“FEW
ARE CHOSEN”
Matthew
22:14
The
difference between those who believe and those who believe not is the choice of
God. There are some people in this world whom God has chosen to salvation.
Sooner or later, they shall be saved. They shall believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ. The rest are left in their sins. God has done them no injustice. He
does not violate their will. He does not force them to do what they choose not
to do. He simply leaves them to themselves. And you can be sure of this -- If God leaves a man to himself, if God
leaves a man to his own free-will, that man will never believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ and be saved (John 6:37-40; 10:16, 26; Acts 13:46-48).Thank God,
he does not leave all men unto themselves! He has chosen to save some.
It is a fact beyond dispute that the Bible
teaches the doctrine of God’s sovereign, unconditional, election of his people
unto salvation in Christ (John 15:16; Rom. 9:11-13; Eph. 1:4-6; 1 Thess.
1:4; 2 Thess. 2:13-14; 2 Tim. 1:9; 1 Pet. 1:2). Election is not some mysterious
doctrine of the Bible, taught in a few isolated texts of Scripture. It is a
dominate theme of Holy Scripture. Any man who says, “The Bible does not teach
election,” either has not read the Bible or he is a liar.
It is also a fact beyond dispute that the
Bible declares that God’s elect in this world are few. “Few are chosen.” In the end, when they are all gathered before
the throne, I have no doubt that God’s elect will out number the damned by an
incalculable multitude. I do not even question the fact that all dying as
infants or imbeciles are chosen, redeemed, and regenerated by our gracious
heavenly Father. Yet, at any time in history, and at any place upon the earth,
God’s people are few. We have always been in the minority, and always shall be,
until our God makes all things new.
I solemnly
admonish you to make your calling and election sure (2 Pet. 1:10). This is
something you must do for yourself, and something that only you can do. And
there is only one way that it can be done. “Faith
is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb.
11:1). The only way a sinner can know that he was chosen in eternity and
redeemed at Calvary, and has been called by the Holy Spirit is by believing on
the Lord Jesus Christ. If you trust Christ, it is because you have been chosen,
redeemed, and called by God’s free and sovereign grace. You have eternal life
(1 John 5:1).
If we are among the number of those
chosen, redeemed, and called to salvation and eternal life in Jesus Christ, we
ought to be filled with wonder, praise, and gratitude before the holy Lord God (Rom. 11:33-36; 1 Cor. 4:7;
15:10). Election has secured for us a place with Christ in glory. And in the
end, it shall be said, “The election hath
obtained it!”
Amen.
Grace Baptist Church of Danville - Grace For
Today Radio Message #717
2734 Old Stanford Road -
Danville, Kentucky 40422-9438
Donald S. Fortner, Pastor -Telephone 606-236-8235 - Email grace@mis.net