What is the purpose of the Elect?
Before I came to the knowledge of the Truth, I believed that only the Elect were going to Heaven, and that’s why we were called “the Elect.” I have since considered that what I was originally taught was wrong. This is what people with itching ears want to hear – that they are special because they made the “free will” choice to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. While that IS a great honor and benefit, for sure, it doesn’t complete the entire picture of why we need Him, or why we're needed and have been chosen.
Our “special salvation,” as stated by Paul in 1 Tim 4:10, is to participate in the greatest event to ever take place throughout the eons – the salvation of ALL men! We will have a hand in the salvation of the (for now) unsaved, both in this age and the next. We sanctify the rest of the harvest. We prepare the REST for salvation. The “rest” includes the whole world. We get to usher in all the rest, we will get to participate in their deliverance!
Take the term “especially” (μάλιστα) or “malista” in Greek, in 1 Tim 4:10. In what world would that mean “only” or “exclusively?” Yet, this is what people have told me it means when I’ve read to them this passage. This is not, by the way, the only time this word is used. It’s also used in Acts 26:3 – Paul says, “King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today to defend myself against all the accusations of the Jews, especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies”,
Gal 6:10 - “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith”,
1Tim 5:17 - “The elders who lead well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching”,
2Tim 4:13 - “When you come, bring the overcoat which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments,”
Acts 20:38 - “grieving especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again,”
Acts 25:26 - “Therefore, I have brought him before you all and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after the investigation has taken place, I may have something to write,”
Phil 4:22 - “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household,”
1Tim 5:8 - “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever,”
Titus 1:10 - “For there are many rebellious people, empty talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision,”
Phil 1:16 - “no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord,” and
2Pt 2:9 - “...then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from a trial, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt passion, and despise authority.”
I also found the word “especially” in the OT, in Ps 31:11 - “Because of all my adversaries, I have become a reproach, Especially to my neighbors, And an object of dread to my acquaintances…”
Do any of these verses make sense when the words “only” or “exclusively” are put in place of “especially?” They don’t fit. Sometimes, they don’t even make sense. The term especially can only mean “in an especial manner,” “in particular,” “chiefly,” “peculiarly,” “in an uncommon degree,” “very extremely,” or “specially” (Webster’s and other dictionaries).
It is this “specially” that God chose to use for our salvation in 1 Tim 4:9-10, “It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance. For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all mankind, especially of believers” (NASB). Mainstream Christendom teaches that God is the savior only of believers. This is not true, and not scriptural. God is the savior of all men, but especially of believers. We have a “special” salvation, that is, we will have a part in reconciling the world back to God! What an incredible honor it is for us to be named before the beginning of time to help quite literally save the world!! For who are we that God Himself would call us in Christ to complete His story?? What an honor!!! I praise God for that Divine Hope that He gives to us!
More on all of this as we go along. Thank you for participating in this journey with me, so far...next, on this subject, we will look at "Forgiveness vs Justification."
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