Christ the Chosen One of God
There are several verses of scripture that speak directly of Christ as having been chosen of God to perform certain works and offices in the salvation of God’s elect and in the Kingdom of God:
1. Isa 42:1 “Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.”
2. Luke 23:35 “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.”
3. 1 Pet 2:4 “To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious.”
4. Mat 12:18 “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.”
5. 1 Pet 2:6 “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”
Jesus Christ was chosen of God to be the “Lamb of God” that “taketh away the sin of the world:”
1. John 1:29 “The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
2. John 1:36 “And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!”
In addition, the angel declared to Joseph as he meditated on what he would do to his espoused wife Mary. Mary was with child of the Holy Ghost: “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”
That he was chosen to deliver His people from their sins the Lord also testified: John 6:37-39, “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.”
Jesus Christ was also chosen of God to be “the High Priest after the order of Melchisidec:
1. Heb 5:6 “As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
2. Heb 5:10 “Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.”
3. Heb 6:20 “Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
4. Heb 7:11 “If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?”
5. Heb 7:15 “And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,”
6. Heb 7:17 “For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.”
7. Heb 7:21 “(For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)”
As the High Priest after the order of Melchisedec, Christ not only made the sacrifice that atoned for the sins of his elect, but he also ever liveth and maketh intercession for them.
Christ was also chosen to be the King of the Kingdom of God. God made promise to David that in the seed of David one would arise to sit upon the throne in an everlasting kingdom: 2 Sam. 7:12-17, “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men: But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever. According to all these words, and according to all this vision, so did Nathan speak unto David.”
Peter informed us that had been fulfilled in Acts 2:29-36, “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
Furthermore, Jesus was chosen to be the foundation and chief corner stone on which the church is built. Jesus said unto Peter, “And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” The Lord is that rock on which he has built the church. Also, he is the chief cornerstone of the church:
1. Isa 28:16 “Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make haste.”
2. Eph 2:20 “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;”
3. 1 Pet 2:6 “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”
In conclusion, in studying the doctrine of elections, we must start with Christ as being “the elect, precious, chosen one of God.”