Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas

NT Framework - Of Highest Quality

• Jeremy Thomas • Season 6 • Episode 161

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Our modern word 'elect' carries the idea of selecting or choosing one from a group, but as we all know, words and their meanings change over time; so what does the Greek word mean?

More information about Beyond the Walls, including additional resources can be found at www.beyondthewalls-ministry.com 

This series included graphics to illustrate what is being taught, if you would like to watch the teachings you can do so on Rumble (https://rumble.com/user/SpokaneBibleChurch) or on YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtV_KhFVZ_waBcnuywiRKIyEcDkiujRqP).

Jeremy Thomas is the pastor at Spokane Bible Church in Spokane, Washington and a professor at Chafer Theological Seminary. He has been teaching the Bible for over 20 years, always seeking to present its truths in a clear and understandable manner. 

SPEAKER_00:

Welcome to Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas and our series on the New Testament framework. Today, a smaller, bite-sized piece from the larger lesson. We hope you enjoy it.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, always when you come into this world, you're in a situation where you're able to believe. So, what what am I saying about election then? Well, I'm saying a little different. I don't think that he chose certain individuals before the foundation of the world to be saved and didn't choose other people. That's one thing I'm saying. I don't believe that. I don't think the Bible teaches that. The word translated elect, or I should say words, there's basically three or three words that are directly involved: ekloge, eklegomai, and eklektos. All these words, obviously from the same word group, they all kind of sound the same, don't they? Ekloge, eklegomai, eklektos.

SPEAKER_01:

Okay.

SPEAKER_02:

And then you have some other words on the side like tithy and tasso. But they're not as main in the debate, and they kind of have a little different meaning. But these words, translated elect or chosen, are usually, okay, in other words, the primary meaning, though not always this, it's a qualitative term. In C. Gordon Olson's book, Beyond Calvinism and Arminianism, he says that the primary, most common usage of these words is choice, premier, distinguished. Someone who is choice, premier, or distinguished among others. Think of Christ, okay? Um well let's let's just look at Romans 16 13. Romans 16 13. So we get a at least see this, that in this case, and I'm using the New American Standard of 1995, in Romans 16.3, they translated it choice here, 1613, not 16.3, excuse me. In this long list of greetings that Paul is giving to individuals at the church in Rome, he says in verse 13, greet Rufus, a choice man in the Lord. And we would say what that means is talking about his quality, right? This guy has quality. He's premier, he's distinguished, he is choice. Um 1 Timothy 5, 21. We can slip over there. And then I'll show you a little bit in the lexicon.

SPEAKER_01:

I don't know how well it will show up on the screen, but I will show it to you anyway. 1 Timothy 5 21.

SPEAKER_02:

Here's a word about angels. I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of his chosen angels. Okay. Now, here's a question.

SPEAKER_01:

Do angels have salvation? Is there a plan of salvation for angels? No.

SPEAKER_02:

Um so did he choose angels for salvation? No. So whatever this word is here, it doesn't mean have anything to do with salvation. There's no salvation of any angels. There was just a set number of angels that were created. And then when Satan fell, we know that he drew aside a third of the angelic realm who fell with him. But there's never been any plan of salvation. Those who didn't fall, the two-thirds that didn't fall, they're just not saved. What were they going to be saved from? They never had any sin to be saved from. That's what we're saved from. We're saved from the penalty of sin. So angels aren't saved. So why does it call them chosen? Well, choice would be a better translation. They're choice, they're premiered, they're distinguished. Because they're what? Because they're not fallen angels. This should be very clear. So the context should determine how this word gets translated. And I would argue that in this context, 1 Timothy 5.21, angels are choice. Here's another one. Was Jesus Christ chosen? Let's go to Luke 23. Was he chosen to be the Messiah? Well, if you're chosen, there has to be a group from which you are chosen. There has to be a big group, you know, and then you're the chosen one out of the group. That's what we normally think of as someone being chosen.

SPEAKER_01:

What do I say? Luke 23, 35.

