Knowing who the chosen ones are in the Holy Bible (kjv) can give us a clear understanding of our identity in Christ Jesus.
The term “chosen ones” appears many times in God’s word. It refers to individuals or a group of people set apart by God for a special purpose, divine assignments, or blessings.
God’s purpose for choosing these people is to fulfill His divine plan. By understanding God’s chosen people, we can know His purposes and promises in the scriptures.
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Moreover, we can know what truly made them special in the sight of God. In this article, we will reveal the chosen ones from the biblical perspective and the purpose for which God chose them.
Who are the Chosen Ones in the Old Testament?
In the Old Testament of the Bible, we see several examples of people whom God chose to fulfill specific purposes. The divine selection of these people was based on God’s love, mercy, and steadfastness.
Here are the famous examples of God’s chosen people in the old testament:
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God chose Abraham, whose name was initially Abram, to bless the entire nations of the world through him. Genesis 12:1-3 (KJV) gives the biblical narrative of God’s first call to Abraham and His promise to Him;
“Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”
Now, Abraham’s story is an interesting one because he and his wife were childless for many years. Nevertheless, he continued to hold on to God’s promise in the face of adversity.
Genesis 15:6 reveals that Abraham believed in God’s promises and it was credited to him as righteousness.
After Abraham was blessed with a son, the Lord asked him to sacrifice the boy to him. Interestingly, Abraham did not hesitate to obey God’s command, despite his several years of waiting.
Perhaps it was Abraham’s expression of faith and obedience that made the Lord God choose him. In Isaiah 41:8, the Bible reveals Abraham as a friend of God, suggesting they both had a cordial relationship.
So there must be something special about Abraham that attracted God’s attention to him.
2. The Nation of Israel
Another famous example of the chosen ones in the Old testament are the people of Israel.
Jacob, the father of the Israelites, is the grandson of Abraham. Since God already made certain promises to Abraham’s descendants, the Israelites automatically became the elect of God.
Therefore, the purpose for which God chose the Israelites as His own special people was for them to represent Him among the nations.
Bible verses:
Deuteronomy 7:6: “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”
Exodus 19:6: “And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”
Isaiah 41:8-9: “But thou, Israel, art my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the seed of Abraham my friend. Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.”
3. Moses
Exodus 3:1-15 speaks of God’s call to Moses on Mount Horeb while he was tending to his father-in-law’s sheep. God told him of His plan to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt and to take them to their promised land.
Moses was initially resistant, giving excuses about his slow speech. Then, the Lord told him to take his brother Aaron along with him on his divine assignment.
Moses eventually obeyed God, and He successfully led the children of Israel out of their land of slavery.
During the course of Moses’ ministry, God gave him the ten commandments on Mount Sinai, which serve as a guide to living a godly Christian life.
4. King David
David was one of the biblical characters who obtained favor from God. He was just a shepherd boy before God chose him as king over Israel and the ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ.
In 1 Samuel 16:7 (KJV), the Bible says,
“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
In this verse of the scripture, the Lord tells the prophet Samuel to anoint a king from among the sons of Jesse. The prophet focused on outward appearance, and the Lord gave him the above response.
God told Samuel to anoint David, the youngest son of Jesse, as King, probably because of his good heart.
Frankly speaking, David wasn’t perfect, considering his actions in the Bathsheba and Uriah story ((2 Samuel 11-12). Nevertheless, the Bible describes him as a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14).
David’s divine selection is proof that God is merciful to those who desire to please Him and not those who chase after perfection.
Who are the Chosen Ones in the New Testament?
Just like in the Old Testament, the New Testament reveals certain people who were selected by God to fulfill His divine plan.
God elected these people, not because of their effort, but because of His grace and purpose. We can see this in Romans 8:29-30 (KJV), which says,
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
That said, let’s discuss some of the chosen ones in the New testament.
1. Jesus Christ
The Lord Jesus Christ was specially appointed by God to be the Messiah, the savior of the world.
Despite the good deeds of Jesus while He was on earth, the people of the world rejected him. His disciple Judas Iscariot also betrayed him. Still, the son of God determined to fulfill the will of the Father.
The ministry of Jesus involves teaching about the kingdom of God and healing the sick. So it’s not surprising that wherever Jesus went, he was always surrounded by a great multitude. Most importantly, Jesus was destined to die for the sin of humanity, according to God’s plan.
Before the birth of Jesus, the holy prophets had already prophesied about Him.
Isaiah 42:1 reads,
“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.”
Similarly, Micah 5:2 says, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”
During the last days of Jesus on earth, he submitted to God’s Will with humility. He declared with boldness before the chief priests and the teachers of the law, saying,
“Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.” (Luke 22:69).
As a result of Jesus’ display of humility and obedience, the Bible says God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names. (Philippians 2:9)
2. Believers in Christ
Whoever believes in Christ Jesus and accepts Him as their Lord and personal savior becomes God’s chosen one.
We understand this from Matthew 22:14, which says, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” This verse of the scripture implies that only those who heed the divine call of God will be chosen to reign with Him.
The moment a person gets saved, they receive a new identity and divine purpose. Nevertheless, being chosen is not an excuse to relax in one’s christian journey. On the contrary, it is a call to be fully active with the things of God.
Therefore, those who call on the name of the Lord Jesus must always ask the holy spirit to guide them in all their ways.
Additionally, the word of Christ must be evident in their lives through their conduct and good works.
Apostle Peter describes the people of God as a chosen race and God’s special possession. Hence, believers must fulfill the purpose for which they’re called – To declare the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9)
Bible verses:
1 Peter 2:9: “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 marvelous light.”
Ephesians 1:4-6: “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
Colossians 3:12: “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.”
Colossians 3:5: “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”
Kennie Oguntoyinbo is a freelance content writer, editor and proofreader with over 4 years of experience. She is highly skilled in creating captivating and informative content across the Christian, relationship, and parenting niches. With a deep love for Christian-related articles, she writes content that inspires the readers, combining biblical lessons with practical knowledge. Whether writing devotional blogs, relationship advice, or family-focused articles, she aims to glorify God while connecting with readers through relatable, encouraging, faith-driven articles.
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