Many called, few chosen

[BBAS 64]

Let's qualify something first: chosen for what? I don't think we can get a consensus here on that. Chosen for salvation? Chosen for a specific work? And are the Biblical context for those Scriptures comparable that they are meaning the same thing? Are you wanting to discuss "remnant theology"?

I believe at the end of it all, there will be more people in heaven than in hell.

Good Day, Andry

Great question, Why must there be a consenus it is true that in some context "chosen" is used for salvation and some times used to denote a specific work. There is no conflict in the application of the meaning of the word "chosen", with in a given context both can be true.

Peace to u,

Bill

 

[brother daniel]

Beloved, There are quite a lot of "I thinks here"
The term "CHOSEN" has to do with discipleship, not SALVATION from sin, THE GREAT JUDGEMENT and the lake of fire.
The chosen are not an elite.
Re 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Re 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Re 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The terms few and many are reletive to each other.As compared to the many who will be in the last reseruction and Great Judgement the great multitude cited above are few.
We should fear facing judgement based on our works because it will happen for many.
The GRACE of GOD is he has given us Jesus Christ and HIS WORD to save us and lead us out of sin and judgement. Notice in the four gospels JESUS himself speaks little about salvation or being saved. His focus is on discipleship for it is through the grace of discipleship that we wash our robes and make our garments clean. always remembering that Jesus has put it in us to will and do his calling.
We can only be sure of Jesus as our salvation. but if we dont do what he says we falsly claim to be saved. We might be saved by Jesus in the last judgement, many are, but we wont be in the first resurection,called by many the rapture. The first resurection is for those disciples who have died in Christ or are alive and changed at his coming. They are blessed and Holy.
I have no doubt about SALVATION. Jesus is my SALVATION. Without his word I wouldnt have a clue as to what to do each day. But I am called to work out my own SALVATION with fear and trembeling, lest I fall away as Judes did.
Just remember, In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

[FreeSpiritFaith]

I believe that the scripture that says "many are called, few are chosen" means that while many are called to God and recieve Him, only a few of them will be chosen to do a specific job. I myself was chosen to work with demons, angels, and ghosts, by either exorcising or releasing them, which i do. I was also chosen to spread a new message to people, that I will reveal in my own time, when it is right and when God calls me to reveal it. I realize that many of you are saying "work with ghosts?" what? doesnt the bible forbid that?, and the reason is that working with ghosts gives demons the opportunity to lie to you and God doesn't call many to do so. Ghosts are sould that God has given a second chance to believe. My job is to get them to believe.

 

[brother daniel]

Dear freespirt,
The Holy Ghost meaning Spirit of Truth speaks only of Jesus Christ reminding us of everything he said and did.
The Holy Ghost does not speak about you or I and our special callings.
All of us who obey Jesus have power over demons, angels and ghosts.
REPENT is what He says. You have been called to follow him, doing what he did and speaking what he spoke. When you have the faith to do that you are chosen.
What you or I think does not save ourselves or anybody else. Jesus Christ is our salvation. He is the way the truth and the light.
For the answers to who is chosen and who is called, study the four gospels and the Revelation of Jesus Christ. The epistles are to encourage us in livimg the gospel of Jesus. Love Jesus and do what he says.

 

[muffler dragon]

I commend everyone for keeping this discussion from becoming a firestorm. And because of that reason: I will not be posting at this point in time. My perspective is simply to different, and this topic has so many potential rabbit trails that it would be hard to keep a straight-forward approach.

In short, I'm glad it's G-d that's in control. He's got it figured out and that's what I'll concern myself with. ***(and what He shows me along the way)***

Good to see you again, RP.

m.d.

 

[Trish1947]

I'll throw my 2c in on this. "Many are called, but few are chosen.".. I think we have to look at the whole context of what was said prior to this statement being made.

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

Mat 22:11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

Mat 22:12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Mat 22:13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 22:14For many are called, but few [are] chosen.


To me this is is representitive of Isreal during that time was awash with those that claimed to be called of God. They thought they had a corner on the things of God. But when they had all had been gathered together, there are those that do not have a "wedding garment"... He is cast out into outer darkness.

So my understanding is the chosen, are all those that have made their garments clean, by the blood of Jesus Christ. And hand picked by the way, by Jesus, Himself.

Just my thoughts.

