Just throwing this out there for extra information.
In the Old Testament, "elect" (Hebrew: בָּחִיר, "bachir") often refers to the
Israelites chosen by God to be his special people, entrusted with preserving his message and carrying out his purposes (Deuteronomy 7:6).
In the New Testament (Greek: ἐκλεκτός, "eklektos"), "elect" can refer to various groups:
- Believers in general: Passages like 1 Peter 1:1 and Colossians 3:12 address the "elect" as Christians, emphasizing their chosen status based on their faith in Christ.
- Leaders within the Church: 1 Timothy 5:17 uses "elect elders" to refer to those chosen for leadership roles.
The "elect" is referring to
all who choose to accept God's offer of salvation through Jesus Christ. This view emphasizes human free will and responsibility in responding to God's grace.
The Bible doesn't provide a specific number of those who will be saved. Passages like John 3:16 ("whoever believes") and Romans 10:9 ("confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord") emphasize the
universality of God's offer of salvation and the importance of individual faith.