Tag: ekloge

Romans 11:7 – Chosen or Hardened

Posted on by Will

What then? Israel did not obtain what it seeks; but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.

Truth to Learn

God chooses some and hardens the rest.

 

Behind the Words

The word “obtain” is translated from the Greek word epitugchanō. This word is made up of epi, used as an intensifier, and tugchanō, meaning “to obtain.” It is used here in an absolute sense meaning that Israel did not acquire, or obtain, the righteousness they were seeking through the law of Moses.

“Seeks” is from epidzēteō, made up of epi, used as an intensifier and dzēteō, meaning “to seek.” Thus, we see it means “to intensely seek” or “to strive for.”

“Chosen ones” is translated from the word eklogē, which we have looked at before. It refers to something that was specifically chosen.

The word translated “hardened” is pōroō, meaning “to make hard as stone” hence, “calloused or insensitive.” Applied to the mind, it means “hardened, insensitive, or not comprehending.”

 

Meaning Explained

Paul is now drawing a conclusion regarding the statements that he has just made. That is, God has not abandoned His people, but neither has Israel obtained the righteousness that they tried to obtain for themselves. Those whom God has chosen have obtained this righteousness (because God imputed it to them) but the rest, those who are not elect, were hardened.

We see here, then, two things at work with regards to the righteousness of the elect (Jews in this case). The first is that it is not earned. There is no amount of works that will save them (or us). There is absolutely no single thing or combination of things that can be done which will save them (or us) and give them (or us) the righteousness of God. It is, as Paul says in Ephesians 1:5, “according to the good pleasure of His will” that they (and we) were chosen.

The second thing that we see here regarding election, and the righteousness that comes with it, is that those who were not chosen were hardened. But the obvious question is, “Who is responsible for this hardness or blindness?” Let’s see what Jesus, Isaiah, and Paul have to say about it:

Jesus – He (God, the Father) has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, lest they should see with their eyes, lest they should understand with their hearts, and turn, so that I should heal them. (John 12:40)

Isaiah – For the LORD has poured out on you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes, namely, the prophets; and He has covered your heads, the seers. (Isaiah 29:10)

Paul – Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. (Romans 9:18)

Paul – whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. (2 Corinthians 4:4)

It is God who chooses and it is also God (through various means, including Satan) who blinds or hardens those whom He has not chosen, so that they cannot believe. And even now I can hear some saying, “But that’s not fair!”

In the next few verses Paul will continue with this statement of God’s hardening by quoting a couple of Old Testament passages which affirm what he has just said.

 

Application

We may not want to believe that God chooses some and hardens others, but that’s precisely what Paul teaches. Your church may teach something different, and you may believe that teaching. We want to believe that we are the ones in control of our own eternal destiny, but Paul teaches that God chooses whom He wants to choose and He hardens the rest. That’s what the Bible teaches; therefore, I believe it.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 11:5 – The Chosen Remnant

Posted on by Will

Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Truth to Learn

We are the remnant, chosen to be God’s children, by His grace alone.

 

Behind the Words

The word translated “election” is the Greek word eklogē. This is a compound word made up of ek, meaning “out” and a form of legō, meaning “to choose” or “to select.” Thus we see that it literally means “to choose out” or “to select out.” According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary, “this word refers to the benevolent purpose of God by which any are chosen unto salvation so that they are led to embrace and persevere in Christ's bestowed grace and the enjoyment of its privileges and blessings here and hereafter.”

“Grace” is translated from charis, which is based on the verb chairō, meaning “to be calmly happy or well off.” Charis specifically refers to “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life producing happiness and peace.” It is often thought of as “our undeserved favor from God.”

 

Meaning Explained

Paul now brings his readers back to the present (meaning both the present at the time this letter was written and the present time today). He says that it is just the same in the present, that a remnant has come into being. The remnant he refers to is a concept that Jews well understood. God promised the Jews that He would preserve a remnant out of Israel who would be saved. They have always believed that the salvation of the remnant refers to them being saved from the ravages of their oppressors and that the remnant would finally inherit the land and reign with the Messiah. Paul’s point, however, is that the remnant in his day is composed of those whom God has chosen “according to the election of grace.”

