How Do We Get Elected by God?

This quarter’s Sabbath School lessons, provide interesting discussions on predestination and election, making me examine what I believe. I became especially intrigued by the word “elect.” What does it mean, and how does one become elected?

God has not elected only a select group to be saved

I find nowhere in the Bible that God has a special select group composed of only those He wants to save, or that there is anyone He does not want saved.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 NKJV

As I live,’ says the Lord God, ‘I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?’ Ezekiel 33:11 NKJV

Ezekiel 33:11 is crucial, because we are going to see that the elect are those who turn from their wicked ways and live.

The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

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God has not elected anyone for destruction since it is not His will that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

For there is no partiality with God. Romans 2:11 NKJV

While God may call some to “greater” roles than others, nowhere does the Bible teach that there is a group which God has decided He is not going to save. This is important, because I have visited with people who keep falling back into addictions and are tempted to give up, resigned that God does not want to save them. After much labor in trying to overcome, they are still heavy laden with the burden of guilt. Wait! Such people should not give up! These are the very ones Jesus calls! And He calls all of them!

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NKJV

God has not elected anyone for condemnation.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:16-17 KJV

Since Judas was one of the twelve, even he was “chosen.”

Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? John 6:70 KJV

Many assume Jesus is referring to Judas as the one who had a devil, but Jesus and Scripture never say that. In Matthew 16, Jesus tells Peter “Get thee behind me Satan.” In Luke 22, Jesus tells Simon Peter He has prayed for his conversion. So, regardless who the “devil” was in John 6:70, he was not elected to be a devil, nor had to remain a devil. In John 6:70 Jesus has chosen all 12 while He understands there is still some work to be done. This should give us all hope.

So who are the elected? Paul describes the elected.

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against 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. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. Colossians 3:12-17 NKJV

Ellen White expresses the same thought:

Every soul is elected who will work out his own salvation with fear and trembling. He is elected who will put on the armor and fight the good fight of faith. He is elected who will watch unto prayer, who will search the Scriptures, and flee from temptation. He is elected who will have faith continually, and who will be obedient to every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. The provisions of redemption are free to all; the results of redemption will be enjoyed by those who have complied with the conditions. –Ellen White, Patriarchs and Prophets, Page 208

Now let’s finally answer the question in our title. How do I get to be elected by God?

Peter explains in 2 Peter 1 that God elects those who have been working on the plan of addition. For every human being, Christ has paid the election price. No one need be lost.

But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-11 NKJV [Bold print supplied]

Those who are elected turn from their sins, remembering they have been forgiven and freed from sin. God wants everyone to be elected. God has not willed or elected anyone to be lost. Jesus has paid the price to justify, sanctify and turn us from our sins which have been forgiven, so we can choose to make our election certain.

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How Do We Get Elected by God? — 17 Comments

Karen Lindsey on April 23, 2017 at 9:05 am said:

"Dear Lord forgive me for I have sinned." These words haunt me daily and almost continually. We read all of the time of how adultry affects those who have felt that pain. But, what is said about and who feels concern for the one who commits that sin? Who really is concerned enough not to turn away from the adulterer? The suffering of the one who actually enters into that level of ultimate "darkness" has not reprieve. There is no "everlasting joy" only daily sorrow and self-blame and hatred toward self. You become so overtaken that all you feel is shame, sorrow and know the only everlasting you will feel is emptiness. I have wanted to write a book on this subject. Why? What actually happens to a soul who knows the "wages of sin is death." How can I ever be cleansed again? Who will love me after I have broken one of the marriage vows? It is the Why, What, How, and Who that demands a righteous answer. Those who do cross this dark path is most times so ashamed and full of self-loathing, those answers cannot be brought to a higher level of actual consciousness because the pain is too deep. I share this today, as I feel there is no election for me.

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- William Earnhardt on April 23, 2017 at 5:14 pm said:
  
  Karen, in Matthew 8:1-4 a leper tells Jesus he wants to be cleansed. Jesus touched him and said, 'be clean" and immediately he was cleansed. On page 266 of Desire of Ages, Ellen White has this to say, "In some instances of healing, Jesus did not at once grant the blessing sought. But in the case of leprosy, no sooner was the appeal made than it was granted. When we pray for earthly blessings, the answer to our prayer may be delayed, or God may give us something other than we ask, but not so when we ask for deliverance from sin. It is His will to cleanse us from sin, to make us His children, and to enable us to live a holy life. Christ "gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father." Galatians 1:4. And "this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him." 1 John 5:14, 15. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9."
  