 

[puriteen18]

It's not about salvation becos the Bible declares that many will be saved.
NOT "A FEW".

Re 7:9 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;
Re 7:13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
Re 7:14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

And this great multitude is just those ppl who have come out of the great tribulation, it does not even include those millions of saints who lived and died before the tribulation.

SO PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW "a few chosen" = "a great multitude, which no man could number".

Millions and Millions of saints are still a small number compared to billions and billions of reprobates.

Thinks about it. If EVERY professing "christian" of just this age, including cults and all false believers, were all saved it would be a huge number that no one could number. But is would still be considered a few when considering all of those who do not profess another faith, or none at all.

Furthermore, the number of true Christians is smaller than the number of professing "christians".

Yet there surely are millions of saints down through the ages; it would be impossible for man to count them.

Dont let this false doctrine that only a few elite ones will be saved rob you of your joy and scare you!

Not elite, but elect. Not any merit on their part, just the mere pleasure of God.

For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.


The only Elite one is Christ, we are only counted as righteous and good because we are elect (chosen) in Him.

Think for a moment: Did the Father and Son go thru all that suffering and sacrifice, plan the whole thing from the foundation of the earth, and only manage to bring "a few" souls into the kingdom?!

"Manage"?

God saved His people, all of them; not one is lost.

Are you saying Christ suffered only to give men the chance to "get saved". Did God just drop the baton to men?


God saved exactly who He wanted, Christ suffered for them. Not just to give the chance of salvation, but to secure to the end each one of them in salvation.

 

[BBAS 64]

I'll throw my 2c in on this. "Many are called, but few are chosen.".. I think we have to look at the whole context of what was said prior to this statement being made.

So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.

Mat 22:11And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:

Mat 22:12And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.

Mat 22:13Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Mat 22:14For many are called, but few [are] chosen.


To me this is is representitive of Isreal during that time was awash with those that claimed to be called of God. They thought they had a corner on the things of God. But when they had all had been gathered together, there are those that do not have a "wedding garment"... He is cast out into outer darkness.

So my understanding is the chosen, are all those that have made their garments clean, by the blood of Jesus Christ. And hand picked by the way, by Jesus, Himself.

Just my thoughts.

Good Day, Trish

Where in this context the wedding garment is provided by the King. I see no referance in this passage to "clean garments", so if you please cite that verse. Remember this is a parable set agaist the back drop of the historical context of a weeding of the "kings son" to his bride. The guest are chosen by the King and given royal garments by His hand. Those who lack the garments where not given any.

Peace to u,

Bill

 

[BBAS 64]

I commend everyone for keeping this discussion from becoming a firestorm. And because of that reason: I will not be posting at this point in time. My perspective is simply to different, and this topic has so many potential rabbit trails that it would be hard to keep a straight-forward approach.

In short, I'm glad it's G-d that's in control. He's got it figured out and that's what I'll concern myself with. ***(and what He shows me along the way)***

Good to see you again, RP.

m.d.

MD, Hope you are well Brother!!

Bill

 

[puriteen18]

Beloved, There are quite a lot of "I thinks here"
The term "CHOSEN" has to do with discipleship, not SALVATION from sin

Is there a difference between the two?

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

The strait gate opens to the narrow way and leads to life.
Few find it.

The wide gate opens to the broad way and leads to destruction.
Many go down this way.

It seems there are only two choices.
______________________________

Meanwhile, a completely off topic question comes to me.

Am I not suppose to be here? In the Charismatic section.

I've been gone for a while and alot has changed.

If it makes any difference, I used to be Assembly of God. Alot of my family is.

 

[muffler dragon]

I've gone back and reconsidered posting a little note. Stuff like this is a bit perturbing:

Dear friends, read the Bible for what it says, and do not try to manipulate its words!
All said here has been out of complete sincerity and hope that you would hear the truth.

I don't know if it is a matter of being new to the forums, but these types of statements are not needed.

That's all. Sorry for the rant.

m.d.

 

[muffler dragon]

Meanwhile, a completely off topic question comes to me.

Am I not suppose to be here? In the Charismatic section.

I've been gone for a while and alot has changed.

If it makes any difference, I used to be Assembly of God. Alot of my family is.

You're more than welcome to be here, just as I am. However, statements like I pointed out above are a bit egotistic and not necessary. Just something to keep in mind.

m.d.

