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Israel, elected by God not for their greatness but out of love and faithfulness to his covenant promises. Deuteronomy 7:6-8 explains: 'The Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The Lord did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous... But it was because the Lord loved you.' Election entailed responsibility: to be 'a kingdom of priests and a holy nation' (Exodus 19:6). The New Testament extends this language to the church (1 Peter 2:9), composed of believing Jews and Gentiles united in Christ.