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- Inge Anderson on April 23, 2017 at 5:58 pm said:
  
  Since you are conscious of your sin, you are not far from the Kingdom. All you have to do now is to accept the forgiveness Christ offers.
  
  As William said, Karen, you *are* elected to be saved - but not against your will. You demonstrate that you want to be among the "elect" by trusting Jesus - trusting Him that when He says He forgives your sin, he actually does it. (1 John 1:9 NKJV) Notice that Jesus doesn't just "forgive," but He also "cleanses." He cleans us up. When you accept Christ's forgiveness, you become a new creature in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17) You are clean and new!!
  
  But the devil doesn't want you to believe it. So he keeps reminding you of your sin. But just trust Jesus and remember He's already defeated the devil. The devil will be destroyed in the lake of fire.
  
  Jesus would be very disappointed if you would not accept His forgiveness but listen to the devil instead. Listen to Jesus instead and be joyful in Him, because He gives you a new life! (John 15:1) Then don't keep the joy to yourself. Share it with others and tell them how Jesus saves. That's how to keep the joy flowing through you!
  
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  - Maurice Ashton on May 12, 2017 at 10:28 am said:
    
    I think that the post by William that starts this discussion addresses your question Kenny.
    
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- michael Trunkey on April 24, 2017 at 5:58 am said:
  
  So today you "feel" this or that. And we know that your past was fraught with a life that sought pleasure. Every one of us wants to be loved. Every one. The physical love we share is not the ticket to that holy place, but the reward of those who have served each other. Love is much deeper than physical pleasure. We choose, we make mistakes sometimes. God sees us in our weakness and never once condemns us, for he knows our heart and our desires. He made us. Psalm 139:14ff. Why was all my substance secret? Who was there to condemn or applaud? Only Jesus. Not even Angels were yet created, we were hid in the heart of Jesus-- and he loved you then enough to die for you. At that point he chose to keep you no matter what you "feel". Now if you desire to be loved accept His love and forgiveness. Accept the fearfully and wonderfully made. Accept the "unperfect substance" and rejoice that you are loved, not for your feelings but because you are His creation, a child of his own heart. He wants you as His no matter what the distraction to which you may fall. Eph 1:4,5 gives us his desire: blameless. As we stand before him we accept his love cleanses us from all sin. We can't cleanse ourselves. Standing before our earthly mirror we see what Satan desires, our faults. But standing in Jesus presence we feel over whelming joy in the one who redeemed us. Of mine own self i can do nothing, but i lean on Him whose works are perfect and accept His cleansing. I stand right there in His presence with joy. Read Eph 1 again with the promise of His power working in your behalf, not as a duty that we must accomplish in order to meet his expectation. He is in charge and said "You are mine". When he says go and sin no more He is giving assurance in power, not a command to do your best.
  Our best is not good enough, we need His Righteousness, that is, His actions at the judgement to be mine. No longer does the book say adulterer, sinner, chosen of Satan. It says child of God, redeemed and perfect. Go in peace.
  
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- Annette Macintosh on April 24, 2017 at 3:07 pm said:
  
  Hi Karen,
  
  It sounds like you have been suffering for a long time, similarly, if you have asked forgiveness, He has forgiven you, if you keep asking Him for forgiveness for the same sin over and over, it is not because He has not forgiven you, but rather that you perhaps don't realise this fact.
  
  Mary Magdalene was the victim of adultery, and yet, Jesus forgave her and He extends this exact same forgiveness to you as well.
  
  "God is not human, that He should lie, not a human being, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?"
  (Numbers 23:19)
  
  All you are required to do is ask Him. In John 6:37 He says: "All those the Father gives Me will come to Me, and whoever comes to Me I will never drive away." satan on the other hand wishes that you would continue to feel that there is no election for you but this is a lie!
  
  The only sin that is unforgivable is the one you do not ask forgiveness for, so if you have already asked forgiveness, in 1 John 1:9 He says "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." and so this means that He has already forgiven you, you also need to forgive yourself, no matter how hard you think this is, in God's eyes it is as if you had never done what you have asked forgiveness for. Leave it at His feet and never pick up the burden ever again, it is His to deal with and He says: "Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In Your love You kept me from the pit of destruction; You have put all my [Karen's] sins behind Your back." (Isaiah 38:17)
  
  Why not choose Jesus, come to Him just as you are you have asked and He has wiped the slate clean - look how kind He is in John 8:7-11
  
  “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”
  8Again He stooped down and wrote on the ground.
  9At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.
  10Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
  11“No one, Sir,” she said.
  “Then neither do I condemn you,”Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
  
  And neither does Jesus condemn you either Karen.
  