 

[xsynerinc]

Let's qualify something first: chosen for what? I don't think we can get a consensus here on that. Chosen for salvation? Chosen for a specific work? And are the Biblical context for those Scriptures comparable that they are meaning the same thing? Are you wanting to discuss "remnant theology"?

/quote


quote
I believe at the end of it all, there will be more people in heaven than in hell.

this i believe also.

 

[Andry]

Good Day, Andry

Great question, Why must there be a consenus it is true that in some context "chosen" is used for salvation and some times used to denote a specific work. There is no conflict in the application of the meaning of the word "chosen", with in a given context both can be true.

Peace to u,

Bill

Hi Bill,

It matters only in the sense that what we believe dictates how we behave, ergo, what the church believes is what the church will behave or do.

There are many believers who sincerely believe and espouse God's love for all mankind, but this 'unconditional love' that we proclaim to the world is actually conditional. Because many of us believe most of the world will go to hell, and only a 'few' will be saved. Because the Bible says so, right? And we don't seem to have a problem with most of the world going to hell - because they deserve it right (but not us because we were the few that were chosen).

But what I believe is very simple. There are 6.4 billion people approximately in our world today. That's 6,400,000,000. So I believe that unless at least 3.2 billion people are won to Jesus, that Jesus didn’t win at all, in the eternal battle.

You see it’s really quite simple – if you’ve got a football game, and the New York Giants scored 45, and the Dallas Cowboys scored 21, who won? The New York Giants. Now you can say that Dallas played well, Dallas performed well, Dallas had a good game plan, Dallas had great intensity, but they lost. They lost.

But you see, because we’ve believed that only a 'few' are chosen, we have this remnant mentality, that Jesus can come and if we can just squeeze together 500,000,000, 600,000,000, 900,000,000 just a few to take home, then Jesus could take them and the Cross would have been victorious. No, He would’ve lost. Because the devil would’ve taken 5 billion people to hell. So he lost a billion, but he got 5/6th of the prize.

The great prize that He desires is you and me. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son. John 3:16. The great prize is humanity. So I can’t conceive for a moment that Jesus will come again until the battle is won. And the battle He’s talking about is not Armageddon; the battle He’s talking about is not the battle for Jerusalem, the battle He’s talking about is not the battle for Israel. The battle He’s talking about is the battle for the people of our world.

Now unless there is a radical change in our mentality and thinking, and a release of a new anointing, apathy will overtake us into complacency, and we actually lose compassion for the lost of this world....to the point where we say, "Lord, take us home today..." without grieviance of any kind that many would be lost today if that were to happen today.

 

[puriteen18]

I've gone back and reconsidered posting a little note. Stuff like this is a bit perturbing:



I don't know if it is a matter of being new to the forums, but these types of statements are not needed.

That's all. Sorry for the rant.

m.d.

I apologize for sounding that way. It was not my intention. When I use " ! " and such, I do not mean it to sound as if I am angry. I'm not angry, I'm sorrowfully pleading.

Prophets pleaded and were hated for it, as were the Apostles, the Reformers, all holy martyrs, and even our LORD.


As I said, I belonged to the Assembly of God once, I have fond memories, but when there is something which blatantly leaves clear and obvious interpretation, I am filled with sadness, and a strong conviction to proclaim truth.

That last sentence is probably exactly the type of thing you are talking about. My convictions and zeal may be a bit strong for others.

I will try my best not to sound egotistical, but let me clarfy that it is a zeal and love for the truth, not ego.

The pharisees probably saw our LORD as egotistic. And He did correct their teaching alot.

It is hard not to water down the truth, and at the same time not be accused of pride.

In conclusion let me say that if I know anything true, it is only because the LORD God did reveal it to me.

If I know anything false, it is because of my own sin.

 

[muffler dragon]

puriteen:

I'll send you a PM.

m.d.

 

[riverpastor]

Thank you kindly, everyone, for your incredible responses.

Once again, this thread, to me, has shown a consensus that there is no consesnus on the subject at hand.

And, now, a word from our sponsor...

Romans 8:29 - For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Romans 8:30 - Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.​

So, Paul writes in scripture that we are predstinated to be conformed, called, justified and glorified.

