Sunday Morning: March 21, 1999
Text: Matthew 22:14
"For many are called, but few are chosen."A compound word with the prefix
ek meaning "out of or out from" and the word kalew meaning to call.The calling out is from among those that are called as in Matthew 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."
Ephesians 1:4-5
"According as he hath chosen [aorist middle] us in [within] him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him …:The word chosen is the Greek word for elect and it is in the aorist tense indicating that the choosing was an event. The middle voice is translated for my self which indicates that this calling out was according to a special purpose for himself. This calling out was in or within Him or from within the body of Christ. God the Father new from before the foundation of the world who would be in the family and who would not. He was not choosing who would be in the body and who would not. He was choosing who would be holy and without blame before him.
5. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children (to be sons) by Jesus Christ to himself, …"
God the Father predetermined because of foreknowledge that the elect would have a position of a son in the family. This means that the elect would have a greater inheritance. They would have by appointment positions of authority over other members of the family. This would be made possible through Jesus Christ because he has been raised from the dead.
Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,..."
God the Father could predestinate whom he wanted because he foreknew who would be in Christ from before the foundation of the World. God the Father wants us to be like His Son so that He can proclaim to the elect "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Matthew 3:17.
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."
Those who are in the family who were predestinated to be placed into a positions of sonship are the ones will be called, justified, and glorified.
Romans 8:33 "Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth."
The reason that they will be glorified is because the elect are not chargeable. They are justified. The word justifieth is a present active participle. Justification is a process that continues in the life of the elect until they are taken home to be with the Lord. Being without charge or justified means they will stand approved at the judgment seat of Christ.
Matthew 22:14
"For many are called, but few are chosen."The many that are called are a small portion of the body of Christ. The few that are chosen are a small portion of a small portion of the body of Christ.
2 Timothy 1:9 "Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, …, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,"
who are called but not chosen.
The calling indicates that they have ears to hear. When Jesus called James and John in Mark 1:20 "And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him." The Lord has not given all of His children ears to hear nor eyes to see. Mark 7:16"If any man have ears to hear, let him hear." The Lord does not call the many and not given them ears to hear so they can respond to the calling.
Luke 6:13
"And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;"The Jews in John 8:31 "...which believed on him (were saved, but not yet disciples), If ye (want to be my disciples, then) continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"
Psalms 135:4
"For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure."The nation of Israel was and still is a chosen people of God. The names reflect the fact that the choice that God made in choosing Jacob over Esau was not on the basis of Jacob's works but according to his purpose. God changed the name of Jacob, the supplanter, to Israel, a prince of God. God further refined Israel's position in the family of God as his peculiar treasure.
Exodus 19:5-6
"Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine:In this passage in Exodus we have the promise of God to Israel that if they will obey his voice and keep his covenant, that they would be his peculiar treasure and a people above all people.
6. And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel."
He continues his promise to Israel in verse 6 that they would be a kingdom of priest which indicates that they will be ministers to the Lord. They will be a holy nation, or a sacred nation of God.
Matthew 10:5-7
"These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: 6. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand."When the Lord began his ministry here on the hearth, his ministry was only to the nation of Israel when offering the kingdom of heaven. Jesus did minister to the physical needs of Gentiles and Samaritans from time to time, but they were both excluded from the offer of a position of honor and glory as a son the kingdom of the heavens. Salvation has always been offered to the Gentiles as in the case of Nineveh. We find the salvation of Gentile strangers in Isaiah 56:6-8 "Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; 7. Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people. 8. The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him."
Ephesians 2:12-13
"That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:The word ye in verse 12 is a reference to Gentiles. God did not make a covenant or promise with any gentile or Gentile nation to send them a Messiah which is the Christ. The inheritance of gentiles in the commonwealth of Israel was not in any city but only in the fields beyond the cities. There inheritance was among the tribe in which they dwelt. Joshua 21:12 "But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession." This is the reason the Lord told his disciples in Samaria to look on the Gentile field that were white unto harvest.
13. But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ."
Gentiles were looked down on by the nation of Israel. They were restricted from certain area's of the Temple in Jerusalem. This has all changed because of Hebrews 10:19 "Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,"
Matthew 21:43
"Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof."The Lord made it know that this exclusive offer of the kingdom of heaven to the nation of Israel was going to change in Matthew 21:43. Israel was not producing the fruits needed to enter into the kingdom of heaven. If we expect to enter the kingdom of heaven we will have to have a worthy walk. In Colossians 1:10 "That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, ..." and 1 Thessalonians 2:12 "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory." we see this exhortation.