  God bless you as you heal and learn to trust Him more each day.
  
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- Don Litchfield on April 26, 2017 at 5:40 am said:
  
  Karen, I find that, sometimes, doctrine is hard to interpret into reality. In Rev. 3:20 Jesus, as God, (who is our friend) is standing outside our heart's door knocking and calling to us. If we will let him in, He promises to come in and to "sup" with us. I think He can do this in His Spirit. God wants to be our friend, but He needs our permission to come in. He is highly respectful of our choice. Love is dependent on our choice and cannot be forced.
  
  When God comes into our heart He brings "light." This affects the darkness of our thoughrs and feelings profoundly. He not only forgives us but He takes away the darkness in our minds by His light which is always with His presence.
  
  Jesus has told us to "watch and pray" lest we fall into temptation. I think this means to be aware of what is happening in our minds and and continue to pray giving Him permission to enter our thoughts and feelings giving us the motivation of His Love to produce right thoughts and feelings--and by this, right actions.
  
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- Sieg Hoppe on April 26, 2017 at 11:02 pm said:
  
  Dear Karen,
  
  When God forgives, God forgets (Hebrews 8:12; Hebrews 10:17; Isaiah 43:25). Now since God has already forgiven you and forgotten what you did, who do you think keeps reminding you? Hint: It can’t be God.
  
  God has cast your sin to the bottom of the sea (Micah 7:19 ) and he even put a “no fishing” sign over the spot (Jeremiah 31:34). Do yourself a favor. Stop going deep-sea diving, looking for and remembering your sin. What God has forgiven and forgotten, we shouldn’t try to remember…
  
  Instead, remember this: The very first time you uttered "Dear Lord forgive me for I have sinned,” He forgave… He forgot.
  
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- Terry Loss on April 30, 2017 at 6:53 am said:
  
  I like the way these verses put it in Psalms: "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand." Psalm. 37:23, 24
  
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Thea Jack on April 25, 2017 at 3:22 am said:

I have felt that pain, shame and guilt. It is deep. But I know that God has forgiven and cleansed me. John 3:16 says ".....whosoever believes in me should not perish but have everlasting life." "God is not a man that He should lie" (Numbers 23: 19) and so I am now at peace knowing that I have been washed in Jesus' blood and cleansed from ANY sins I have committed. I still regret the pain I have caused but I believe that like Peter, Jesus has prayed for my conversion and brought me to where I accept Him with all my heart. We cannot change what we have done. We need only give our sins to Jesus "....and by his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5). God loves you. Trust Him.

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Sally Holmes on April 25, 2017 at 5:41 am said:

William you mentioned individuals who fall back into addictions and give up feeling they can't be part of God's elect. How do you counsel someone who has been battling an addiction for years and who feels after years of praying and struggling they are too tired to continue the fight? "I'm praying for you" as they express their discouragement and torment doesn't seem enough. When asked "why doesn't God deliver me-at this point I am hell bound because I can't overcome" I don't have the answer because I see their torment. I know God is powerful so what more should they do?

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- michael Trunkey on April 25, 2017 at 7:16 am said:
  
  There is a delicate line between "i understand your pain" and "we are all sinners". I know we say "I'm praying for you", but what people want to hear is, " I was there to, and here is how i overcame". The Deliverance is not within us. So no matter what i say or feel, it is not my advice that brings release, it is God. We only frustrate the one who so desperately needs help when we give our platitudes, but it is the truth that prayer is the best answer from my human perspective. The sinner needs the power of Jesus to rise up and walk in the newness of life. I can give my testimony, and support their efforts, but God must deliver.
  When we say something human like "i was there once too" we give credence to Satan's power over us, to man delivering himself by his own bootstraps. He must deliver!
  
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- William Earnhardt on April 25, 2017 at 2:24 pm said:
  
  Hi Sally I would have to say that I very much agree with Michael. Also every case is different. Not everyone struggles the same. Some are really trying and some are not. Of course I am not judge of who is trying and who is not. Here are some words of counsel from someone a lot wiser than me.
  
