“Using the term “elect,” Titus 1:1 reinforces the idea that God separates some few from the many who are called: “Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect. . . .”
That quote says no such thing. The elect have faith - was it given to them? Not in scripture. In scripture, it is their response to God (faith means to believe someone will do what they say). It in no way suggests that ‘the elect’ were personally chosen by God and given faith as a gift.
“Romans 9:11, 14-16 confirms God’s active participation in this process of separation:”
Romans 9-11 deals with the problem of the Jews - why did God’s Old Testament Elect not recognize Him?
Israel was God’s Chosen People, but not all believed. And only those who believed, apart from circumcision, were saved. (See Romans 3-5)
“The “chosen” and “elect” are synonymous terms designating the group with whom God is personally working through Jesus Christ”
True. But who are the Elect? Are they a list of names picked by God before time to be saved, and all else to be damned, or are they those who believe, and believing, have life in Christ and are now elect?
And since there are hundreds of verses discussing the requirement to believe, and saying THAT is the critical issue, it seems foolish to toss those 400 verses and cling instead to 30 verses about election, and claim election is the essential characteristic.
It seems to me that the "elect" are chosen for God's purposes, whatever or whenever that might be in history, and by God directly or through the Holy Spirit.
Mark 13:20 (Jesus speaking of the tribulation) “If the Lord had not cut short those days, no one would survive. But for the sake of the elect, whom he has chosen, he has shortened them."
Mathew 24:22 (Same here) Unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short.
So I conclude that God directly and personally favors a small number for his purposes whatever they may be.
I don't feel this is "picked" to be saved. Though of course, as God says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whomever I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whomever I will have compassion.”
I feel elect are a group picked to serve God's purpose on earth, are among us today, and that probably most of these have not a clue that they are furthering God's plan for mankind.