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The Daily Word of Righteousness
A Basic Concept, #8
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be changed into the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)
We were not predestined from the foundation of the world to be saved but to be changed into the image of Christ.
The first member of the elect was Abraham. Abraham was called out of Ur of the Chaldees. Abraham was chosen by the Lord to become the father of the Church, the called of God.
Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: (Genesis 12:1)
The above passage marks the beginning of the Church, of God's chosen from among the peoples of the earth.
The tribes of Israel were God's elect, His chosen. This does not signify that the remainder of the world was lost to God but that through Israel God would reveal Himself, His will, His way, His eternal purposes, to the other nations.
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall 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. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 19:5,6)
"All the earth is mine."
Divine election, membership in the cultivated olive tree, always is by promise. The Messianic anointing, the olive tree, was given to Isaac, to Jacob, and to the sons of Jacob. The Spirit of Christ spoke through the Hebrew Prophets.
When the Lord Jesus came, only a remnant of Israel recognized Him. The anointing, the olive tree, was given to a remnant of Jews and then was extended to a remnant of Gentiles. The selection took place by promise, by predestination operating through the Divine foreknowledge.
(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) (Romans 9:11)
Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? (Romans 9:24)
The chosen nation, the Body of Christ, now included both Jews and Gentiles.
Today the elect includes both Jews and Gentiles. In the days to come the promise will be removed from the Gentiles and God once again will pour out the fullness of His promise on the nation of Israel. The entire nation will be born again "at once" of the Spirit of Christ. The nation of Israel will resume its former role as the elect, the chosen nation.
To be continued.