How do you know if you are among the elect?

 The noun form of the word elect comes the Greek eklogē which means a picking out, a selection. A synonym for the elect are the chosen. We read throughout scripture God choosing individuals for a certain purpose. For instance, the Bible says in Acts 9:15 that Paul (then Saul) is a chosen vessel of mine. In Paul writing to the Ephesians said the Saints were chosen before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:11, 14).

Determining if you are elect or chosen of God may be to many an intimidating task, but it does not have to be. This should be a joyous exercise. Why? Because it causes all of us to take a genuine and hard look at our lives. We are compelled to carefully and soberly examine our lives to see if we are truly in the faith  (2 Cor 13:5).  Let’s run a litmus test.

1.      

Do you believe Jesus is God in the flesh?

In I John 4:2-3 we read, “Hereby you know the Spirit of God, every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God (italics added for emphasis), and this is the spirit of the antichrist whereof you heard that it should come, and even now is already in the world.

To deny that Jesus ever came to the earth is most tragic. Why? 1. It denies the reality of the virgin birth. Jesus had to be born of a woman to take on flesh. 2. If He wasn’t born physically, He could not have preached the gospel, healed the sick, or raise the dead. He would not have been able to perform any miracles. 3. He could not have died on the cross and rose from the dead. So you see, it is absolutely imperative that Jesus took on humanity. To believe Jesus was real is a true mark that one is among the elect.

2

.       Have you genuinely repented of sin?

What does genuine repentance look like? I will provide one example from scripture – the Pharisee and the Tax Collector.

Two men went up into the temple to pray: the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus within himself, “God, I thank You that I am not like other men – extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I tithe of all that I possess.”  And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not as much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God be merciful to me a sinner!” I tell you, this man went down to his house justified than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles will be exalted (Luke 18: 9-14).

Jesus in this parable clearly explains it all. When one humbles himself before God, they will be lifted to heights unimaginable. There is nothing greater than salvation. Only humility, and brokenness of your sin will get you there. Like the tax collector, we need to beg desperately for the mercy of God. Arrogant, self-righteous people will never inherit God’s kingdom. The Bible says that God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). James also says to, “Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up” (James 4:10).

3.       Do you love this world and the things in it?

Jesus said, “What profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul (Matt 16:26)? In 1 John 2:15-17 we read, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever”.

When the apostle John is speaking about not loving the world, he is not talking about hating the planet. We should love the world in the sense that the universe is God’s creation, and it is an expression of God’s majesty, handiwork, and power. What John is referring to is that we cannot love this world’s system-its immoral ways, the material possessions, the wealth for all of it is passing away. Not loving this system is a proof that one is elect of God.

4

.       Love for the children of God

In I John 3:10-15 we read, “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message you heard from the beginning, that we should love another, not as Cain who was of that wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

Do not marvel, my brethren if the world hates you. We know we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

This is straight forward language by John. If one truly is regenerated, their lives are exhibited with 1. True love for God manifested in obedience to Him. 2. Love for our brothers and sisters in Christ. John also says that if one says they love God, and hates their brother, they are a liar, for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen (I John 4:20)?

Extraordinary statement! Our love for God is in direct connection to how we love one another. Want to know if you are really loving God? It’s easy – see how you are treating your brothers and sisters in Christ.

5.       Do you share the gospel of Jesus Christ?

A mark of the elect is their willingness to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ with others – for that is why we are here. Paul said, “Woe is me if I preach not the gospel” ( I Cor 9:16). We MUST share the good news of the Life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We must tell man that he is lost hopeless sinner headed for hell unless he repents and forsakes sin, and runs to Christ for his or her salvation. We must get the word out as often, and as earnestly as we can.

   

6.       Do you love God’s word and study it faithfully?

King David in Psalm 119:97 declared, “O how I love thy law! It is my meditation all the day”.

Paul said in 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to show yourself approved to God, worker who does not need to be ashamed. Rightly dividing the word of truth.

Our appetite for the God’s word has to be insatiable. This is a lifelong process I realize, but our desire for God’s truth should grow every day. How can someone claim they are a child of God if they do not read the word of God? The word is our guide and our road map through life’s troubles. As the Psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Of course there are more marks of the elect, but hopefully this list will assure someone of their position in Christ. Please understand none of things mentioned above can occur without the aid of the Holy Spirit.

Remember, prior to God making us alive spiritually (John 3:3; Eph 2:1; Col 2:13), we can never respond positively to the gospel, repent and believe. Our salvation is all of God (Jonah 2:9). We did nothing to earn it for it is a gift (Eph 2:8,9).

In closing, election is absolutely pivotal – it describes how God chooses men and women into His kingdom. It is also essential for us to know we are among the elect. Only the word of God and secondly our conduct will provide our assurance.