You can't earn your salvation, but you must OWN it.

[Riverwalker]

Many are called but few are chosen

Probably for me one of the hardest sayings in the bible.  But what does it really mean?

It was a wedding day...the festivities were set...but there was a problem with the guests.

----------------------------------------

Matthew 22: 

22 1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them [a]spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

------------------------------------

verses 1-10 are obviously talking about the people of God, the Jews, and they rejection of Jesus and the Prophets by Jewish leaders

But I believer verses 11"-14 is talking about us gentiles, who upon the grace of God were called and allowed to join the wedding celebration.

What is it that delineates the called from the chosen?

Are some more worthy than others?  Does God capriciously choose who will enjoy eternal life and suffer eternal death?

Or is it something else. Is it level of commitment that God is looking for

If you were invited by a king to attend a royal wedding, would you wear the same clothes you slopped the pigs in? No of course not. You would clean yourself up, make a change in what you clothe yourself with, wear your finest. Be on your best behavior and come with an attitude of grace and honor.  Not bust in the place, scratch yourself and say "where's the grub"?

So to...is the kingdom of heaven.  There is nothing we can do to earn the invite, but we can commit ourselves to the process.  Clean our selves up, renew our mind, repent of sin, act in a manner appropriate to one who has been invited into the family of God.  Not bust into the church and say "that's great God, I'll take you along where I Go....and do all I want to do"

We cannot earn salvation, but we must OWN it.

---------------------------

Matthew 25:31-46

New King James Version

The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the [a]holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

---------------------------------------------

Everyone thought they were in the herd....until Jesus sorted them out by their attitude.

Again I want to stress this is not about earning your salvation.....but rather about owning it. If you really believe you are saved by the grace of God, then you will live like it.

------------------

Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

[missmuffet]

Most people in our world know who Jesus Christ is. Few will get to heaven. 

[TheBlade]

Amen to Gods word.. thanks. If someone believes in Jesus (John 3 16 Rom 10 9-10) they are the called they are the chosen. Its clear in this world people believe not in Christ yet believe ... well so many different things. Praise God He does give up on them. 

As for Matt 25 31-46 I see what you were trying to do but this does not go with Matt 22.  Christ comes back sets foot on the earth and then gathers the nations. Those are the ones that just came out of the great tribulation. How wonderful and blessed are those that have already died and are with the Father now. How about the 12/120/3000 on and on. None of them will be split sheep and goats  Its about those that just came out of the great tribulation. He already died for the worlds sin. We that believe in Him have every lasting life. There is no "sin" Hes going to rejudge us on that He didn't die for. 

This is how I read and understand it. It does seem those coming days are not the same as today. Well what I mean is we know the lawless one will be doing lying wonders yes? Yet whats stopping him right now? Not one of those fallen angels that are very powerful can do anything. Something right now has all power all authority over them. Yet when he that is now holding all that back is taken out of the way.. wow then something that had power over that.. is out of the way. Push something out of the way..its not gone just not in your way any more. Then we read lying wonders. What was it like before Christ? Just.. things I think about lol. 

Something we can hold on to is everyone that Father gives to Christ He will not lose one. 

 

[Alive]

I agree that much of this is speaking Israel's rejection of Christ and that results in the Gentiles inclusion as Paul so clearly taught.

I do believe that the other is speaking of Election and the tares. Many hear the call of the Gospel, but not all that hear are drawn by the Father into Christ. Under no circumstances is God capricious, but He is both a Righteous Judge and Gracious and Merciful according to His own will.

[Waggles]

Rev 3:1  “And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: ‘The words of him who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. “‘I know your works. You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 
2  Wake up, and strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God. 
3  Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you. 
4  Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. 
5  The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels. 
6  He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ 

Rev 7:9  After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands,

Rev 22:14  Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates.

Edited August 2, 2021 by Waggles

[johnthebaptist]

6 hours ago, Riverwalker said:

Many are called but few are chosen

Probably for me one of the hardest sayings in the bible.  But what does it really mean?

It was a wedding day...the festivities were set...but there was a problem with the guests.

----------------------------------------

Matthew 22: 

22 1 And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, 3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. 4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’ 5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. 6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them [a]spitefully, and killed them. 7 But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ 10 So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.

11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. 12 So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

14 “For many are called, but few are chosen.”

------------------------------------

verses 1-10 are obviously talking about the people of God, the Jews, and they rejection of Jesus and the Prophets by Jewish leaders

But I believer verses 11"-14 is talking about us gentiles, who upon the grace of God were called and allowed to join the wedding celebration.

What is it that delineates the called from the chosen?