SPEAKER_02:

And the people stood by looking on, and even the rulers were sneering at him, saying, This is while he's on the cross, right? He saved others, let him save himself. If this is the Messiah of God, his choice one. Or chosen one. Which one is it? See? Well, there's no there was no choices. Like, are you gonna are you gonna are you gonna pick who was God like, well, let's see who am I who am I gonna pick to be the Messiah? I've got billions of people been born into this world, which one am I gonna pick? No, it has nothing to do with that. It has to do with his premier one, his distinguished one, his choice one. We also have the same thing in Luke 9.35. So we back up there. In another context. Because there, that was his opponent saying, Oh, if he's the Messiah, if he's the choice one of God. So I would translate that one choice. Here we have Luke 9.35. And then a voice came out of the cloud saying, This is my son, and it translates, my chosen one. Listen to him. But again, he's not picked, like this is not an election. He wasn't picked. Uh he's choice. It's about his quality. It's about like he is the one who is without sin and the Messiah who is the savior of the world. Unique, premier, distinguished one. Doesn't have anything to do with being chosen. See, do you see that?

SPEAKER_01:

Let's go over to 1 Peter 2. 1 Peter 2. 1 Peter 2, and uh we have verse 4 and verse 6.

SPEAKER_02:

And then I'll show you verse 9, just out of interest. Now, usually, usually again, you always interpret words in context, right? Well, look what they've done with this one. Same word uh as we've seen before, 1 Peter 2, 4, and coming to him, that is, to the Messiah, as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is what? Choice. It's the same word. Why do they choose chosen over in Luke 9, 35 and 23, 35? But over here they put choice. You know, like why the mix-up? Just let's let's think about the word and put the right translation down. I think it should be choice in all the cases. Um he's choice and precious in the sight of God, meaning he's distinguished. Verse 5, you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, for this is contained in the scripture. Behold, I lay in Zion a what stone? Choice stone. I mean, when you when you lay the foundation, this is building off of architecture analogy, right? If you were laying the foundation of a new building, what the chief architect would be most interested in is finding the cornerstone, right? This the perfect cornerstone, because it's the one that every other stone will be laid up against. I just did some tile in the laundry room. I mean, you've got to get it just right, right, Luke? The first one, and then Luke did it with me. We were working on this, you've got to get them all lined up. And then if you you realize you're off down here, guess what? You've got to go back and fix all these. So it he what kind of stone would the master architect be looking for? A choice stone, perfectly level and then set just perfect so that everything else is right. So again, not they didn't translate it chosen, but choice, which is good. Now come down to 1 Peter 2, 9, out of interest. And now he's talking about the Jewish remnant, okay, the believing Jewish remnant. 1 Peter's written to the believing Jews. Um he says, but you are, and then it says chosen race. Now wait a minute. Why didn't he say choice? If you've if it's choice in verse 4 and it's choice in verse 6, why in the context do you change it to chosen?

SPEAKER_01:

It should probably be choice. Because why? Because they're in the choice one.

SPEAKER_02:

That's why. Once you've believed in him, you're in him. And so if he's choice, guess what that makes you? Guess that what that makes me? It makes us choice. And here he's specifically talking about the remnant. So he's not talking about the whole nation in verse 9. He's limiting it to those who did not stumble over the stumbling stone, who did not stumble over the choice stone, but believed in him, and thereby really become choice. Um, so that's the way I'm viewing a lot of these uses, not all of them, but a lot. So those who believe in him are choice in his sight because upon belief in Christ, they are clothed in his perfect righteousness. This gives them a legal justified status that is of no merit of their own. That's why I call this election status. Okay, once you believe, you are legally justified, you have a new status in God's sight. And that status is identical to the status of Jesus Christ. If Jesus Christ is choice, that means that you also are choice in his sight. Why? Because of something you've done? Because of how wonderful you are? No, because Christ's righteousness was imputed to you, and you are now justified in his sight.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you for joining us on Beyond the Walls with Jeremy Thomas. If you would like to see the visuals that went along with today's sermon, you can find those on Rumble and on YouTube under Spokane Bible Church. That is where Jeremy is the pastor and teacher. We hope you found today's lesson productive and useful in growing closer to God and walking more obediently with Him. If you found this podcast to be useful and helpful, then please consider rating us in your favorite podcast app. And until next time, we hope you have a blessed and wonderful day.