I am not going to throw "chosen" in this scripture, though we know that Paul also wrote later speaking of a "chosen generation".

We are however, positionally and conditionally speaking, in the past tense, called, justified and glorified.

By aligning ourselves with God's will (submitting ourselves to what has already been done for us and to us in us and through us) we should be exhibiting His work in our lives.

We're obviously "called" (whatever that means). What a shame if we are called "called" but didn't know what we are "called" into...

 

[brother daniel]

Brother Riverpastor,
I am encourged by your faith and knowledge of the WORD. But most of all because you sound like a doer of the WORD. The more I hear the word of God speaking by the Holy Ghost through mouth of others the stronger my faith gets.
Of course there could be no consesus here because we are all at differant stages in our walk of faith. But it is obvious we are all called and chosen by Christ to act out our parts in these last days for his glory. I have never been in a congregation anywhere that had this much liberty and boldness to contend for the faith of Jesus Christ. I am sure that this forum is bringing forth good fruit. Praise the Lord

 

[BBAS 64]

Hi Bill,

It matters only in the sense that what we believe dictates how we behave, ergo, what the church believes is what the church will behave or do.

Good day, Andry

The bigger question is why do they believe as they do?

There are many believers who sincerely believe and espouse God's love for all mankind, but this 'unconditional love' that we proclaim to the world is actually conditional. Because many of us believe most of the world will go to hell, and only a 'few' will be saved. Because the Bible says so, right? And we don't seem to have a problem with most of the world going to hell - because they deserve it right (but not us because we were the few that were chosen).

The unconditional love of God towards he creation is expressed it the fact that they exist breath and have their being. Wether we have a problem or not is not germaine to the facts of the matter, we may lack understanding and view it from another prospective and that causes problems for us alone not the creator.

But what I believe is very simple. There are 6.4 billion people approximately in our world today. That's 6,400,000,000. So I believe that unless at least 3.2 billion people are won to Jesus, that Jesus didn’t win at all, in the eternal battle.

You think there is your problem, does God conform to the thinking of the creation? You have calculated a formula by which you assume Jesus losses, quite sad IMHO. The God of creation never fails to meet his goals, he lacks nothing.

You see it’s really quite simple – if you’ve got a football game, and the New York Giants scored 45, and the Dallas Cowboys scored 21, who won? The New York Giants. Now you can say that Dallas played well, Dallas performed well, Dallas had a good game plan, Dallas had great intensity, but they lost. They lost.

It is quite simple and your analogy FAILS in so much that that you arrive a your understanding based on man centered salvation. Kind of like this Jesus wishes that man will turn to him... then the devil wishes he will not...man casts the final vote if man chooses the devil, Jesus lives in eterinty sad and unforfilled. Where I believe that Jesus come to really save HIS people.

Mat 1:21 and she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.'

To this end he never fails!!

But you see, because we’ve believed that only a 'few' are chosen, we have this remnant mentality, that Jesus can come and if we can just squeeze together 500,000,000, 600,000,000, 900,000,000 just a few to take home, then Jesus could take them and the Cross would have been victorious. No, He would’ve lost. Because the devil would’ve taken 5 billion people to hell. So he lost a billion, but he got 5/6th of the prize.

He receives all the Fathere has given to him 100% of those.

Joh 10:26 But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.

Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

The great prize that He desires is you and me. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son. John 3:16. The great prize is humanity. So I can’t conceive for a moment that Jesus will come again until the battle is won. And the battle He’s talking about is not Armageddon; the battle He’s talking about is not the battle for Jerusalem, the battle He’s talking about is not the battle for Israel. The battle He’s talking about is the battle for the people of our world.

Now unless there is a radical change in our mentality and thinking, and a release of a new anointing, apathy will overtake us into complacency, and we actually lose compassion for the lost of this world....to the point where we say, "Lord, take us home today..." without grieviance of any kind that many would be lost today if that were to happen today.

"The great prize is humanity"
Cite please, book, chapter and verse?

Joh 3:16 for God did so love the world, that His Son--the only begotten--He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during.


He gave his son for the believing ones, you should really quote scripte verses as a whole.

The Father will send the son to recive his bride when the Father is good and ready in His own time for His own purpose. People are not the primary cause of how the Father carries out his plan.


Peace to u,

Bill

 

[riverpastor]

1 John 3:23 - And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.