Are some more worthy than others?  Does God capriciously choose who will enjoy eternal life and suffer eternal death?

Or is it something else. Is it level of commitment that God is looking for

If you were invited by a king to attend a royal wedding, would you wear the same clothes you slopped the pigs in? No of course not. You would clean yourself up, make a change in what you clothe yourself with, wear your finest. Be on your best behavior and come with an attitude of grace and honor.  Not bust in the place, scratch yourself and say "where's the grub"?

So to...is the kingdom of heaven.  There is nothing we can do to earn the invite, but we can commit ourselves to the process.  Clean our selves up, renew our mind, repent of sin, act in a manner appropriate to one who has been invited into the family of God.  Not bust into the church and say "that's great God, I'll take you along where I Go....and do all I want to do"

We cannot earn salvation, but we must OWN it.

---------------------------

Matthew 25:31-46

New King James Version

The Son of Man Will Judge the Nations

31 “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the [a]holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats. 33 And He will set the sheep on His right hand, but the goats on the left. 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’

37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels: 42 for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; 43 I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’

44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ 45 Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’ 46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

---------------------------------------------

Everyone thought they were in the herd....until Jesus sorted them out by their attitude.

Again I want to stress this is not about earning your salvation.....but rather about owning it. If you really believe you are saved by the grace of God, then you will live like it.

------------------

Ephesians 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We can save ourselves a lot of trouble here on earth if we repent of our sin.

[steve morrow]

MY  WORDS  SHALL  NOT  PASS  AWAY

 

2 THESSALONIANS 1:7  and to you who are troubled rest with us when  THE  LORD  JESUS  shall be revealed from heaven with  HIS  mighty angels 

--1:8-- in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not  GOD  and that ---obey not the gospel--- of our  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST

--1:9-- who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of  THE  LORD  and from the glory of  HIS  power 

--1:10--  when  HE  shall come to be glorified in  HIS  saints and to be admired in all of them that believe because our testimony among you was believed 

*******1:11 --  wherefore also we pray always for you that our  GOD  would ---count you worthy--- of this calling and fulfil all the good pleasure of  HIS  goodness  ---and the work of faith with power*******

 

MARK 8:35  for whosoever will save his life shall lose it but whosoever shall lose his life for --MY SAKE-- and the gospels the same shall save it 

ISAIAH 8:20  to the law and to the testimony if they speak not according to this word it is because there is no light in them 

PROVERBS 28:9  he that turneth away his ear from hearing the law even his prayer shall be abomination 

 

1 PETER 4:17  for the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of  GOD  and if it first begin with us what shall the end be of them ---that obey not the gospel of  GOD  ---

 

LUKE 21:33  heaven and earth shall pass away ---but  MY  words shall not pass away

*******ISAIAH 2:22  cease you from man whose breath is in his nostrils --- for wherein is he to accounted of*******

 

--21:36-- watch you therefore and pray always ---that you may be accounted worthy--- to escape all these things that shall come to pass and to stand before  THE  SON  OF  MAN

 

LOVING  THE  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST 

[TCC]

On 8/2/2021 at 7:39 AM, Riverwalker said:

We cannot earn salvation, but we must OWN it.

 

I agree we should own it. But as for the wedding parable there are two main views. 1) As you describe (Jew/Gentile), and 2) only Jewish. I tend to go with 2 because if you see the surrounding events to that parable and the intense disagreeable stance of Christ against the Israeli leadership (His own people forsaking Him), the king invited the noble leaders, and they refused, and then the king invited anyone walking around (still Israel), but these were common folk. What I believe this shows is it is not class acceptance for even though a lower class got in, if they are not clothed with the gospel, they cannot be at the party doing the law. 

I think you make some good observations. But it is good to keep in mind (something we really don't have our own context to consider) how INCREDIBLY intense it would be for Jews to be broken off from their own faith AND their own messiah. This is a major issue to Christ at that time. And a huge issue for the Jews (who because of their rejecting Christ lost their temple in 70AD and their own national identity for 2,000 years). This seems far more fitting. The Jews were not conceptualizing about integrating gentiles into the faith at this point. It seems to be the context that Jesus is confronting the Jewish faith for their unbelief. Hope this is helpful. Blessings. 

[Tammy Roesch]

Perhaps a better translation is this ~ 

"For many are invited, but few are chosen." Matthew 22:14 NIV

 "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink." John 7:37. 

"And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." John 12:32.

Putting those three verses together, brings us to the conclusion that the death of Jesus drew ALL MEN to Him...and ANY & ALL people who are thirsty (realize their need of Jesus) are INVITED to come to the wedding...but when it comes right down to it, there will be FEW who CHOOSE to do so.