Many Be Called, But Few Chosen

Many Be Called, But Few Chosen

Open flower = brings forth the fruit = symbol of truth and life

Philippians 1:26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;

Ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

Matthew 20:16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Isaiah 43:8 Bring forth the blind people that have eyes, and the deaf that have ears.

9 Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, It is truth.

10 Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after me.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

Or, because you believe in Christ and accept Jesus Christ, God blesses you in all these things.

4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Long ago before the foundations of this world ever were, God chose us to be His servants without blame.
Now understand the predestination indicated here.
He chose the elect in the spiritual world before the foundations of this world were lain.
Many deep scholars find it very difficult to understand that He chose this group of people, but the elect are wise enough to understand that this is written to two levels.
We take that of it that pertains to us, and let them that of it which they can accept.
It will fall in place as we go along.

5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

He chose you not by the good deeds or the great things you did, but according to His will.
Before we go further however, let's clarify one thing.
God chose you because you earned the right in that spiritual war in which Satan rebelled against God and a third of God's children followed him.
At that time, the elect stood firm and loyalty remained with God.
They stood with Michael and earned the right to be the elect, to be the chosen on this earth.
You will not understand this epistle unless you totally see that.
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.

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.

Justified, or He judged that they were worthy because of their loyalty and the stand that they had taken.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

We see beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is foreordained or predestined.

6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The Beloved is Christ, making us the first fruits with Him.

7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Hebrew 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?

Jeremiah 1:5 Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

6 Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

7 But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.

8 Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

Romans 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel, saying,

3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.

4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal.

5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

9 If any man have an ear, let him hear.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Galatians 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

20 Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not.

1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.

16 Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,

17 Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

2 Timothy 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

20 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.

21 If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

23 But foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes.

24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,

25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.

Romans 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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.

31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.

34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Ephesians 4:1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Notice again the word "called".
You were called or chosen for this specific purpose, and note again that Paul calls attention to the fact that he's still in prison.

2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;

Don't think or walk like you're better than others

3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Be a peace maker

4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

There's only one God and you are called to a specific purpose.
Understand the predestination stated here.

5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism,

We don't have here Methodists, Catholics, Presbyterians, etc.
There is only one God, one faith and one Lord.

6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

I want you to note that.
He is in you and you are in Him.

7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Out of this abundance of Christ's gifts, each one of you is given a gift as you are suited.
We are all in the same service and each is a part of the whole.
We are all one body.
You share in what I do.
I share in what you do, and we each have a talent to use in His service.

8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.

Psalm 68:18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.

9 Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?

Why did Paul emphasize that He ascended, but first He had to come down here?
For the reason the argument of that day also was that it was not the Messiah that was here and crucified on that cross.
So Paul is pointing out that by His resurrection, he overcame death.
That was in fact the proof, He was the true Messiah.

10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.

Or, to fulfill all things.
He was the Messiah written of in the Old Testament as the Psalms spoken of Him, as the prophets spoke of Him.
He was the Christ

11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

He chose the vessels to reach new people, to tend the flock, to help them in their troubles, to encourage, to guide them and to teach.
These abilities are all God-Given.
They are all His gifts.

12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

For the perfecting of the saints.
Consider this, you who have ears to hear.
The elect, especially the 7,000, were chosen for a specific reason.
You are concerned with His people, but you also have a responsibility to each other.
Being a part of that one body, we are not complete, one without the other, thus each will perform as He gives us duties to do.
We are one family with one God, one body, one church, one Christ.
The elect are the bride of Christ.

13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Or, till we become Christ-like in unity of faith.
This is addressed to the final hour and concerns the body that shall accomplish His work during the millennium.
You are all priests, no matter what category of that priesthood you fall in, because Christ will speak through you, to the whole world soon, when you are delivered up for not accepting the false Christ.
Mark 13:10 And the gospel must first be published among all nations.
11 But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Spirit.

• Exactly 2520 years from the exile of Benjamin, Iceland became an independent nation.

• The first tribe to be conquered by the Assyrians was Manasseh, in 745 B.C. Exactly 2520 years later America became a nation on July 4, 1776.

• Study the book: Abrahamic Covenant, (A study outline of the identity of God's people) By E. Raymond Capt - page 25