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                 MANY ARE CALLED – FEW ARE CHOSEN        

To understand the concept of the chosen or elect of God, we must go back to the Old Testament, to God’s choice of Israel as a people.  The word “chosen” means “to try, to prove, choose, select, acceptable.  Something is acceptable or judged to be excellent after it has been tested.  In other words, it is considered to be the best” (Zodhiates, 1994, #977, p. 2304).  In addition, the root word means “to examine…denotes an investigation to determine the essential qualities of the object, especially integrity” (Zodhiates, 1994, #974, p. 2304).   So we see that the Lord examines, tries, tests, and proves.  And what God chooses passes the test and is choice, select, the BEST, GOD’S ELECT!   

On the basis of Deuteronomy 7:7, there has been supposition that God chose Israel from among the nations of the earth without cause – that He just set His love upon them for no reason. But when we read the context, we can definitely see a reason:

• Deut. 7:6-8 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 7The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 8But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

Upon careful reading, these verses do not state that God chose Israel for no reason. Rather, He chose them and loved them to keep the oath sworn to Abraham and Isaac.  Deut. 4:37 and 10:15 gives further insight:

• Deut. 4:37 And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt;

• Deut. 10:15 Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.

He chose Israel because He delighted in and loved their fathers.  And He loved their fathers because of their faith and obedience.  God called Abram to forsake all to go he knew not where, and Abram believed and obeyed. 

• Genesis 12:1,4 Now the Lord had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him;

• Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
• Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

GOD CALLS ALL MANKIND TO BELIEVE THROUGH JESUS...
         Romans 1:6 Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:

• John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

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

• Matthew 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

• John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

…WHO IS THE CHOSEN, THE ELECT OF GOD.

God delighted in the faith of Abraham, loved him, and chose his seed after him.

• Deut. 10:15 Only the Lord had a delight in thy fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all people, as it is this day.  

This chosen seed is Christ:

• Galatians 3:16 Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

Luke 23:35 calls Jesus the “chosen of God,” and Scripture speaks of Christ in Isaiah 42:1 as “my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth…”  Jesus IS the chosen, the elect, of God.  He was obedient to the Father in every detail.  He passed every test, and God was well pleased with Him. 

• Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

This Jesus IS righteousness to all who will accept the call to love, obey, believe in, and follow Him.  He is the Chosen of God and those that will have faith in Him are chosen as well:

• Galatians 3:6-7, 9, 14, 16  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.  7Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 14That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. 16Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

• Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
•  Romans 4:5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
• 1 Cor. 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
• Ephes. 1:4 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:
• 2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
  

Matthew 22:14 “MANY ARE CALLED…”

• Jeremiah 35:17 Therefore thus saith the Lord God of hosts…I have spoken unto them, but they have not heard; and I have called unto them, but they have not answered.

• Luke 14:16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:
• Matthew 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
• Mark 8: 34 And when he had called the people [unto him] with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

• Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

• 1 Timothy 2:3-4 …God our Savior; Who will [desires to] have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
• Acts 2:39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

“...BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN.”  MANY WILL NOT PASS THE TEST; MANY WILL REJECT HIM BECAUSE THE COST IS HIGH: a willingness to love Him and serve Him above all else.

• Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

• Luke 14:33 So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.
• Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

Belief in and obedience to Jesus IS the requirement, but many will reject Him. He is the tried (chosen, elect) stone (Isaiah 28:16), a stone over which many will stumble (Rom 9:32-33)… 

• 1 Peter 2:6-8 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, 8And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.

FEW ARE WILLING…

• Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
• Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
• Luke 14:18-20 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. 19And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. 20And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.
• Matthew 10:37-39 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. 39He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
• Matthew 8:18-22 Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side. 19And a certain scribe came, and said unto him, Master, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. 20And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. 21And another of his disciples said unto him, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. 22But Jesus said unto him, Follow me; and let the dead bury their dead.
• Matthew 19:21-22 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
• Acts 7:51 Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye.
• Matthew 13:15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
• Luke 13:34 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen doth gather her brood under her wings, and ye would not!

GOD CONSIDERS THE HEART OF EVERY MAN.  He determined beforehand (before the foundation of the world!) to give eternal life to “whosoever” is willing to trust in His Son.  He also KNOWS beforehand those who will not resist Him, those who will be willing to serve Him in love and obedience. These are His chosen.

• Job 11:11 For he knoweth vain men: he seeth wickedness also; will he not then consider it?

• Psalm 33:12-15 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. 13The Lord looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 14From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. 15He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.
• Romans 8:28-29 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 29For 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.

...he is Lord of lords, and King of kings:

and they that are with him are called,

and chosen, and faithful. 

Revelation 17:14

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*All emphasis  mine.
Written November, 2005

Copyright ©2005 by Mae Shurow 
Permission is granted for non-commercial (free) distribution 
provided proper citation of authorship is included.

  _______________________
Zodhiates, S. (1994).  The Complete Word Study Old Testament King James Version.  AMG  Publishers.  Iowa Falls, IA.