Jesus: God's Elect (Part 3)

"Behold, Mine Servant, Whom I uphold; Mine Elect, in Whom My soul delighteth" (Isa 42:1)

The Revelation of Election is by the Actions of the Elect. 

How are men able to recognize those whom God has chosen. Primarily, how are men to recognize the Elect One of God? It is by the record that God has given AND by the works of the elect. In other words, God will declare whom He has chosen and then what they do will be evidence of this election. This is true of Christ and this is true of anyone else chosen by God.  

The Works of the Messiah. Being God's Elect according to Isaiah 42 meant being the Messiah. God's Elect would be His Anointed One; the One who would save Israel. He was promised to come and was understood to be the King of the Jews that would deliver the people from their enemies. Many of Jesus' day perceived that this Messiah would come and deliver them from tyrannical Roman rule. They failed to recognize that sin and death were their greatest enemies, not the Romans. So when Jesus came declaring that He was the Son of God, their Messiah and at the same time refused to fight with the sword, they rejected His testimony and the testimonies of others. They rejected Jesus because, in their minds, His works did not accord with His profession. 

Yet, the prophets did speak of what God's Elect would do. Consider the record of Isaiah 42:

• He shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles (v1)
• He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street (v2)
• A bruised reed shall He not break, and a smoking flax shall he not quench (v3)
• He shall bring forth judgment unto truth (v3)
• He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth (v4)
• He will be given as a covenant of the people (v6)
• He will be a light of the Gentiles (v6)
• He will open blind eyes and bring out prisoners from the prison (v7)

His Own Received Him Not. The Jews' mocking of Jesus revealed that they knew that God’s elect would be the Messiah but it also revealed that they did not know how the Messiah would save them. They called on Him to perform that which they thought the Messiah should do. “…He saved others,” they said, “let Him save Himself, if He be Christ, the chosen of God” (Lk 23:35). They rejected Isaiah's prophecy that God's servant would bare the sin of many and pour out His soul unto death (Isa 53:12).

They even rejected the testimony of Christ's forerunner. John testified of Jesus’ election: that He was the Christ. His message was "Behold, the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the world." Though, the appropriate response from the people was to rejoice in John’s light and believe, the majority of the religious elite of that day rejected John's testimony. However, Jesus said that John’s testimony was not all. The Father hath borne witness of Jesus (Jn 5:37). Moses wrote of Him (Jn 5:46). The Scriptures themselves are "they which testify of" Jesus (Jn 5:39). Yet Jesus said there was another.

“I have greater witness than that of John, for the works which the Father hath given Me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of Me, that the Father hath sent Me" (Jn 5:36).

Jesus is revealed as the Elect of God by His works. When pressed, “How long dost Thou make us to doubt? If Thou be the Christ, tell us plainly (Jn 10:24), Jesus said, “I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father’s name, they bear witness of Me” (Jn 10:25). His election was made sure and shown to be true and right by His ability to save to put away sin, lay down His life, take it up again, save men to the uttermost, and at last bring all things into subjection under His feet thus defeating every foe. His works testify of His election.

The Scriptures, the testimony of John, the Witness of God Himself, the work of the Holy Spirit and the works of Jesus all reveal that Jesus is the Chosen of God, the Christ that saves the world. As men behold this truth and it presses upon their spirits they will cling unto Him with purpose of heart and He will show Himself to be a mighty Savior. As Jesus also declared: their response to His election is a revelation of their election. “But ye believe not, because ye are not of My sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (Jn 10:26-27). Believe in Jesus. Make your calling and election sure.