Old Covenant Election

[Van]

let’s pause and identify the scriptural references to Election doctrine of all kinds. In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word (transliterated) “bahiyr” appears 13 times. Here are the references:

2 Samuel 21:6 uses the term to identify King Saul as God’s “chosen one.” This election is of an individual but not unto salvation in accordance with the New Covenant.

1 Chronicles 16:13 uses the term to identify the seeds or descendants of Jacob as His “chosen ones.” This election is the corporate election of the Old Covenant and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

Psalm 89:3 uses the term to identify the corporate election of the Old Covenant and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

Psalm 105:6 uses the term to identify the corporate election of the Old Covenant and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

Psalm 105:43 uses the term to identify the corporate election of those He brought out of Egypt, “His chosen ones.”

Psalm 106:5 uses the term to identify the corporate election of the Nation of Israel, and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

Psalm 106:23 uses the term to identify Moses as God’s “chosen one,” and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

Isaiah 42:1 uses the term to identify God’s Servant, and according to Matthew 12:15-21 is a reference to Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 43:20 uses the term to identify the corporate election of the Nation of Israel, and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

Isaiah 45:4 uses the term to identify the corporate election of the Nation of Israel, and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

Isaiah 65:9 uses the term to identify the corporate election of the Nation of Israel, and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

Isaiah 65:15 uses the term to identify the corporate election of the Nation of Israel, and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

Isaiah 65:22 uses the term to identify the corporate election of the Nation of Israel and not our individual election in accordance with the New Covenant.

In summary, the Old Testament Election’s provide illustrations of God choosing individuals according to His purpose and choosing the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as His chosen nation. But most important, Isaiah 42:1 refers to Christ as God’s chosen One, and thus refers to His election before the foundation of the world, perhaps referring to before the Fall of Humanity.

 

[Van]

According to the NT, the common characteristic of these people chosen corporately was not a biological connection with Abraham or his offspring, but being of a faith like Abraham.

 

[Van]

Election for Salvation in accordance with the New Covenant is foreshadowed in the Old Testament, so lets look at some of these verses.

Psalm 65:4 says some are blessed because they are chosen by God to be brought near to God, and to dwell in God’s courts. This certainly mirrors the idea of being spiritually placed “in Christ” and thus receiving the blessings of being “in Christ” which include spiritually being in God’s heavenly places (courts) and being made alive together with Christ (brought near).

Jeremiah 31:31 says God will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. These “houses’ are made up of individuals who believe in God and believe in God’s promises, and so the New Covenant is with individual believers. Paul teaches in Galatians chapter 3 that even Gentile believers that belong to Christ become “in Christ” children of the promise .