1. Election of Christ -- the center of all teaching on "election"

a. To quote Shank, "The first step toward a correct understanding of the biblical doctrine of election is the recognition that the election of men is comprehended only in Christ; outside of Christ there is NO election of any man."

b. Christ is the elect one of salvation -- Eph. 1:4; Matt. 12:18; Isa. 42:1-7; Isa. 49:1-13; 1 Pet. 2:4; 1:20; John 10:36

2. Election is Corporate.

a. By this we mean that it is Christians as a BODY OF PEOPLE that have been chosen. It is not that YOU were CHOSEN to be a Christian.

b. Israel in the Old Testament:

1. God chose Israel, redeemed them from bondage, and brought them into the promised land, Dt. 6:21-23.

2. His choosing was according to His purpose -- not their goodness, Dt. 7:6-8; 9:4-6.

3. His purpose was that they would be hIs holy people and declare the glory of God -- Isa. 43:10-12, 20-21; Ps. 79:13.

4. Such election was "corporate" -- of the body of people. God chose Israel, but there were conditions upon the individual partaking of the blessings of such "election".

Dt. 6:12 -- beware lest forget the Lord.

Dt. 7:7 -- chosen, but vs. 12, blessings came to pass IF they would hearken.

Dt. 10:12 -- what does the REQUIRE? - SOMETHING!

Dt. 11:26-29 -- set before them a blessing and a curse -- IF

Jer. 6:10 -- were uncircumcised in ear.

Jer. 6:13 -- they were covetous

Jer. 6:15 -- could not even blush at sin.

Jer. 6:19 -- had rejected the law of the Lord.

Jer. 6:30 -- God had rejected them.

NOTE: JEREMIAH NOT ONE THAT WAS REJECTED BY OR FORSAKEN BY THE LORD!.

1 Cor. 10:1-5 -- all were baptized unto Moses, but with many of them He was not well pleased.

The nation of people were "chosen", "elected" -- but the individual within that nation could either be blessed or cursed depending upon his relationship to God.

c. Church in the New Testament is the "elect" of God.

1. cp. Eph. 1:4; etc. we are "chosen IN Him". Our being of the elect is dependant upon our being in Him.

2. Note: Fleshly Israel's relationship to this election.

a. Rom. 9:30-33. The reason for any Israelite "falling" was unbelief.

b. Rom. 10:1-17 Such "fall" is not final -- dependant upon their faith.

c. Rom. 10:18-21 -- Israel's unhappy state is the consequence of her own rejection of the gracious appeals and overtures of God.

d. Rom. 11:1-6 -- Despite the fact that MOST of Israel had rejected the gospel, God still accepts those who believe.

e. Rom. 11:7-24 -- The rest of Israel can still turn from unbelief -- and become part of the elect again.

3. Becoming a member of the church is CONDITIONAL!

a. You should be able to put the scriptures here! --

4. REMAINING A MEMBER OF THE CHURCH IS CONDITIONAL!

a. Cp. chapter on apostasy.