The Doctrine of Election Part II

Continuing with "the doctrine of election" I want to look at three more verses that will also fit within the terms of … "election and predestination" that we looked at in Part I of this study.

Matthew 19:30 … "But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first."

You might say that Jesus was speaking prophetically about the Jews, who were the first people of God in the Old Covenant, and He was saying (my translation) that … "they will as a whole nation reject me, and consequently will be last and rejected by me. The Gentiles, last to hear of me, shall be saved through the knowledge of the truth, and they shall become the first."

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

The Gentiles, who were without God, would now be God's people of the New Covenant; and the Jews, who were God's people from the beginning, would now be disowned and rejected (for a time) by God because they rejected the Lord.

Matthew 22:14 … "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Jesus often uses this proverbial expression. The Jews had been called, but few of them had been chosen for life in Christ. We know of His disciples and of some of the women who also followed Him in His ministry. We know there were five hundred or so who watched Him ascend into Heaven. And of those believers, they dwindled down to a hundred and twenty who were later filled with the Holy Spirit in the upper room.

The nation of Israel was sinful, and they showed by how they lived that they were not chosen unto salvation; so then the Gentiles were given the invitation to be saved. Nation after nation was called; but even of all them, history has proven that very few of them were really chosen to be followers of Christ.

This 14th verse of Matthew … "For many are called, but few are chosen" … is the end of the parable about the wedding supper when Jesus will be united with His bride in Heaven.

Jesus said the King asks the question … "Friend, how did you come when you don't have the required wedding garment?" Jesus then said that the man was speechless.

Could it possibly be true also, that many in the church today may be without the proper wedding garment, thereby showing in the end that they were not part of the chosen few?

This 14th verse brings me to the logical conclusion from reading the whole parable, not just the part about the man who does not have the wedding garment, (which is still a valid point though) that the many who were called to the wedding in the time of Christ … were the Jewish nation.

The many being called today, are all mankind who are hearing the Gospel of Christ. Those who have been called but are rejecting the mercy and grace of God are not part of the chosen. What are they chosen for?

They have been called to salvation by the preaching of the Gospel; but few, comparatively of all those called, are chosen to dwell with God for eternity … simply because they do not come to the King of the wedding supper for a wedding garment … the righteousness of Christ.

R. Simeon ben Jochai has stated … "I have seen the children of the world come and they are few."

Augustine has said that it is the sole fault of man that they do not believe. "If I be asked why these could not believe, I immediately answer, because they would not."

The "called" must be distinguished from the "chosen." The called can only mean simply … the "invited." The "chosen" are those by divine sovereign election who have responded to the invitation. Which are you?

Let me say it again. It looks as if God doesn’t treat everyone the same.

So … is God unjust? No. May I give one more opinion on "called vs. chosen?"

God knows the end from the beginning with everyone. He knows each person's heart as to whether or not they will ever accept or reject Christ. Could this be the reason it … looks as if … God doesn't bother with many people? Yes, He desires that all would be saved. But maybe because He knows the end from the beginning … He doesn't choose those who He knows will never accept Jesus.

There’s a great debate on this, as you know, which will continue I'm sure until Jesus comes back.