THE "ELECT," "ELECTION" AND "CHOSEN"
THE “ELECT,” “ELECTION” and "CHOSEN”
Sunday, October 9, 2022, the Year of Our Lord
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
I have been hearing (over and over) in the Spirit this same scripture. “Many are called, but few are chosen.” I have also been hearing about “The Elect.” I briefly mentioned this past Tuesday that in years’ past when I have heard this, there was a choosing going on in the Spirit.
The Old Testament and the New Testament (123 times) have multiple references to God’s chosen people: Israel, Angels, priests, kings, Christ, the twelve apostles, and all Christians.
“Anyone chosen of God at any time, Jew or Gentile is the elect of God (Ro. 9:11, 11:5,7,28;1 Th. 1:4; 1 Pwr. 5:13; 2 Pet. 1:7). All men are called to be God’s elect or chosen one and can be if they will choose God.” (F.J. Dake).
1 Peter 3:9: You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that you should show forth the praises of him who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Revelation 17:14: Those 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.
In 1 Peter, the apostle gives us a description and measuring stick of those who are elect in Christ.
1 Peter 2:1-2: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ; Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
I am one who is of the persuasion that Peter was in Rome when he wrote 1 Peter and 2 Peter. Because of our recent study of Acts and Paul’s epistles written from Rome during his first imprisonment in his hired house and his second imprisonment before his death by the hand of Nero, I am of the persuasion both of Peter’s epistles were written in the last year of his life. We know 2 Peter was written with the contemplation of the near approach of his death (2 Peter 1: 13-15).
Your commentary may dispute that persuasion, but I have studied quotes from writers of the 1st and 2nd century and this is also their persuasion.
I am also of the persuasion that Peter preached and dictated the gospel of Jesus Christ to Mark. I have asked the Lord to allow us to teach and preach Mark on Tuesday mornings from the power of this great apostle.
The author of 1 Peter is described by his name, Peter. Jesus Christ gave him the surname of Peter which signifies a rock, as a commendation of his faith. He identifies himself by his office, an apostle of Jesus Christ. It signifies the highest office in the Christian Church. Peter asserts his own character as an apostle. To pretend to what we have not is hypocrisy; and to deny what we have is ingratitude.
I will lay my own self out for that judgment and rebuke. You have heard multiple pastors and prophets address me as an apostle. However, when I measure myself against the twelve apostles, I don’t measure up in power, fruit, signs, wonders, mighty deeds, or Kingdom accomplishments. I know the measuring stick is not mine, but the Lord’s. I struggle to be able to measure the present apostolic movement against the apostles who birthed the Church as the vessel of the Kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. The Lord did speak to me many years ago that I was an Apostle of Faith. As I stand before you and before God, I cannot stand in that mantle beside the measurement of God’s holy apostles. I know when the Lord uses me in the Apostolic and I move out it in as the Spirit leads.
Eph. 3: 4-5: Whereby, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.
Hebrews 3:1: Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus.
Peter mentions his apostolic office as his warrant and call to write the epistle to these people. The persons to whom this epistle was addressed are to strangers scattered throughout Asia Minor. Their circumstances are poor and afflicted, but Peter addresses them as Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.
Election is either to an office, or it is to the enjoyment of special privileges, or it is to eternal salvation. This is the election here spoken of. Foreknowledge means they were chosen by God before they were born to be part of the early church. The death of Christ was not only foreseen, but foreordained.
1 Peter. 1:18-20: You were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; who was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.
Every elect person must be sanctified by the Spirit, and justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. Sanctification is here understood as living to God in all the duties of a Christian life, which is here summed up in one word, obedience. This word denotes the end of sanctification, which is, to bring rebellious sinners to obedience again.
1 Peter 1:22: You have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that you love one another with a pure heart fervently.
They were elect also to the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus. Here is a manifest visual to the typical sprinklings of the blood under the law. The blood of Christ, the grand and all-sufficient sacrifice was not only shed, but must be sprinkled by faith and communicated to everyone of these elect Christians. We must all be sanctified by the Spirit and sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ.
