The following E-mail was sent to me this week from a Christian who is truly searching for answers.
How are you? I’m good. Just wanted to ask you a question. What does Matthew 22:14 mean exactly. I’ve read it but I’m not sure what "Many are called but few are chosen" means. Called for what and chosen for what? When you have some time just let me know!
This was my response:
First, let me say that if you really believed the way the traditional church has taught this you would have to be scared to death, because the clear indication is that only a few very fortunate people will ever get to Heaven. Even out of those who were later invited (good & bad), if you didn’t have the right garments on you were cast out. Does that sound like the same Jesus who said “Forgive your enemies, pray for them, and love them like you would love yourself?” or the Jesus who hung on the cross and his last words to those same people that he had taught this parable to was “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”
Now here is what I think: Jesus was talking to his fellow countrymen, the Jews. He was teaching them in a parable that they above all people were invited to enjoy the wonders of the Kingdom of God and all its glory. Now they rejected his invitation and continued on a path of self-righteousness, bitterness, judgment of others, and he was telling them that there would be consequences to their choices. We read later in Mathew 24 that he speaks of the consequences even in more detail pointing to the future when the temple would be destroyed as well as much of Jerusalem.
By the way the Kingdom of God is: Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
What should be made clear here is that all of us still have choices to make and the choices we make can determine weather we live in the peace and joy of God’s Holy Spirit. If we choose like the Jews to continue to wear our own suit of righteous clothing we will not enjoy peace, but if we choose to believe we have a suit of righteousness that has already been provided then we find a peace that is not gained by our performance.
We know the parable could not have been talking about Israel’s final condition because there are far too many scriptures that teach otherwise. Let me quote you just a few.
Rom 11:26-36
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, there shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers’ sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?
35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
I could go on and on, but I will stop here. I would also ask you……..What does your heart say? Will God cast out the many into a HELL of endless torture, or will he do what he said he would do and SAVE THE WORLD and show MERCY to All?
Cliff,
Maybe the chosen are those who come to understand that we are ALL connected to the Father and that it is to Him we will return when this short time on earth is over? I know that sometimes it overwhelms me that I have come to understand the gospel as I now do! And I wonder why at this time in history only a few have this belief that we now have?
I tend to believe that all will come to this belief but then I think about something Jesus said when He said this, “The poor you will always have with you” Maybe the poor are those who never come to the WEALTH of the Truth of the Gospel of Grace & Peace?
Your Perfect Friend
Geo
I agree Geo. The wealth of the Kingdom of God has always been ours, but it has always only been a few who believe it is theirs. As you said though, at some point in our travel the truth will be revealed to every last one of us—-PRAISE TO HIS NAME.
How true it is that this redemption has always been ours but we just never knew about it. Knowing about it is salvation of the soul, plain and simple. As most of us were taught and told, salvation of the soul was our escape from a fiery hell, which of ourse we now know to be totally incorrect. Salvation of the soul (mind) is us realizing we have been redeemed.
I found it interesting reading this post as it clears up misconceptions that few are chosen to go to heaven and many are chosen to go to hell. Knowing the fact that the entire human race has been redeemed is what I believe to be the beginning of the salvation of our soul (mind, will, emotions, thought patterns etc.) It’s been almost two years since I began seeing this in different areas of the Bible and it is getting clearer as the days go on. I am overwhelmed as well Geo when I think that the Lord has opened my eyes to see this tremendous Truth of redemption. I have a long way to go but I am really enjoying the journey, to say the least.
By the way George, I received the cd’s today. Greatly appreciated.
He has saved cliff,redemption is complete,And he will bring all to salvatonThe renewing of the mind.If the apostals preached this good news at the beginging then there would be no need for us us preach it.All would have known by now the good news.
Just back from spain cliff ha a great time and missed you all.
kenneth.
Salvation of the soul (mind) is us realizing we have been redeemed.
Well said Roy.
Cliff,
It really is amazing what happens to the mind when we accept the truth of the kingdom is ALREADY ours and here and NOW! I read it in your beautiful daughter Mindy’s writings! Each new comment by her is more and more filled with the confidence that this truth brings!
Roy,
Don’t you sometimes feel like a kid in a FREE candy store! I mean this Grace is so alluring and wonderful and sweet to the soul you can NEVER get enough nor hear others speak of it enough. I get so eager like a kid on Christmas Morning when I know that I am going to be with those who understand as you do! I am almost filled to tears as I sit here and type this! Thanks Roy for being a shining beacon of God’s Light! A new day dawn’s for all who come in contact with you on a daily basis!
Let me know how you like the CD’s
In Perfect Peace
Geo
Geo: I had already listened to the entire series as I downloaded them off where you had put them on the net. When you mentioned on my blog that you were sending them to me, I responded that I already had them but you must not have read my comment.
What did I think of them? What else can I say but simply awesome. I intend to listen to them over again when I finish another series I am listening to by Mike (for the second time) called The Kingdom Within. Of course another excellent teaching by Mike as are all his teachings. I like the idea that the candy store you mention is a FREE one because this is what this gospel of grace and peace is….FREE and freeing.
I was going to email you to let you know but I have had to format my computer and I forgot to write down my email addresses and I have lost them all.
Thanks again for sending them.
Roy
Where did you get THE KINGDOM WITHIN Series?
Is it new or was it something Mike did with you guys in Canada?
Peace
Geo
I don’t think it’s new. I found it on the Gospel logic web site and downloaded it and made cd’s. If you cannot find it, let me know and I will send you copies by mail. It’s excellent. If you don’t have access to the Gospel Logic material, let me know and I will make copies and mail them to you today.
Hi george,the serie’s is called the eternal kingdom and it is on gospelodgic site a must hear.Great to see the site so busy with you all sharing the goodnews.
kenneth