Election as I see it

Elect: the Greek word from which we get the word elect is eklektos, a cognate of the word eklego(see any Greek parsing guide) which is a compound word made up of ek, meaning out from within, and lego, meaning to call; meaning called out ones or chosen depending on context and usage(Bauer, Arndt & Gingrich lexicon). The word translated for church, ekkleysia, is also a derivative of the same word, which simply means an assembly called together for a purpose, context determines the meaning, wether an assembly of the BOC, or Israel, or even a guild of silversmiths( called an assembly in context) as in Acts 19:32;39 & 41. The current English word church is derived from an old middle English word(circa 12th -15th cent.), cirice, which came from the Greek word for lord, kurios. The simple meaning of the middle English word was 'of the lords', and the word church evolved many meanings in latter and current English usage which are not at all in the Greek word ekkleysia, again context determines its meaning.

Elect:-eklektos(- Groups of people living under and believing the tenets of salvation for their particular gospel and dispensation, as defined by the scriptures and decreed by God that results in their regeneration; the good news of salvation and the hopes for their household order given for their peculiar group(Greek-tagma- group--see 1 Cor15:-23-'group' called 'order'; both the body of Christ( BOC) and Israel are referred to as peculiar people, i:e. 'groups', Titus 2:14- Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar( GK> that which is one's own, belonging to one's possessions)people, zealous of good works. and 1Peter 2:9 (Israel) 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 marvellous light;
As a process(or how it works)-eklogh The criterion (i.e. a gospel upon which a judgment or decision is to be based ) by which God in his sovereignty degrees, 'chooses', gives preference to those who are to be included in deliverance(saved) from His wrath (both the tribulation wrath and the lake of fire) and those who are not. (1 Thes.5:8-10;)
Election , in any age/chronos, is always according to Grace as revealed (the gospel) in and for that dispensation; e.g.(Rom11:5 and context where ancient reprobate national Israel was shown to have had an elect remnant and reprobate 1st century national Israel are compared, showing how that at that time even reprobate (from the Kingdom Gospel) Israel was able to have been saved through/by Paul's Gospel into the BOC; " so like wise at the now time also there has come into being a remnant (small portion of reprobate Israel) according to an election (process) of (Gods) grace"; writers expanded translation-election IS NOT preceded by a definite article in the Greek text, therefore is it a 'generic'(anarthrous) use of election, a noun, and should be understood as either 'an election', or 'election', but not 'the election'; not like as if there is only one definite 'elected by grace' gospel or group; ); by means of His apropos, relevant Gospel, i.e., if you believe the gospel of/for your dispensation, you are elect, if you do not believe this appropriate gospel, you are rejected, reprobate, (GK: adokimos/not approved)-not elected (not chosen). Acts 15:1 & 5; coupled with 15:24 is an illustration of people being told an inappropriate gospel, as well as the likes of Gal 1:6-8 etc.
In election(choosing) God chooses according to His principles (attributes) and His purpose inherent to Himself; i.e., his GRACE as contained in the extant gospel; He doesn't chose based on anything inherent to the person; i.e., self-righteousness, human based merit, works of the law, birthright, or Hyper-Calvinistic predestination; etc. In this election according to Grace process for all ages He provides: the appropriate gospel; the evangelist or ambassador (either public or private); and ALL else that is required for regeneration of the individual in his own age.(Eph 2:8-10 for the BOC). The activation of this process of election,( i.e. the appropriate gospel call (Rom 2:4-8), is triggered from the human side by positive volition toward God and his grace offer(the proper gospel for the BOC- Eph 1:13-'the genuine word; the basic content of this word of truth is 1st Cor 15:1-4). This volition is defined variously as non-meritorious or non- rewardable thinking, believing or persuasion. Paul never, that I'm aware of, in a salvation context says that a person receives belief (which would grammatically be passive voice), but a person is the one who produces the action of believing, or active voice as in Eph 1:13. (Pistos, Greek for faith is used as a noun or verb, when used as a noun it sometimes means body of doctrine, as a verb it sometimes means to believe, or be persuaded or trust)
The election process, which takes place in an instant of time, is not a tyrannical, arbitrary, random selection of 'pre-qualified' or pre chosen people (ROM 11), as if God, reaching down indiscriminately and haphazardly picks out(selects) a handful of sand from a beach and deems the sand 'elect'. There are no qualities inherent in people that God could choose (elect, select) from and not violate some aspect of His divine attributes( Rom 9:11), since all humans born since Adam are DISQUALIFIED for salvation (spiritually dead) at birth by the imputation of Adam's fallen nature.(see ROM 5, esp.v18-19 where made = declared). Belief (positive volition) in the gospel that is proper for a particular dispensation is the only basis of election, and is non-meritorious, that sets this election process in motion on an individual basis, no other eventualities apply(2 Thes 2:13-14). At birth there are or were NO humans pre-qualified, who are 'pre-chosen to election'. If people were 'pre-destined' to salvation, what would be the purpose or usefulness of a gospel call telling the lost how to be saved?
Eph 1:4-14, with brief notes inserted in parentheses shows this election concept:
: 4 According as he hath chosen us (Those who have previously believed the gospel, Paul and his entourage in context) in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the(not to election,but to ADOPTION, at regeneration) adoption of children (sonship,inheritors) by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace(elect according to grace,see ROM 11:5 above), wherein he hath made us accepted (the objects or recipients of his grace) in the beloved (who is Christ ).
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us (not a collected us, but Paul and his appointed body apostles specifically in context)the mystery (held in silence) of his will (made known by direct revelation to Paul- Paul's Gospel, ROM 2:16; ROM 16:25), according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation(household order) of the fulness of times(end of the millennium and the beginning of eternity) he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven (Gk> plural-heavenlies-the Body of Christ), and which are on earth (Gk. epi ta gay' upon the earth-Israel and the gentile nations under Israel's tutelage per Zech. 8/22-23 and the like ); even in him:
11 In whom also we( again Paul and his company) have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first (Previously) trusted ( GK>had hope and confidence in, ) in Christ.
13 In whom ye (change of subject to 'all you' Ephesians) also trusted (had hope and confidence in), after that ye heard (came to recognize) the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed (faith toward that word), ye were sealed (certified as elect, marked off as the property of) with (by) that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which (Who is, the Holy Spirit) is the earnest (down payment ) of our inheritance until the redemption (the catching away of the Body and the changing 1 COR :15:51-54; ROM 8:23;) of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
NOTE: It is held by some that only Christ is 'elect', which seems to me a foolish notion in light of passages where Paul calls the BOC elect. See for yourself, examples like:
Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect( GREEK: plural- eklektois- 'elect ones') of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
1 Thessalonians 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
2 Timothy 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes(GK: plural Eklektousin- elected one's), that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to( with respect to; as regards; concerning) the faith(that doctrine of Paul) of God's elect(GK: plural- eklektwn- elected ones), and the acknowledging( GK: epignosis -with regards to detailed or precise knowledge) of the truth which is after godliness;