A Chosen Race

by NEELY, E. | Category: Names That Need To Be Known | Feb 2006

God is a God of sovereign choices,(1) many of which select the few from very many. From the vastness of space and an innumerable array of galaxies in the universe, all of His creation, God chose the one in which we live. It is so large in its rotation around its centre that it is estimated that it would take the sun 225 million years to make a complete circuit. Our galaxy is 100,000 light years in diameter; and from its profusion of heavenly bodies God chose this planet, so tiny in the diversity and scheme of space.

�Tis on earth the Lord discloses

All His love how vast it is;

Earth�s the favoured spot He chooses

To display the truth of this

That God is love. (T. Kelly)

He then chose humanity out of the myriad of living species of this creation,(2) and from those that issued from the first Adam He chose the godly line of Seth, through the godly line of Shem, then the godly line of Abraham,(3) from whom were born various races. One in particular was God�s choice: Israel. Of the vast number of races upon the earth, whom Isaiah describes as �a drop in a bucket�, a speck of �dust on the scales�,(4) God loved Israel because He loved them,(5) made a choice, and called them, �"Israel whom I have chosen"�(6) - not because they were anything, but when they were nothing. When Israel�s own choices did not include steadfastness to the ways of God(7) He made a further choice, saying through Peter to New Testament saints who were living stones built up a spiritual house, �but you are a chosen race�.(8)

So important to God and central to His purposes was the choice of His earthly race that the whole of the boundaries of all nations were distributed according to its size and number.(9) Empires have risen and fallen in relation to their treatment of Israel, and future world allotment will fall in line with the place that God has given to that earthly chosen race.(10) What spiritual riches will be apportioned to the spiritual race so chosen(11) could only beggar the imagination now and will have to wait for eternity to reveal. Israel will become to the world what the shekel of the sanctuary was to be to Israel. All things will be commensurate with it. Such is the importance of the choice of God. Did all the sons of Seth or Shem or Abraham become an integral part of the elect? Not at all! The choice narrowed to the twelve sons of Jacob and their progeny. Not all of Jacob�s children were included in this choice.(12) Though the word �race� may emphasize those with a common father, not all who were fathered by any of the patriarchs were included in God�s narrow choice. Not even all those who own God as their heavenly Father find themselves included here.(13) Many are called; few are chosen.(14) The smallness of God�s chosen race has ever been a stumbling block, even to earnest seekers after God. What a blessing of grace and mercy to ever be considered a part of that which finds its expression in a people who once were none, but are now the people of God!(15)

God impressed upon Israel that their race was chosen in His sovereignty and not because they were anything.(16) Through Paul, God also emphasizes that His present choice involves �not many wise ... mighty ... noble�.(17) One purpose in His choosing the weak and beggarly is to prove to all His infinite wisdom and bring to nothing any wisdom so-called that might be arraigned in opposition.(18)

From God�s choice race, Israel, He was pleased to bring about the natural birth of Christ.(19) Unreceived by His own, but received by those called of the Spirit, He is now head of the Church which is His Body; but more than that, Lord of all who will by obedience align themselves with His truth and His people. Chosen in Christ, we are supplied with boundless blessing here and will be hereafter, and here and now are given the inestimable privilege of divine acceptance and service(20) as the �elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ�.(21) As those who firstly know the working of faith, we then become obedient to the Faith(22) and find ourselves linked with that chosen race. Those of Israel who sidestepped their promise to do all that the LORD had said and be obedient would find themselves cut off from the very race to which they by birth had a right. That rule doesn�t change.

The purpose for us of God�s choice is variously explained. We have looked at Paul�s word to the Corinthians about putting to shame those who are wise with this world�s wisdom. But Peter expands this by reminding us that we are to �proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called [us]out of darkness into His marvelous light�.(23) This we do in a two-pronged thrust, extolling God with our united praises, and proclaiming Christ as the only way of salvation to a sin-weary world.