I know that election (God’s choosing those of us who are to be saved independent of any act or action on our part) is a difficult doctrine for many Christians to grasp. Many Christians reject it outright (in spite of what Scripture teaches) because it isn’t fair! However, Paul states it so clearly and so often that, if you believe the Bible is truth, it is even more difficult to deny it than to believe it. Paul believed in and taught election as a fact. Therefore, we should simply accept it as truth, even if we don’t completely understand it. And – regarding God being fair, if He were fair, we would all be going to Hell because that’s what we all deserve.

Paul calls it “the election of grace” because he understands that election is not by choice on our part, it’s an undeserved gift from God. We don’t choose to be saved. We don’t simply decide that we will get saved and then say the sinners prayer. Before the foundation of the earth, God chose those who would be saved. It involves the sovereign hand of God which removes the blindfold from the eyes of the elect. Only then can we see, and understand, the truth of the gospel so that we may become saved. It is all God’s work and it is all by grace (totally undeserved by those who receive it) so God is the only one who can receive the glory for it. In the next verse Paul will make the specific point that this election is not by anything that we have done (works); it is strictly by His grace!

 

Application

God, thank you for your gift of salvation. I didn’t, don’t, and won’t ever deserve it! You deserve all the credit, all the glory, and all the praise. In thanks to you, I humbly submit my will to yours and ask that you use me in whatever way you determine, to bring praise to Yourself. Wonderful is your grace!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 9:11 – God Says Election

Posted on by Will

(for they not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),

Truth to Learn

The important thing is God’s choice, not our works.

 

Behind the Words

“Not yet” is from the Greek word mēpō. It is made up of mē, the qualified negative and pō, which means “even” or “yet.” It specifically refers to action that has not yet happened.

The word translated “election” is eklogē. This word is made up of ek, meaning “out” or “out of” and a form of legō, meaning “to choose or select.” Thus we see that eklogē means “to choose out” or “to select from.” The Complete Word Study Dictionary defines eklogē this way:

Election, the benevolent purpose of God by which any are chosen unto salvation so that they [the chosen ones] are led to embrace and persevere in Christ's bestowed grace and the enjoyment of its privileges and blessings here and hereafter.

 

Meaning Explained

Paul has been talking about who the real “children of God” are, that is, who the ones are that are chosen for righteousness. This choosing is based on God’s decision and actions, not on ours. In the previous few verses Paul talked about Isaac being the son of the promise, not Ishmael. Even though Ishmael was the first son born to Abraham, he was not the one to receive God’s blessing because he was not the son of promise.

Paul is now talking about Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac. In this and the following verses Paul will make it clear that God chose Jacob and not Esau (Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated). But, so that the argument can’t be made that the choice was due to Jacob’s obedience and Esau’s disobedience (which certainly is not the case since Jacob was clearly the more deceptive of the two), Paul declares here that the choice was made before either of them was born. Not only does Paul point out that God’s choice occurred before they were born, but he makes a special point of the fact that neither one of them had done any good or evil. The major point in this verse is that God’s choosing of Jacob over Esau was according to God’s election, and it was not based on obedience or any other thing that either of them did.

Paul says that it was God’s purpose to choose Jacob, not based on his works. There are Christians who believe that God “foreknew” who would accept Christ as Lord and Savior and, based on this, chose them to be saved. (See our study on Romans 8:29 to understand the problem with this false thinking.) But, according to Paul in this verse, this cannot be the case because it says that the purpose of God in His election is not based on a person’s works but on God’s calling. He says that it was God’s choice not Jacob’s actions that resulted in his being chosen.

That’s God’s sovereign election! He chooses us. We do not choose Him. As hard as this is to accept by many of us, it is exactly what the Bible teaches!

 

Application

Believe what you may about man’s free will versus God’s election, Paul very clearly teaches it is God’s choice that matters. Since the book of Romans is part of God’s inspired word, it is God’s teaching. As for me, regarding election:

God said it. I believe it. That settles it!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2018 Will Krause. All rights reserved

2 Peter 1:10 – Secure Salvation

Posted on by Will

Therefore, my brothers, instead be all the more diligent to make your calling and election firm. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,

Truth to Learn

If you are truly saved, then you are completely saved, forever!

 

Behind the Words

“Therefore” is translated from dio, which means “for which, wherefore, or therefore.”

The word “diligent” is translated from the Greek verb spoudadzō, which comes from the same root as one of the words we looked at in verse five, spoude. It refers to “speed, earnestness, diligence, or zeal.” It is used here in the imperative mood, indicating a command. In the context of the past few verses, this could possibly be translated as “zealous.”

“Calling” is from the Greek klēsis, which refers to “an invitation.” And the word “election” is from the Greek  eklogē, which comes from eklegō (to choose), referring to something that was “chosen” or “selected.”

The word “firm” is from “bebaios,” meaning “fixed” or “firm.” Figuratively, this word refers to the foundation upon which something is built. Literally, we could translate this word as “foundational,” meaning that which is sure, firm, secure, and upon which other things can be built.

The expression “you will never stumble” is translated from ou me ptaisēte pote, which literally means, “no not stumble ever.” The double negative, although improper in English, is a way of emphasizing the point in Greek. We could translate this as “you will in no way stumble, ever!”

 

Meaning Explained

Peter has been talking about the character qualities that all Christians need to develop in order to be mature, and he spoke in verse nine about the consequences of not diligently pursuing these qualities. Those who don’t work hard at developing these qualities actually become less Christ-like and become blinded, unable to see the truth, and they become forgetful of the work done to wipe out the consequences of their sins. Therefore, says Peter, work even harder at developing these Christian characteristics.

When Peter says to “make your calling and election firm” he is not saying “to eliminate doubt” about them. He is not questioning the doctrine of election; rather he is affirming it by saying that we are to be diligent in demonstrating the firmness of our calling and election. The word “if” is not in the original Greek. Literally he says, “for doing these things there is no way you would stumble, ever!”

There has been much debate about what he means that there is no way we would ever stumble. But if we look at the next verse we see that he is talking about our entrance into the everlasting kingdom. In other words, Peter is telling us that as we build on the sure foundation of our salvation, which was made sure by our calling and election, then we will absolutely never lose our salvation, ever!

 

Application

Perhaps you have been taught that if you commit certain kinds of sins you will lose your salvation. According to Peter, however, if you are demonstrating your salvation by developing these character qualities, it is proof that you are saved, and you will never ever lose your salvation.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2017 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Romans 11:5 – The Chosen Remnant

Posted on by Will

Romans 11:5 – The Chosen Remnant

Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

Truth to Learn

We are the remnant, chosen to be God’s children, by His grace alone.

Behind the Words

The word translated “election” is the Greek word eklogē. This is a compound word made up of ek, meaning “out” and a form of legō, meaning “to choose” or “to select.” Thus we see that it literally means “to choose out” or “to select out.” According to The Complete Word Study Dictionary, “this word refers to the benevolent purpose of God by which any are chosen unto salvation so that they are led to embrace and persevere in Christ’s bestowed grace and the enjoyment of its privileges and blessings here and hereafter.”

“Grace” is translated from charis, which is based on the verb chairō, meaning “to be calmly happy or well off.” Charis specifically refers to “the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life producing happiness and peace.” It is often thought of as “our undeserved favor from God.”

Meaning Explained

Paul now brings his readers back to the present (meaning both the present at the time this letter was written and the present time today). He says that it is just the same in the present, that a remnant has come into being. The remnant he refers to is a concept that Jews well understood. God promised the Jews that He would preserve a remnant out of Israel who would be saved. They have always believed that the salvation of the remnant refers to them being saved from the ravages of their oppressors and that the remnant would finally inherit the land and reign with the Messiah. Paul’s point, however, is that the remnant in his day is composed of those whom God has chosen “according to the election of grace.”

