Many Are Called, Few Are Chosen (Make Your Election Sure!)

[Minister Monardo]

Those who receive the Gospel gain right of access (authority).
John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:

These are the called:
Romans 1:6 Among whom are you also the called of Jesus Christ:

Will they heed the admonition?
Are they aware of their election? Do they know the personal
Will of God for their life?
2 Peter 1:
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble;
11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Many are called, but few are chosen.
To prove is to know.
Romans 12:
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The elect are those who choose to serve him, not all do.
Romans 16:
17 Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them.
18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

An enemy of the cross
Philippians 3:
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things.

Endure to the end!
Matthew 24:13 But he who endures to the end shall be saved.

You won't know until the last day.
John 6:
39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.
40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

Note: I am not condemning anyone to hell, but defining
the elect. Those who reign with Him.
2 Timothy 2:
11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him,
we shall also live with him:
12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:
if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Will we hear, "well done, good and faithful servant"?
Matthew 7:23 And then I will declare to them, I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!

To serve Him is to come to know Him
1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.
(Wow! Christian shaming! how un-PC!)

 

[Juan777]

It always interesting how he says their god is their bellies. Is that metaphorical?

 

[Minister Monardo]

It always interesting how he says their god is their bellies. Is that metaphorical?

Not really. Consider how often people think about eating,
compared to say, praying.
People start talking about what they want to do for lunch
one hour after they have eaten breakfast. How often is
fasting prescribed in the Bible for spiritual pursuits?

 

[Juan777]

Fair enough but I disagree. The verses seem to be talking about egregious issues such as those causing divisions in the church or false teaching for personal gain. I believe the belly is metaphorical for the flesh or selfish and impure motives over following the will of God.

 

[Minister Monardo]

Fair enough but I disagree. The verses seem to be talking about egregious issues such as those causing divisions in the church or false teaching for personal gain. I believe the belly is metaphorical for the flesh or selfish and impure motives over following the will of God.

I agree with what you are saying, Paul speaks often of
being carnally minded. If you want to see that as a metaphor
I would say it is a very strong one. And if one is driven
by appetite, consider the god being served.

Malachi 3:18 Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.

I believe the belly is metaphorical for the flesh

More than a metaphor, it is the very epicenter of the flesh,
that draws the conscious mind away from heavenly things
to carnal things. How many people on Sunday rush from
the church to the Sunday buffet? Something to consider.

 

[Juan777]

I agree with what you are saying, Paul speaks often of
being carnally minded. If you want to see that as a metaphor
I would say it is a very strong one. And if one is driven
by appetite, consider the god being served.

Malachi 3:18 Then shall you return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.


More than a metaphor, it is the very epicenter of the flesh,
that draws the conscious mind away from heavenly things
to carnal things. How many people on Sunday rush from
the church to the Sunday buffet? Something to consider.

Why wasnt overeating mentioned as the work of flesh in Gal 5:19, and 1 Cor 6:9? It seems going with temple pros are higher on the list than a Sunday buffet.

 

[childeye 2]

Why wasnt overeating mentioned as the work of flesh in Gal 5:19, and 1 Cor 6:9? It seems going with temple pros are higher on the list than a Sunday buffet.

22 The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one where into his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;

23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

 

[Minister Monardo]

Why wasnt overeating mentioned as the work of flesh in Gal 5:19, and 1 Cor 6:9? It seems going with temple pros are higher on the list than a Sunday buffet.

Not trying to rank things, friend. But don't be naive about
the role of what you eat.
1 Corinthians 8:
4 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. 5 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.7 However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8 But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.

Romans 14:
1 Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. 2 For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. 3 Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him.
14 I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. 15 Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. 19 Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are pure, but it is evil for the man who eats with offense. 21 It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak. 22 Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.

I would like to return to the actual topic of the thread, the elect. This is called derailing the thread. You insist on debating the nature of a metaphor about the belly being a carnal person's god.
Here's an idea, open a thread on the topic since it seems to mean
so much to you, and maybe you'll find others who are interested
in the subject. They would not expect that on a thread dedicated
to a discussion of the elect. Thanks.

 

[Minister Monardo]

Why wasnt overeating mentioned as the work of flesh in Gal 5:19, and 1 Cor 6:9? It seems going with temple pros are higher on the list than a Sunday buffet.

Because eating isn't a "work of the flesh", it is the life of
the flesh. See @childeye 2 post #7

John 4:
31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

 

[childeye 2]

Because eating isn't a "work of the flesh", it is the life of
the flesh. See @childeye 2 post #7

John 4:
31 In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”
32 But He said to them, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.”
33 Therefore the disciples said to one another, “Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?”
34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.

It seems we're always parsing semantics in scripture.

39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.