election - thoughts

pulled up a comment left from a friend of mine a week or so ago, and wanted to post again:

"The New Testament words 'chosen, choose, and election' are the same. The Old Testament word is simply 'chosen.' From [Eph 1:4] many think God chooses some to be saved and some to be lost. Again, I point out -- predestination and election (choosing) have nothing to do with the lost, but are for the saved."

"The following Scriptures tell us what the choosing, or election, of God is about: 'For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son. And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; (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;) It was said unto her, THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER. As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated' Rom. 9:9-13.

At once we see that election or choosing has to do with service-- THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER. It does not say, 'The younger shall be saved, and the elder shall be lost.' No, but, 'the elder shall SERVE the younder.' Thus election has to do with service. 'Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated' wasn't said of these two men before they were born, but hundreds of years after they died. God hated the descendants of Esau because of their unbelief, and loved the descendants of Jacob because of their faith."

"In John 15, the Lord Jesus said--He had chosed (elected) them disciples. For salvation? No, for service. Even Judas was chosen! For damnation? No, but like Pharaoh, who has a fit vessel unto wrath--after being given many chances to believe, he refused, and thus was used for God's purpose.

"The prophet Isaiah says that Israel is God's chosen people (Isaiah 41:8). Does this mean that all Jews are saved? No. It simply means that God has chosen Israel for a service..."

"Back to Ephesians 1:4--what has God elected or chosen for us, or what has He elected, or chosen us for? Not salvation, but He has chosen us before the foundation of the world (He knew we would believe on His Son) for service--"that we should be hold and without blame before him in love."

From Dr. Mark G. Cambron