1 Peter 2:9-11
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10. Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 11. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;"As in Exodus 19:5,6 we have gentiles who have been chosen, 1 Peter 1:1,2, being called a royal or kingdom of priests. They are called an holy nation, a peculiar people or a purchased possession. Chosen Gentile have now attained the status of being the people of God. Elect gentiles are called dearly beloved and pilgrims in verse 9 as well as in 1 Peter 1:1.
1 Peter 1:1
"Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the [chosen] strangers [pilgrims] scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,"The word elect in 1 Peter 1:2 is in verse 1 of the Greek text. Peter is writing to the elect pilgrims that have been sown in these area to the North of Jerusalem.
Hebrews 11:13 "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
As the chosen in the Hebrews 11 live by faith by confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth so also the chosen gentile pilgrims live by faith. As the pilgrims of Hebrews 11 were looking for a city who's builder and makers is God, the gentile pilgrims are looking for the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem.
John 15:16
"Ye [little children] have not chosen me, but I have chosen you [little children], and ordained you [little children], that ye [little children] should go and bring forth fruit [enter the kingdom], and … your fruit should remain…"Jesus is continuing to address his apostles that were still with him, Judas has already left. Jesus had already called them little children in the following verse.
John 13:33
"Little children, yet a little while I am with you…."Little children are the ones who know the Father as the Apostles in John 14:7 "If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him."
Matthew 18:3 "Except ye … become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."
It is the little children that will enter the kingdom of heaven.
Revelation 17:14
"These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they [nominative plural] that are with him are called [adjective], and chosen [adjective], and faithful [adjective]."We receive further insight into those who are elect in Revelation 17:14. We see Jesus Christ coming as the Lord of lords and the King of kings. They that are with him are the called, chosen and faithful. The words called, chosen [elect], and faithful are all adjective describing those who are with him. In the following verse we have those that are with him further defined.
Revelation 20:6 "Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first [best] resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years."
These that will reign with him are holy, and have part in the better resurrection. Because the second death hath no power over them, they are overcomers as found in Revelation 2:11 "... He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death." They will be kings and priest as found in Revelation 1:6 "And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father;..." These are those who will be with Him.
2 Timothy 2:11-12 "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:"
To be dead with him is not a reference to being saved but a reference to dying to ones self. Dying to self will allow is to bring forth fruit that will give us an entrance into the coming kingdom. This truth is found in John 12:24-25 "...Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. 25. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal."
Colossians 3:4 "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."
John 17:24 "Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."
Jesus is praying for those that the Father had given him who were called the little children in John 13 and he is asking the Father that they be with Him. To be with Him is to behold His glory. It is significant to have an your inheritance in the land flowing with milk and honey rather than in the wilderness which was outside the land. To be in the land flowing with milk and honey is to behold the glory of the Lord. Ezekiel 20:6 "… to bring them forth of the land of Egypt into a land that I had espied for them, flowing with milk and honey, which is the glory of all lands:"
Revelation 3:4 "Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy."
Notice it is the few that will walk with Him and not many. It is the few that keep their garment clean. It is the few that will be with Him because they are worthy. These are those who practice 1 John 1:7 "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." as well as 1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Jesus illustrates this to the little children in John 13:8 "Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me."
Mark 3:14 "And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach,"
Jesus chose a few to be apostles from the many disciples to be with him. They were taught by him. They observed his ministry. They were with him.
2 Peter 1:18 "And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount."
It was Peter, James, and John who were the few that were with him on the holy mount to seem him transfigured.
2 Peter 1:10
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: …"Our election can be forfeited. Rueben was first born and should have received the blessing of the first born but because of the sin of defiling his father's bed he was disqualified. It was Esau who for a single morsel sold his birthright because he did not esteem it highly. It take diligence to make our calling and election stedfast. We make our calling and election sure by 2 Peter 1:5-7 "… giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; 6. And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; 7. And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity."
Colossians 1:10
"That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;"The phrase might walk worthy indicates that there is a possibility of failing to walk worthy of the Lord thus failing to be fruitful in every good work. If we do not produce the fruits thereof, we will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Colossians 3:8-10,12
"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.We are to put off the works of the flesh. Galatians 5:19-21 "Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20. Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21. Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: … that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." If you have been called you can disqualify yourself from entering into the inheritance of your calling by practicing the sins of the flesh.
9.
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;10. And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
12. Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;"
1 Thessalonians 2:12
"That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory."