Choose to be the Chosen

From Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus. Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ! Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ.  For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love. He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will–  to the praise of the glory of his grace that he has freely bestowed on us in his dearly loved Son. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight. He did this when he revealed to us the secret of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, toward the administration of the fullness of the times, to head up all things in Christ– the things in heaven and the things on earth. In Christ we too have been claimed as God's own possession, since we were predestined according to the one purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, would be to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:1-12 NET)

If one only reads this passage from Ephesians it could be inferred that some individuals are created to be lost and some are created by God to be saved. So, let us read a parable of Jesus to see if “The Light” can shed light on this subject (John 8:12).

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:  "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son.  He sent his slaves to summon those who had been invited to the banquet, but they would not come.  Again he sent other slaves, saying, 'Tell those who have been invited, "Look! The feast I have prepared for you is ready. My oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet."'  But they were indifferent and went away, one to his farm, another to his business.  The rest seized his slaves, insolently mistreated them, and killed them.  The king was furious! He sent his soldiers, and they put those murderers to death and set their city on fire.  Then he said to his slaves, 'The wedding is ready, but the ones who had been invited were not worthy.  So go into the main streets and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.'  And those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all they found, both bad and good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.  But when the king came in to see the wedding guests, he saw a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes.  And he said to him, 'Friend, how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' But he had nothing to say.  Then the king said to his attendants, 'Tie him up hand and foot and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth!'  For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14 NET)

In this parable who did the calling, God or the invitees? Correct, God!

Who are the called in this parable of Jesus? Correct, all of those invited!

Who are the chosen in this parable of Jesus? Only those that God chose to attend. Incorrect!

It was those that chose to attend the wedding and chose to wear wedding clothes (Revelation 19:8) after being called or invited by God. 

So, who did the choosing, God or the invitees? Correct, the invitees!

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach), because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:8-13)

I tell you that on the day of judgment, people will give an account for every worthless word they speak. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36,37)

Conclusion

God created us humans with free will so that we can choose to live for Him resulting in eternal life (1) or live for ourselves resulting in eternal death (1). The choice is up to us as to whether we CHOOSE to be the CHOSEN of God. In the same way, the CHOSEN are the PREDESTINED of God.

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may proclaim the virtues of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.  You once were not a people, but now you are God's people. You were shown no mercy, but now you have received mercy.  (1 Peter 2:9-10 NET)

Jesus attended a wedding when He was invited (John 2:1,2). Furthermore, all have been invited to the Marriage Supper of Jesus (1).

Have you chosen to be chosen? (1) (Revelations 22:17)

They will make war with the Lamb, but the Lamb will conquer them, because he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those accompanying the Lamb are the called, chosen, and faithful.”  (Revelation 17:14)

If you have chosen to be chosen, then are you faithful?

Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. (1 Corinthians 4:2)

I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, (1 Timothy 1:12)

And entrust what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to teach others as well. 2 Timothy 2:2

On Becoming a Disciple of Christ

• Credentials of Jesus as the Messiah through Fulfilled Prophecy
• The Sign Given to the Shepherds
• God is For, With, and In Us!
• Our Shepherd
• Crushed, not Broken
• No Death, Resurrection, and Ascension – No Salvation
• Redeemed by the Blood of Jesus
• None Has Been Forgiven Little
• Repentance-free Forgiveness?
• Choose to be the Chosen

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Shalom
(Security, Wholeness, Success)
Peace

Dear friend, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, just as it is well with your soul. 
(3 John 1:2 NET)

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(2) Graphic downloaded from – https://coffee4thesoul.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/god-wants-you.jpg?w=1400