Tragedy of “. . . but few are chosen”

(GB Message)

When those originally invited by the king refused to come to the wedding feast, the king’s servants went into the streets and invited all the people they could find to come to the wedding feast. Many of this second group of invitees came, but even in that group, we are told about one man who did not come appropriately. Jesus concludes this parable by saying, “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt 22:14). We know that we have been invited to the kingdom of heaven. But are we among the few who are chosen?

We see the earliest group of godless people in the book of Genesis, at the time of Noah.

• 6:3 And the LORD said, “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, for he is indeed flesh; yet his days shall be one hundred and twenty years.”
• 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
• 7:4 For after seven more days I will cause it to rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and I will destroy from the face of the earth all living things that I have made.”

What a calling!

(Murali’s notes about GB’s message)

God has chosen each one of us in the church for a very special purpose and then for the glorious eternal life. Are we walking in a manner worthy of our calling? Let us examine our situation with an illustration from a story.

Once a rich doctor wanted to experiment on a project of adopting a slum girl, bringing her up in a high society, and providing her with a good education and support. He selected one of the dirtiest and ugliest little girl from a slum. The girl was so filthy that he didn’t even want to allow her in his car, but had someone bring her to his house by auto.

Was election an arbitrary act of God?

(GB Message)

The theology of Election has given rise to many a confusion and resulted in the production of voluminous books containing hair-splitting explanations, making the remedy worse than the disease. The following are some of the various questions about Election, which usually confuse believers or give rise to dangerous conclusions.

• Once saved is for ever saved. Is it correct?
• There are many who are very different from us in spiritual status. Is it because they were not chosen by God?
• If God has chosen only some before the foundation of the world, He has rejected the rest. Why is it so? (The usual reply that He has every right to do so is not every edifying though we cannot reject that either)
• “Many are called” Does that mean that some were not even called.