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Romans 67-Understanding Election From The Old Testament
Romans 67-Understanding Election From The Old Testament
“1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy
Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could
wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to
the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the
covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose
are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God
blessed for ever. Amen” (Romans 9:1-5).
There are three truths essential to understanding what God is saying in Romans
chapters 9, 10, and 11.
“. . . [T]he word is used to express that choosing which has ultimate and eternal
significance. On the one hand God chooses a people (Ps 135:4), certain tribes (Ps
78:68), specific individuals (I Kings 8:16; I Chr 28:5; I Sam 10:24; II Sam 6:21),
and a place for his name (Deut 12:25; etc.). In all of these cases serviceability
rather than simple arbitrariness is at the heart of choosing. Thus Yahweh chose
Israel to be holy and thereby to serve as his witnesses among the nations (Duet
14:6).”
Therefore, the purpose of God’s choosing is service, ministry or, a specific task.
The word always carries with it vocational connotations (not salvational; Eph. 4:1).
This is the common usage throughout Scripture. Innumerable Scriptural examples bear
testimony to this meaning and use.
Since God selects certain groups and individuals for specific tasks, He can
unselect them if they fail in His covenant requirements and He can then select others, or
another, to fulfill His purpose. This is what happened with the Old (Mosaic) Covenant
priesthood of Israel (Malachi chapter 2 and 3; compare Romans Chapter 11).
The first two uses of the word “chosen” in the Bible are used regarding the choice
of Aaron as High Priest (Numbers 16:4) and God’s choice of the children of Israel (as a
group) to be His chosen people (Deuteronomy 7:1-11). The Law of First Mention
would lead us to understand that this is the way the word “chosen” (election) is to be
understood throughout Scripture. If this is true, we should be able to conclusively show
that this is the common usage of the term and the common meaning.
The question we must ask ourselves is if, in God’s choice of the nation of Israel,
their salvation is implied or presumed? We must also look at this as it unfolds in
Scripture to see if salvation is implied or presumed in any recurrence (the Law of
Recurrence). The use of the word “chosen” in the Old Testament books is usually used
to refer to the choice of groups, not individuals. The exception would be the references
that refer to Messiah, individual prophets chosen by God, individual kings chosen by
God, or Mary chosen by God to be the birth mother of Jesus. The word “chosen” is also
1
R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer, Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, The Theological Workbook of the Old Testament, Vol. I,
Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, page 100
“15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord
doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I
have made known unto you. 16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and
ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should
remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
17
These things I command you, that ye love one another” (John 15:15-17; although
these words are spoken to the apostles, their application is for all believers).
“26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish
things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of
the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the
world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are
not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is
written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord” (I Corinthians 1:26-31).
“1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at
Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God
our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our
Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ: 4 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: 5 Having
predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according
to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he
hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace; 8 Wherein he
hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9 Having made known unto
us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed
in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather
Dr. Lance T. Ketchum 6 WWW.DISCIPLEMAKERMINISTRIES.ORG
together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on
earth; even in him: 11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being
predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the
counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first
trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth,
the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed
with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory” (Ephesians
1:1-14; this is addressed to the Church at Ephesus and speaks to that group).
“These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he
is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and
chosen, and faithful” (Revelation 17:14).
“13 And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose
twelve, whom also he named apostles; 14 Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and
Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, 15 Matthew and
Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, 16 And Judas the
brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor” (Luke 6:13-16;
notice Judas Iscariot was one of the chosen, but was not saved).
“67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? 68 Then Simon Peter
answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. 69
And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. 70
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71
He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him,
being one of the twelve” (John 6:67-71).
“18 I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may
be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me. 19 Now
I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am
he” (John 13:18-19; notice Jesus had a purpose in choosing Judas Iscariot).
“1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do
and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy
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Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:” (Acts
1:1-2).
“23 And they appointed two, Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus,
and Matthias. 24 And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts
of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, 25 That he may take part of
this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might
go to his own place. 26 And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon
Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles” (Acts 1:23-26; note: this
was not God’s choosing).
“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred
forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads”
(Revelation 14:1).
The Tribe of Judah as the Tribe of Messiah and His Eternal Reign
“16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye
that fear God, give audience. 17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers,
and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with
an high arm brought he them out of it. 18 And about the time of forty years suffered
he their manners in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in
the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot. 20 And after that he gave
unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the
prophet. 21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the
son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22 And
when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom
also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after
mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23 Of this man’s seed hath God
according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus” (Acts 13:16-23).
“5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of
Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven
seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having
seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all
the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat
upon the throne” (Revelation 5:5-7).
“1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the
Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I
could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen
according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and
the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and
the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ
came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. 6 Not as though the word of
God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: 7
Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac
shall thy seed be called. 8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these
are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the
seed” (Romans 9:6-8).
Was every descendent of Abraham through the line of Jacob (excluding Ishmael
and his descendants) one of God’s elect nation (Israel)? We can unequivocally say yes;
without a doubt. Was every descendent of Abraham as one of God’s elect nation
(Israel) saved? We can equally and unequivocally say no; without a doubt. That is the
subject matter of Romans chapters nine and ten; i.e. what the individuals of the elect
nation of Israel needed to do to be saved.
“1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be
saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to
knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to
establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every
one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law,
That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness
which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend
into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend
into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it?
The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of
faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus,
and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt
be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the
mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever
believeth on him shall not be ashamed” (Romans 10:1-11).
1. From The Theological Workbook of the Old Testament definition of the Hebrew
word bachar, explain the purpose of God’s choosing. ___________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. The word “chosen” is never used in the Old Testament books to refer to individuals
elected to be _______________.
3. Explain the use of the word chosen in the context of the following headings from the
following portions of Scripture under those headings.
The Tribe of Judah as the Tribe of Messiah and His Eternal Reign
5. Read Romans 10:1-11. What do these verses tell us about the supposition imposed
upon Scripture that election refers to someone being chosen to be saved from
condemnation to Hell? ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________