"Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A LIE

[Elin]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

1) All are called.

Actually the text in Matt. 22 says "Many are called." The specific reference is that many are called to the marriage feast of the Father for the Son (the Marriage Feast of the Lamb?).

My statements are not taken from the parable of the wedding banquet,
but from throughout the NT; e.g., Mk 13:10, 16:15; Lk 24:47.

2) Only the chosen few respond with the gift of true faith (Php 1:29; 2Pe 1:1; Ac 18:27; Ro 12:3)
freely given by the grace of God (Eph 2:8-9).

Php 1:29 says "we have been granted (literally "graced) [with the opportunity] not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake."

However, "with the opportunity" is not in the Greek, and alters the meaning completely.

2 Pe 1:1 "to those who through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ
have received a faith as precious as ours"

God has given the righteousness, the faith has been received both by regeneration and by choice

Was the new birth by choice, or by the will of God (Jn 1:13)?
Faith comes with the new birth, and is likewise a gift of God.

Now look at 2Pe 1:1 again.
"through the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ" - the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ
is a free gift from God (Ro 5:17) and through it comes faith.

Acts 18:27 "those who had believed by grace"

People believe, God gives grace

Not what it says. . .
Grace is the cause/source of the belief.

Rom. 12:3 "in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you"

This passage is talking to believers already and is saying that some believers have a special gift of faith. Paul lists this as one of the spiritual gifts in 1 Cor. 12

Agreed. . .1Co 12:9, 13:2, Ro 12:3 are not speaking of saving faith, but of a special faith given to fulfill ministries in the church (Ro 12:4-8).
Are you saying special faith is not a gift of God, which is my point about all faith.

Eph 2:8-9 "For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and this not of yourselves. . ."

The "this" in the Greek is neuter, and can in no way refer only to the faith, or to the grace, because both are feminine nouns in the Greek. It refers to the whole process, being saved by grace (God's part) through faith (our part).

Not quite. . .let's finish the verse.

"This not of yourselves, it (salvation) is the gift of God--not by works (my choosing to believe),
so that no man can boast."

"Saved by grace" means it is all God's part, if we contributed anything, then it is not all of God, some of it is of ourselves, and we then have something to boast about in relation to those who do not believe.

 

[Wanderers]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

Are we talking Calvinism here?

 

[GreenNnice]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

Great, konrohforChrist, HOW then is one 'chosen,' which is what I asked in my last post.

How does God choose someone for the wedding feast?

HOw does one of the 'many' become one of the 'few' chosen ?

For perspective, this is the time after Satan has been thrown in the Lake of Fire, and, the lost, those not found in the Book Of Life, have been thrown in the Lake of Fire, for eternal torment.

And, thus, at this time, a new Earth is where the 'dining' is done.
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That's right, too, I agree, not 'all' are called to the wedding feast, that's in my very title said , and, although, I am not referring specifically to just the wedding feast supper of the Lamb, it is, indeed, proper perspective for 'Many are called, few are chosen.'

 

[Elin]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

Are we talking Calvinism here?

If you're asking about post #21, we're talking about Bible there.

 

[konroh]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

I do agree that God is sovereign above all and within God's sovereignty he grants us the grace to believe. My point is that it's also clear that men are called and required to believe. This is a human response to God's call. Could we do it apart from God's grace and God's regenerating call? No. But I don't think the Bible describes faith as a work that we can have merit for, but the Bible clearly calls all to come Rev. 22:17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

In Php 1:29 how are we to understand that we've been granted faith in the same way that we've been granted suffering? There's a power in understanding that we've been called by God and placed in our situation of suffering and thus I can endure through it. In the same way that I can make the choice to endure suffering I can recognize that I've made the choice to believe in Him.

When Jesus was asked what can be done to do the work of God, His reply is to believe. John 6:
28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

In 2 Pet 2:1, the Greek word for received is also translated "obtained." Through the righteousness of Jesus we have obtained/received a faith as precious as the original apostles faith. How awesome!

I agree that the faith that we have is not of works, the salvation process is a gift. We receive the gift. Is there any merit to receiving a gift? None whatsoever. I like the balance of Acts 20:21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

What do we tell people? God's giving you faith, receive it? No we say, "Turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." Does this negate God's control in the matter? Nein, nyet, no. Do we have faith? Da, Si, yes.

 

[GreenNnice]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

I do agree that God is sovereign above all and within God's sovereignty he grants us the grace to believe. My point is that it's also clear that men are called and required to believe. This is a human response to God's call. Could we do it apart from God's grace and God's regenerating call? No. But I don't think the Bible describes faith as a work that we can have merit for, but the Bible clearly calls all to come Rev. 22:17The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

In Php 1:29 how are we to understand that we've been granted faith in the same way that we've been granted suffering? There's a power in understanding that we've been called by God and placed in our situation of suffering and thus I can endure through it. In the same way that I can make the choice to endure suffering I can recognize that I've made the choice to believe in Him.

When Jesus was asked what can be done to do the work of God, His reply is to believe. John 6:
28Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
29Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

In 2 Pet 2:1, the Greek word for received is also translated "obtained." Through the righteousness of Jesus we have obtained/received a faith as precious as the original apostles faith. How awesome!

I agree that the faith that we have is not of works, the salvation process is a gift. We receive the gift. Is there any merit to receiving a gift? None whatsoever. I like the balance of Acts 20:21I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

What do we tell people? God's giving you faith, receive it? No we say, "Turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." Does this negate God's control in the matter? Nein, nyet, no. Do we have faith? Da, Si, yes.

Yes !

And, I'm pretty wordy, sometimes, that's the green in me But, yeah, well said thoughts, bro, they should not be alien to anyone. Christ's gift to us is of no merit for us. It's all Him, it's all about Him, we DO choose Him, but there's no merit in that, for He chose us, we simple gave a human response to His call. So, many do get called but 'few are chosen.'

 

[SpiritofFire]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

The many called are every person who has ever been formed in the womb, both Jew and gentile. Those that are chosen are the few that are truly seeking of both the jew and gentile and are given knowledge in understanding what is going on here on earth.

This is represented by the 144,000 (chosen), then the multitude (many).

The 144000 are of Israel, but for those given understanding, they know that Israel is all of mankind.

 

[Isdaniel]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

Matthew 13

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

 

[SpiritofFire]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

Matthew 13

18 Hear ye therefore the parable of the sower.
19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.
20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
23 But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.

Yes but have you not wondered at it's greatest revealing that they ALL received seed?
For all was measured out faith.

For if the firstfuits (few and chosen) is holy, so then is the lump (many who are called).

 

[Wanderers]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

The many called are every person who has ever been formed in the womb, both Jew and gentile. Those that are chosen are the few that are truly seeking of both the jew and gentile and are given knowledge in understanding what is going on here on earth.

This is represented by the 144,000 (chosen), then the multitude (many).

The 144000 are of Israel, but for those given understanding, they know that Israel is all of mankind.

144,000.....sounds like the JWs

 

[Wanderers]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

If you're asking about post #21, we're talking about Bible there.

Just musing over the strong hint at predestination in all of this, which is where Calvinism kicks in.

Interestingly, some of the 'greatest' revivals/revivalists have in some way been linked to Calvinism: Jonathan Edwards and the Welsh and Hebridean revivals.

 

[Elin]

Re: "Many are called, few are chosen" God can't say, 'all are called,' for that is A

Just musing over the strong hint at predestination in all of this, which is where Calvinism kicks in.

Predestination kicks in with more than a hint at Ro 8:29, 30; Eph 1:5, 11, regardless of Calvin.