Get With It, Elect!

Take a look at Col. 3:12-13 (KJV).  "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye."

Note Paul's clear command to the elect to do certain things.  Just because one is elect does not mean they will persevere in good works.  According to these verses, the elect may choose not to put on these graces and not to be forbearing and forgiving, but that will not change their election (cf. v. 13 with Col. 2:13--they've been completely forgiven).  The sense is that, since they are elect, they should behave this way, but their election is not based on their behaviour, to begin with or end with.  Compare 1 Thes. 1:3-4.  The Thessalonian saints demonstrated faith, hope, and love because they were elect, but these graces did not make them elect nor keep them elect.  Also, if these graces were absent, that would not indicate that they were not elect, but rather not acting in harmony with their standing.  A good example of this is the Corinthian church, which Paul addresses as sanctified in the Lord (1 Cor. 1:2), but rebukes for walking carnally, "as  men" (1 Cor. 3:1-4).  Their carnal walk did not mean that they were not saved, but that they were not walking as they should (in the Spirit vs. the flesh).

So even if you are elect, you need to "get with it" according to Paul.  Election does not mean you will do right, but rather that you should do right in light of your election.