8. The Election (of grace)

.... Jesus taught in John 4:22 that "Salvation is of the Jews", and with respect to Section 7, here is the understanding we must reach: that Jesus alone is the Chosen One, yet they are the chosen people (Is 42:1; Deut 7:6); He is the tree of salvation, and they are it’s natural branches (Rom 11:17). In this sense, salvation pertains to the Jews and has always been reserved for them; yet only those Jews who trust in Christ will actually be saved:

.... "Being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory."

(Eph 1:11-12)

.... So at this point our study must branch into two directions: first, concerning those Jews who will believe, and second, concerning those who will disbelieve.

.... First: there is a remnant of the Jews whom God has reserved to Himself, and they have never bowed the knee to other gods (Rom 11:4-5; Matt 20:6-7). By venture, perhaps they may be equated to the 144,000 mentioned in the book of Revelation, who are the firstfruits of those redeemed from among men, and members of the twelve tribes. They are virgins, and in their mouth is no guile. The Father’s name is written on their foreheads (Rev 14:1-5). These particular Jews would constitute ‘the election of grace.’

.... Because they have followed the Lamb wherever He goes, and they have been reserved to God, they are elect in Christ as we’ve previously discussed; and yet they have always stood so: for they are without fault before the throne of God. These Jews constitute the natural branches in the tree of salvation which were never broken off, as metaphorically described in Romans 11:17 (When Paul says that ‘some’ of the branches were broken off, he implies that others weren’t. That would be these).

.... Thus, these particular Jews are always referred to in Scripture as ‘elect’, having always been elect in Christ. They are never referred to as ‘called and elect,’ as in the case of the Gentiles, or in the case of the other Jews who hardened their hearts and fell, but came to repent and believe at a later time.

.... Our next section will address the Jews who did not believe, and God’s further dealings with them.