What Is the Distinction Between the Bride of Christ and the Body of Christ, and God’s Called, Chosen and Elect?​

Hello,

I have no idea how I found your website, but I believe it was the Lord leading me to read it. If the Lord wills, please can you explain this spiritual significance plainly because I am having severe trouble understanding it and believe it to be personal for my life. I have also been looking at the differentiation between the bride of christ and the body, which seems to be completely echoed here, too.

Summed up, is it as simple as Judah’s sin forfeits blessings and even entrance into heaven? ​I​s not salvation eternal and guaranteed, and do we have a choice between being called and chosen?

I am a child in Christ without much understanding and would appreciate any help.

The distinction between God’s, God’s chosen and God’s elect? Is this not only depend​e​nt on our maker but also on us?

Thanks, H____

Hi, H​____,

Thank you for your e-mail and your questions.

You ask:

[What is] The distinction between God’s called, God’s chosen and God’s elect?

I remember well learning with my Wigram’s Englishman’s Greek Concordance that the Greek word translated as ‘chosen’ is the exact same Greek word which is also translated as “elect” as in “the very elect”. Here is a cut and paste from my e-sword, which will demonstrate what I just told you:

G1588
ἐκλεκτός
eklektos
Total KJV Occurrences: 23
elect, 13
Mat_24:24, Mat_24:31, Mar_13:22, Mar_13:27, Luk_18:7, Rom_8:33, Col_3:12, 1Ti_5:21, Tit_1:1, 1Pe_1:2, 1Pe_2:6, 2Jo_1:1, 2Jo_1:13
chosen, 7
Mat_20:16, Mat_22:14, Luk_23:35, Rom_16:13, 1Pe_2:4, 1Pe_2:9, Rev_17:14
elect’s, 3
Mat_24:22, Mar_13:20, 2Ti_2:10

So God’s chosen and His elect are on​e​ and the same. His elect are chosen out of the many called, and that is why we are told, “Many are called but few are chosen [elect].”

Mat 22:14  For many are called,^G2822 but few are chosen.^G1588

Notice, that these two words are used here in this verse being contrasted with each other. Here is the definition of the Greek word translated as ‘called’:

G2822
κλητός
klētos
klay-tos’
From the same as G2821; invited, that is, appointed, or (specifically) a saint: – called.
Total KJV occurrences: 11

Here is where this word appears in the New Testament:

G2822
κλητός
klētos
Total KJV Occurrences: 11
called, 11
Mat_20:16, Mat_22:14, Rom_1:1, Rom_1:6-7 (2), Rom_8:28, 1Co_1:1-2 (2), 1Co_1:24, Jud_1:1, Rev_17:14

Now here is the definition of the Greek word translated as ‘chosen’ or ‘elect’:

G1588
ἐκλεκτός
eklektos
ek-lek-tos’
From G1586; select; by implication favorite: – chosen, elect.
Total KJV occurrences: 23

Here is where this word appears in the New Testament:

G1588
ἐκλεκτός
eklektos
Total KJV Occurrences: 23
elect, 13
Mat_24:24, Mat_24:31, Mar_13:22, Mar_13:27, Luk_18:7, Rom_8:33, Col_3:12, 1Ti_5:21, Tit_1:1, 1Pe_1:2, 1Pe_2:6, 2Jo_1:1, 2Jo_1:13
chosen, 7
Mat_20:16, Mat_22:14, Luk_23:35, Rom_16:13, 1Pe_2:4, 1Pe_2:9, Rev_17:14
elect’s, 3
Mat_24:22, Mar_13:20, 2Ti_2:10

I hope this all helps you to see that ‘klaytos’ means called, and that ‘out of’ , Greek, ‘ek’, the ‘klaytos’ few are ‘eklektos’, elected or chosen.

Your next question is:

“Is this not only depende​nt on our maker but also on us?”

I will again point you to:

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

I am not going into this question in this e-mail. I have answered this question already in great depth in an article which is in the Essential Reading section on the home page. Here is a link to that article which answers this question in great Biblical detail:
After the Counsel of His Own Will

Read that article, and if you still have any questions on this subject then feel free to get back to me.

You are certainly correct in deducing that the Lord led you to the web site. As I just pointed out, He is the One who is “working all things after the counsel of His own will”:

Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:

I hope I demonstrated for you there is no difference between the body of Christ and His bride:

2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you [the church at Corinth] with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

If we are Christ’s elect and if we are granted by Him to be faithful to the end of our lives, then we are Christ’s bride and His wife:

Rev 19:7  Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

Paul tells us clearly “the body” is the church, so this is not really a subject for debate if we take Paul’s words as the words of God.

Col 1:24  Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

I pray I have answered your questions to your satisfaction. Let me know if I can be of further service to you in understanding the Lord’s mind on these questions.

YbiC, Mike