The main confusion arises out of a poor conception of what God is doing. From the Christian perspective, He is saving a few people before the final destruction that is coming on the earth. This viewpoint evolved due to Greek influence in the early Church and, hence, is man-centered. God is seen as acting out of His concern and love for man. The Bible reveals that God loves mankind, but this view is inadequate to describe the larger picture of God's activities.
A more complete picture revealed in the Scriptures shows God acting to establish a singular authority in the world. We generally refer to this process as redemption. This broader picture of God's activities deals with the most basic problem of rebellion in man which led to the fall (Genesis 3) and resulted in establishing every individual as a point of authority. This is just another way of saying that man ate of the "Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil". Redemption is the process by which God is bringing man back to proper relationship under Godly authority.
In the process of working out redemption, God from time to time chooses to make covenants with individuals and groups. In modern legal terminology, a covenant is a contract, or more simply an agreement between two or more parties defining the purpose and conditions of their relationship. A Biblical covenant does the same thing. In the Bible, we can clearly see three covenants that God has made as a part of His redemptive plan. These are the (1) Abrahamic Covenant, (2) the Mosaic Covenant, and the (3) Ben-David (Son of David) Covenant. In each case God chose the party He would enter into covenant with, He revealed Himself to the one chosen, and He specified the terms and conditions of the covenant. The covenant partners either accepted or rejected the covenant.
The covenant partners of God are designated as the elect. Election means simply that a person or persons have been specifically selected to enter into covenant relationship with God. God always chooses those who are to become His covenant partners. Therefore, we may say that the one elected never chooses himself, but is chosen by God. A natural conclusion that we must draw from considering this process is that it is not "fair" when considered purely on humanistic grounds. Therefore, we say that God exercises His sovereignty in the election. We also conclude that not all human beings are elect in terms of God's covenants.
Most people believe intuitively that God is "fair". As a result they feel awkward with the concept of election. Often there are attempts to relate the concept of election with the concept of salvation (being saved from eternal separation from God). In order to be "fair", doctrines are developed that indicate that the election of God is now universal, i.e., everyone is elect. In fact, election is not related to salvation. God chooses people to become His vessel in the world to work out His purpose of establishing a single authority in the universe. Those elect have a unique opportunity to become "co-workers" with God, but this does not guarantee their individual salvation. Those not elect in accordance with the covenants, nevertheless, have the option of salvation. Indeed, Peter boldly proclaimed that God is patient: "not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Paul declared that God: "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4).
We, therefore, conclude that the concept of election and the concept of salvation are not related. One may be elect and not saved. On the other hand, one may be saved and not elect.
The Bible clearly maintains that every human being is accountable to God and will face judgment. The author of the book of Hebrews declared: ". . . it is appointed for all men to die once and after this comes judgment" (Hebrew 9:27). Being accountable to God for everything done in this present life experience is very discomforting to many, so religious leaders developed doctrines that purport to exempt their members from this accountability. Such doctrines are very popular even though thoroughly unscriptural. Early in the development of the doctrines of Christianity, the Church Fathers utilized their training in Greek philosophy alongside their Bibles. One result was that God's activities began to be seen as focused on man and for the benefit of man. Soon the Church was envisioned as an ark for the salvation of Christians: If you were in the ark you were saved; if you were out of the ark you were doomed. Jesus' words recorded in the gospel of John; "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me" (John 14:6) was used to justify this position.
Actually, judgment remains in the hands of God. He alone will judge. Every human being is directly accountable to Him. Jesus, Paul, and John all agree that the basis of final judgment will be the deeds done in this present life experience. The righteous, as judged by God, will be accepted; the unrighteous, as judged by God, will be rejected. Being in the ark has nothing to do with it.
God has chosen Israel as an elect nation. His covenant with Israel is just as valid today as it was 3,500 years ago at Mt. Sinai. Today the nation of Israel stands at the forefront of the struggle for redemption. What does this mean relative to the individual Jewish person that dies today? Well, that Jewish person will stand before God and give an account for everything done in this life. God will decide to either accept or reject him. The exact same thing is true for me as a believer in Messiah Jesus. Finally, the same thing is true of the individual Gentile who has never responded to the "gospel" at all. God maintains His sovereignty in judgment.