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ChosenWe present here some simple truths about being chosen. 1. God chose Israel to do His work
“But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend.” Isaiah 41:8
“O ye seed of Israel his servant, ye children of Jacob, his chosen ones.”
1 Chronicles 16:13
What does it mean that Israel were his
“For Jacob my servant's sake, and Israel mine elect, I have even called thee by
thy name: I have surnamed thee, though thou hast not known me.” Isaiah 45:4
“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:11
Certainly not! Israel was chosen, elect, called by their name, and yet most of them did not know God. Israel being chosen did not mean that God forced all of Israel to be saved. So what were they chosen for? What was the advantage that came with being a Jew, God’s chosen ones??
“What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much
every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.”
Romans 3:1-2
God chose to give His Word (the oracles of God) to the Jews (Israel/Jacob). See Exodus 33:19-34:29 (God’s mercy to Israel)
“And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them,...
Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command
thee this day,...” Deuteronomy 4:37-40
God chose Israel to be his servants and therefore to serve him by keeping the law, or keeping God’s commandments.
“And the priests the sons of Levi shall come near; for them the LORD thy God hath chosen to minister unto him, and to bless in the name of the LORD; and by their word shall every controversy and every stroke be tried:” Deuteronomy 21:5
God chose the sons of Levi more specifically to minister unto Him as priests under the law. So we see God chose Israel to be the caretakers of His Word, and to obey His Word. Why is this?
“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are
under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become
guilty before God.” Romans 3:19
“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might
be justified by faith.” Galatians 3:24
Israel was chosen keep God’s law so that all the world would look on, become guilty before God, and be pointed to Christ. They were chosen for this ministry on the basis of their ethnicity, they being the seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Despite the fact that they were given a work to do for God, most of them did not believe the gospel presented in the law.
“Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the LORD revealed? Isaiah 53:1
“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?” Romans 10:16
They did not all obey God, and believe His report. God gave them a choice, despite the fact that they were chosen to do his work.
“I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before
you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou
and thy seed may live:” Deuteronomy 30:19
Israel was given a choice. They could choose life, or death. So we see that
Israel was chosen to do the work of showing the Gospel to the world, while
salvation was offered to the whole world, including Israel.
2. God chose the Church to do His workUnder the old covenant, God chose the fleshly seed of Abraham to do his ministry work, however, under the new covenant, he has chosen the spiritual seed of Abraham, those who have believed, to do his ministry work! God will not force you to repent and believe the gospel, but if you do repent and believe, then you are chosen to do His work...
“And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the
promise.” Galatians 3:29
“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed
away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath
reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of
reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto
himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us
the word of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18-19
As it says above, he has
“If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as
unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood,
to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:3-5
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of
darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but
are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained
mercy.” 1 Peter 2:9-10
Those that have believed are chosen to be priests of God, and he desires us to offer up spiritual sacrifices to God, showing forth the praises of God (Hebrews 13:15).
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;”
2 Corinthians 4:1
“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”
2 Corinthians 6:1
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1 If we are in Christ (have believed) we are chosen of God, we have a ministry, we are his workers, it is our reasonable service. 
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