  " There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes, but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy, we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the beloved John, "These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." 1 John 2:1. And do not forget the words of Christ, "The Father Himself loveth you." John 16:27. He desires to restore you to Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power, let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is the health of our countenance." Ellen White, Steps to Christ, Page 64
  
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- d.*********@sh**.ca " class="url" rel="ugc external nofollow">Darrel, G on April 30, 2017 at 8:03 am said:
  
  It has been thirty two years sober for me, and the things I committed when I drank and put substances in my body , adultery was one of those acts, among many, satan still keeps reminding me of those acts and all the harm I have caused others from doing those horrible things, all the above answers Arte great, and I might add another practical thing you might try, finding and trusting another person who you can share your burden with, I sobered up in AA, and I had very little trust in humanity, and even less trust in God, they kept telling me in step two that I must come to believe in a power greater than myself top help me overcome my addictions, I did not know a God of my understanding at that time, it took a lot of patience, frustration and caring of others who have trudged the happy road of destiny before me to show me the way, I returned to my church of my childhood and slowly they loved me back to some semblance of reality, there I found a God of my understanding, a loving, caring God, a understanding of who and what price Jesus suffered and died for me, and finally this past quarter a better understanding of the Holy Spirit who Jesus sent to us to help us in a quiet peaceful gentle way, to try and understand how to cope with life on life terms. Not easy, but after thirty some odd years, and at times getting angry with God and giving up on him many times through the process, he gently reminds me through people like you that he is there, and wants me to be with him in paradise with him, he still wants me around top help people see the way and to help them by me sharing my testimony to help someone who thinks they are beyond hope to realize there is hope , and to pray until that hope becomes a reality. King David did some horrible acts, and God showed me this by me going to sabbath school, at the right time, even when I did not want to be there, he put the right people in my life at the right time, to help me see that I could be forgiven. My answer is to try and stay close to like minded people and be open minded, pray without ceasing and hope, because believe it or not Jesus will come and sup with you in ways you cannot even comprehend. God bless and keep looking up!
  
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Mo Sena on April 25, 2017 at 8:12 am said:

It's a very human characteristic to think you're different and more special than your neighbor. The feeling of "this can't happen to me" is present in our DNA. The feeling of identity and self preservation can lead us to think we're more special and therefore we're one of the "chosen". The others are not as "enlightened" as we are. Not as "obedient" as we are. Not as "Holy" as we are. But the bible is very clear that God doesn't want ANYONE to perish, therein comes our personal choice.

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JohnHerscher on April 26, 2017 at 5:05 am said:

We are predestined to be saved not predestined to be lost, if we turn to Christ we put on the wedding garment and accept predestination. Matthew 21:11. The disciples asked Christ, since it is difficult for the rich man to be saved then who can be saved. Christ said what is impossible for people, is possible with God. Luke 18:26-27. So people let's stay with God. God is in control of our DNA also. All we have to do is allow Him to take control of our will. That is part of our surrender to Him. We need to believe that He has the power to forgive and save to the uttermost. Why because we put our trust in Him. Hebrews 7:25. Isaiah 26:3-7.

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Terry Loss on April 30, 2017 at 7:14 am said:

Please read the chapter 16 in Christ's Object Lessons, "Lost, and is found."
These two paragraphs especially show the love of God towards ANY sinner.
“Little did the gay, thoughtless youth, as he went out from his father’s gate, dream of the ache and longing left in that father’s heart. When he danced and feasted with his wild companions, little did he think of the shadow that had fallen on his home. And now as with weary and painful steps he pursues the homeward way, he knows not that one is watching for his return. But while he is yet "a great way off" the father discerns his form. Love is of quick sight. Not even the degradation of the years of sin can conceal the son from the father’s eyes. He "had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck" in a long, clinging, tender embrace. {COL 203.1}
The father will permit no contemptuous eye to mock at his son’s misery and tatters. He takes from his own shoulders the broad, rich mantle, and wraps it around the [BEGIN P.204] son’s wasted form, and the youth sobs out his repentance, saying, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." The father holds him close to his side, and brings him home. No opportunity is given him to ask a servant’s place. He is a son, who shall be honored with the best the house affords, and whom the waiting men and women shall respect and serve. {COL 203.2}”
I am always moved by how He "holds him (you and me) close to His side and brinsg him (you and me) home." What love the Father has for you and me…

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