I know that election (God’s choosing those of us who are to be saved independent of any act or action on our part) is a difficult doctrine for many Christians to grasp. However, Paul states it so clearly and so often that, if you believe the Bible is truth, it is even more difficult to deny it than to believe it. Paul believed in and taught election as a fact. Therefore, we should simply accept it as truth, even if we don’t completely understand it.

Paul calls it “the election of grace” because he understands that election is not by choice on our part, it’s an undeserved gift from God. We don’t choose to be saved. We don’t simply decide that we will get saved and then say the sinners prayer. Before the foundation of the earth, God chose those who would be saved. It involves the sovereign hand of God which removes the blindfold from the eyes of the elect. Only then can we see, and understand, the truth of the gospel so that we may become saved. It is all God’s work and it is all by grace (totally undeserved by those who receive it) so God is the only one who can receive the glory for it. In the next verse Paul will make the specific point that this election is not by anything that we have done (works); it is strictly by His grace!

Application

God, thank you for your gift of salvation. I didn’t, don’t, and won’t ever deserve it! You deserve all the credit, all the glory, and all the praise. In thanks to you, I humbly submit my will to yours and ask that you use me in whatever way you determine, to bring praise to Yourself. Wonderful is your grace!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 9:11 – God Says Election

Posted on by Will

Romans 9:11 – God Says Election

(for the children not yet being born, nor having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls),

Truth to Learn

The important thing is God’s choice, not our works.

Behind the Words

“Not yet” is from the Greek word mēpō. It is made up of mē, the qualified negative and pō, which means “even” or “yet.” It specifically refers to action that has not yet happened.

The word translated “election” is eklogē. This word is made up of ek, meaning “out” or “out of” and a form of legō, meaning “to choose or select.” Thus we see that eklogē means “to choose out” or “to select from.” The Complete Word Study Dictionary defines eklogē this way:

Election, the benevolent purpose of God by which any are chosen unto salvation so that they [the chosen ones] are led to embrace and persevere in Christ’s bestowed grace and the enjoyment of its privileges and blessings here and hereafter.

Meaning Explained

Paul has been talking about who the real “children of God” are, that is, who the ones are that are chosen for righteousness. This choosing is based on God’s decision and actions, not on ours. In the previous few verses Paul talked about Isaac being the son of the promise, not Ishmael. Even though Ishmael was the first son born to Abraham, he was not the one to receive God’s blessing because he was not the son of promise.

Paul is now talking about Jacob and Esau, the twin sons of Isaac. In this and the following verses Paul will make it clear that God chose Jacob and not Esau (Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated). But, so that the argument can’t be made that the choice was due to Jacob’s obedience and Esau’s disobedience (which certainly is not the case since Jacob was clearly the more deceptive of the two), Paul declares here that the choice was made before either of them was born. Not only does Paul point out that God’s choice occurred before they were born, but he makes a special point of the fact that neither one of them had done any good or evil. The major point in this verse is that God’s choosing of Jacob over Esau was according to God’s election, and it was not based on obedience or any other thing that either of them did.

Paul says that it was God’s purpose to choose Jacob, not based on his works. There are Christians who believe that God “foreknew” who would accept Christ as Lord and Savior and, based on this, chose them to be saved. But, according to Paul in this verse, this cannot be the case because it says that the purpose of God in His election is not based on a person’s works but on God’s calling. He says that it was God’s choice not Jacob’s actions that resulted in his being chosen.

That’s God’s sovereign election! He chooses us. We do not choose Him. As hard as this is to accept by many of us, it is exactly what the Bible teaches!

Application

Believe what you may about man’s free will versus God’s election, Paul very clearly teaches it is God’s choice that matters. Since the book of Romans is part of God’s inspired word, it is God’s teaching. As for me, regarding election:

God said it. I believe it. That settles it!

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to: