Put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering.

Bearing with one another, and forgiving one another… even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Section 5

The Elect Must Put Off the Old Walk

Before Paul tells believers what to put on, he tells them what must come off. Colossians 3:8–9 identifies anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language, and lying.

There is the transformation: put off the old, put on the new, and become increasingly like Christ.

Being God’s elect is therefore not merely a theological identity we profess. It should become a transformed identity we practice.

• Anger.
• Wrath.
• Malice.
• Blasphemy.
• Filthy language.
• Lying.

Put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…

Section 6

Election and Walking Worthy

Paul connects our calling with our conduct throughout his writings. Election and worthy walking cannot be separated—not because our conduct earns election, but because our conduct should increasingly reflect our calling.

We don’t pursue holiness so God will choose us. We pursue holiness because in Christ we belong to Him.

I… beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.

With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.

Section 7

Set Apart Does Not Mean Better Than

Being chosen by God never gives believers permission to look down upon others. Jesus demonstrated exactly the opposite. He touched lepers, ate with sinners, welcomed outsiders, showed compassion to the broken, and washed His disciples’ feet.

Our identity as God’s people should therefore make us more humble, more compassionate, more gracious, and more willing to serve. Being set apart is not an invitation to spiritual elitism. It is an invitation to Christlike service.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…

Section 8

Everything I See, Say, Hear, Think, and Do

My daily declaration fits beautifully within this pillar: “I declare and decree that everything I see, say, hear, think, and do should be to God’s glory.”

If I belong to Christ, then my eyes, ears, mind, mouth, hands, feet, and entire life belong to Christ. Because I belong to God, I desire everything about my life to bring glory to God.

For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Section 9

Chosen to Become Like Christ

The goal of our transformation is not simply becoming a “better version of ourselves.” God’s purpose is much greater: to be conformed to the image of His Son.

That is the destination: Christlike thinking, speaking, loving, forgiving, serving, humility, obedience, and holiness. The worthy walk is ultimately the process of increasingly resembling the One who called us.

For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son…

Section 10

The Elect Are Chosen for Fruitfulness

Election is never an excuse for spiritual inactivity. We are chosen to bear fruit. The Holy Spirit produces that fruit.

This brings us full circle. The Elect of God pillar leads us right back to the Spirit of God pillar. The same God who calls us supplies the power necessary to live out that calling.

I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain…

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Walking Worthy

To walk as the Elect of God is to live with a continual awareness: I belong to Christ. That identity should influence our conduct—not through fear or attempts to earn God’s acceptance, but through gratitude for the grace we have already received.

Because we are chosen, we pursue holiness. Because we are beloved, we extend love. Because we have received mercy, we show mercy. Because Christ forgave us, we forgive. Because He humbled Himself, we walk humbly. Because we have been called out of darkness, we walk in His marvelous light.

And because our lives belong to God, everything we see, say, hear, think, and do should increasingly bring glory to Him. This is what it means to be set apart. This is what transformation looks like. This is what it means to walk worthy as the Elect of God.

Self-Examination

Take a moment to examine your heart before the Lord.

1. 1.

   Do I truly see my primary identity as being in Christ, or am I still defining myself primarily by worldly labels?

2. 2.

   Does knowing that I am chosen and beloved produce humility and gratitude in me—or pride and superiority?

3. 3.

   Am I actively “putting off” attitudes and behaviors that belong to my former way of life?

4. 4.

   Are mercy, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiveness, and love becoming increasingly visible in my conduct?

5. 5.

   Do the things I see, hear, think, say, and do reflect someone who has been set apart for God?

6. 6.

   Is there an area of my life that I have not fully surrendered to Christ?

7. 7.

   When people encounter me, do they primarily see me—or are they increasingly seeing the character of Jesus?

8. 8.

   What is the Holy Spirit asking me to “put off” and what is He asking me to “put on”?