To the elect is given the blessing of the inheritance.
1 Peter 1:3-5: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
I call this verse the “keeping power of Christ.” I prayed for my children as they were growing up for the Lord to keep them under His keeping power.
God the Father has begotten us again (born again) unto a living, durable hope. The best of men owes their best blessings to the abundant mercy of God. All the evil in the world is from man’s sin and the demonic powers they worship. But all the good in the world is from God’s mercy. We subsist entirely upon divine mercy. Those who are born-again to a new and spiritual life are born-again (begotten) to a new and spiritual hope. The hope of a Christian is a living hope. This is when hope is a certainty. We know that we are walking in eternal life. This certainty of hope keeps of alive, quickens us, supports us, and will conduct us to heaven.
1 Peter 2:9: But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
The New Testament Church is gathered as priests unto and around Jesus Christ, the bread of Life. Our fellowship is centered in His person and not our doctrines; believers only really meet together as their spirits, minds, hearts, and voices blend unto Christ. Those who walk in the Kingdom do not choose who they will love.
We are going to receive of the Lord Supper today.
The New Testament (Covenant) sealed by the Blood of Jesus Christ brought a New Bread, New Wine and New Priesthood. Jesus Christ is the everlasting Bread. Jesus Christ is ever giving us fresh bread for this new day of visitation. The Blood of Jesus and the Holy Spirit out poured are the New Wine.
The New Testament is the better blood of the death of the Testator, Jesus Christ. The Testator bestowed upon us the fullness of the Old Testament plus the New Testament.
(The Lord’s Supper is a powerful meal. When we take it with Jesus, we consummate the covenant and receive the inheritance of all the promises to the Elect.)
The Apostle Peter tells us we are born-again (begotten of God) to a new inheritance. God gives his gifts unto all, but the inheritance is to none but his children. This inheritance is not for purchase. It is a gift of the Father; not wages that we merit but the effect of grace.
The LORD GOD cannot fail. His resources are for the asking. His fidelity can be depended upon. He defends against all enemies, and gave his own Son as satisfaction for this covenant---not the blood of bulls and goats, but his own blood. He has given each participant HIS NAME.
He shares the family secrets with us, and calls us sons and daughters. When Jesus said, “Take eat, this is my body broken for you. This is my blood which is shed for you.” The disciples would have understood clearly what Jesus was telling them. This is the blood of the New Covenant. His brethren put Him on as a garment; we have His Sword of the Spirit, and our enemies are His enemies.
(The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.)
The final witness of a covenant was the bread and the wine. The two parties before the assembled witnesses partook of a symbolic meal. Each broke bread and gave to the other as a token each were willing to break their body in defense of the other. Wine was shared as token that their blood would be willingly shed for each other.
In the East, exchange of coats symbolized the character and honor of the person wearing it. The exchange of swords or weaponry was to pledge that the one possessing it would protect the rightful owner’s family in the same manner and reliability as his own. There was an exchange of wealth.
When Jesus initiated and cut His Blood Covenant with us. He gave us His Sword, His Name, His wealth, His Kingdom, His garment, His Life, His Father’s House, His Peace, His Joy, His Righteousness, delivered us from sin into eternal life, and defends us against all enemies, there are only two conditions to this glorious life on earth as it is in Heaven, We must abide in Jesus’ love and keep His commandments.
O Lord you are in covenant with us, your people, and the promises of your Word decree the strength and tenacity of our binding relationship with you.
The incomparable excellencies of this inheritance is incorruptible. It is like you O Lord, it is of you. This inheritance is undefiled. This blessedness if for everyone who is begotten (born-again) to a lively hope.
Take the bread eat, this is my body broken for you. This is the blood of the New Covenant, drink all of it
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church, 10115 West Hidden Lakes Lane, Richmond, TX
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Matthew Henry’s Commentary; Sealed Unto His Glory by Dr. C. R. Oliver