�"Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold;

My chosen one in whom My soul delights."�(24)

Some Bible students say that the �chosen one� here is Israel, as it seems surely to be in verse 19 of the chapter, but Matthew (12:18-21) makes clear that Messiah is the Servant. Israel was necessary, however, to bring about His natural birth. He was the promised �Star out of Jacob� and will be eventually seen fully as the �Sceptre out of Israel�.(25) But He was to be �the last Adam�,(26) the progenitor of a new race. It is God�s will that all men should �be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth�.(27) He makes clear, nonetheless, that all men will not be saved;(28) neither, very apparently, will all who are saved come to the knowledge of the truth. Those who are without, God judges,(29) and our part is neither to judge nor criticize those who are not among us, but one thing God makes very clear is that those who are obedient to the truth are to be numbered among that chosen race. We are chosen �in [Christ] before the foundation of the world� as far as our salvation is concerned.(30) Those who are numbered with this race are also chosen �according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit�.(31) Our election to obedience to the Faith requires that we make our election more sure,(32) a thing that could in no way happen as far as God�s election to eternal salvation is concerned.

Through Christ, God�s chosen, we who are chosen in Christ know and shall know the abundance of God�s grace in all the brilliant aspects of salvation. Through Christ, God�s chosen, we who are chosen for a place among God�s chosen race, know the blessings of being built up a spiritual house for a holy priesthood and all the blessings of entrance within the veil and drawing near to God in worship.33 Christ is the corner stone to which individuals, being aligned, will also find their place in the alignment of the building, �a dwelling of God in the Spirit�, that which �is growing into a holy temple in the Lord�.(34) This realization of God�s grace towards us should bring elation, but it must also bring intense humility and a spirit of thankfulness. We are encouraged - indeed, commanded - to ensure a commensurate behaviour towards our fellow saints, each the brother and the sister for whom Christ died, each the brother and the sister that God has chosen to be part of this chosen, holy race.

What, then, have we gleaned? From numbers that surpass human imagination a sovereign God has made choices according to His own wisdom and grace, and each choice has resulted in a decreasing number of chosen ones, until He has at last a chosen race. Those comprising it are all of one Father, are related to each other because of the work of Calvary and an obedience to the faith once for all delivered to the saints. They own Christ as Lord and are built into God�s house. In fulfilling their purpose they act concerning God and man, and seek to add to their numbers according to the direction of the Word of God and His Holy Spirit. The choice of God can be honoured or set aside by those so gathered together, and the appreciation of God�s choosing should be a matter of constant praise and consistent humility. The setting aside of the conditions imposed by God can result in expulsion from the race for a time, that there might be repentance, or permanently, should God grant none.(35) No greater earthly blessing can be afforded than to be faithful in service among the people of God�s chosen race, and heavenly blessings too rich to imagine will forever bless those whose choice is surrendered to God�s.

(1)E.g. 1 Chr.16:13; Eph.1:4; Ps.33:12 (2)Heb.2:6 (3)Heb.11:8,9,12 (4)Is.40:15-17 (5)Deut.7:6-8 (6)Is.44:1,2 (7)Deut.28:45-47 (8)1 Pet.2:9 (9)Deut.32:8 (10)Zech.14:17 (11)Eph.2:7 (12)Gen.34:1 (13)1 John.2:19 (14)Mat.22:14 (15)1 Pet.2:10 (16)Deut.7:7 (17)1 Cor.1:26 (18)1 Cor.1:20 (19)Mat.1 (20)1 Pet.2:5 (21)1 Pet.1:2 (22)Acts 6:7 (23)1 Pet.2:9 (24)Is.42:1 (25)Num.24:17 (26)1 Cor.15:45 (27)1 Tim.2:4 (28)Rev.20:15 (29)1 Cor.5:13 (30)Eph.1:4 (31)1 Pet.1:2 (32)2 Pet.1:10 (33)Heb.10:19 (34)Eph.2:21,22 (35)2 Tim.2:25

NEELY, E. | Feb 2006
Names That Need To Be Known