I posted this back in August of 2007 but I thought it was a good time to re-post it at this time.
The following E-mail was sent to me 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!
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 in 70AD.
By the way the Kingdom of God is: Rom 14:17For 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 counselor?
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?
Good Morning
I think one of the main issues humans have, is the need to go somewhere better, and also whether they are going to get there or not. Eternity is not some time and place we go to, it is happening right now. Jesus states this in Luke 17:21. All we need to do is open our eyes.
I agree John. It is an awakening to the reality of our true creation.
As I see things all are called to and are Redeemed. But only a few are chosen to believe the completeness of what the work of Christ did. Most of “evangelical christianity” it is obvious to me have not been “chosen” to believe the completeness of the Gospel of Grace & Peace. But their lack of belief in the completeness of the Redemption of the Cross does not nullify the complete faith of Christ that Redeemed ALL OF MANKIND back to the Father. I speak with Boldness when I say, thank God I have been chosen to believe in the faith of Jesus Christ and to leave my personal faith and belief behind. I say with confidence that I no longer believe in my belief but trust in His belief being enough. He was The Author and The Finisher of the requirement for faith towards God. Jesus Christ put away the requirement to believe. And now knowing that I can believe.
Peace
Geo
I think Ive figured out why Christ actually went to the cross for us. I believe God on numerous occasions tried to show the error of our ways. But being that we have a really nasty side to us, he could never get through. So I think he finally decided to relate to us on our level. “VIOLENTLY”, so Jesus went to the cross and died this incredibly violent death and then came back to show us that life never ends. He then said “dont do anymore sacrifice” ive taken care of it. Pretty simple when you think about it.
Good one John!
I agree !
Peace
Geo
Why do we have to be the best, have the best, know the best?? Religion…to me is like cocaine. It is fake. It is untrue. It satisfies the moment, but not the soul.
The difference between reading these bible verses now compared to reading them when I was 16 is now I feel at peace and everything makes sense. When I heard these verses before my heart always felt troubled. I felt uneasy because the interrpretations seemed wrong, but now when I read scriptures like the ones told in Romans I feel at peace because God sent his son Jesus to save us all. I am no better or worse then the one standing next to me, but I am unique and made perfect by God. In his eyes I am his perfect creation.
Romans 12: 3-5
3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.
Blame it on the sudafed, but I don’t think I wrote what I really wanted to say above. I just recently went to a funeral where the “minister” abused his position and chose that moment to get everyone saved and it really made me uncomfortable so this post hit at just the right time for me and my brain is screaming with words that are trying to escape so I apologize for being so disfunctional right now.
People walking around wearing their suit of righteousness and believing they hold all the truths. This guy spewed bible verses left and right and NONE of them spoke truth to the heart. It made me soo mad! The woman that had passed away was loving and kind, but this minister could only speak about how she was recently saved and that everyone could rest assured that because she was saves she was in heaven now. URGHH!!
My point is that this post made me realize that as mad as I am at this minister my heart should cry out for him because he has no clue what Jesus did for him and for the rest of the world, but God will have mercy on him just as he will have mercy on me for being soo extremely angry with this minister.
Mindy, Jesus got just as agitated at the religious of his day for their suits of self righteousness, but I’m glad you also recognize that they truly are to be pitied. As Jesus would say: Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
Beautiful thoughts, everyone!
Love to all!
I believe the message of the Cross of Christ, in its most simple form, is… “do not fear!”
Tragically, religious minds have turned it into… “you had better be afraid!” They live in fear, preach fear, and lack life because of it. Won’t they be surprised when they someday awaken in the presence of God, and discover that they wasted their lives in fear? And, worse yet, caused others to waste their lives in fear?
Oh my God, your mercy is unfathomable!
Just curious, do you need Jesus to have the Kingdom of God or will other ways suffice?
The way I see it, John… it doesn’t matter whether I have Jesus or not, because Jesus has me. He paid the price for all of us on the cross. We are the pearl of great price, and He not only bought us… He bought the whole field (creation).
Thing is… if participation in the Kingdom of God requires something from me, then I can never have any assurance of being a part of it. I can’t trust in my own abilities. And those who think they can, will eventually come to the end of their delusions and find themselves stripped of their self-righteousness.
I’m not God’s because I believe…
I believe because I am God’s.
It starts and ends with Him, and I am only along for the ride. That simple change in thinking saved my mind from all the fear, doubt, guilt, and shame that traditional religion heaped on me all my life.
That revelation of God’s unconditional love freed me from the bondage my mind had been in all those years.
Bruce. Thanks for the response, but you didnt answer my question. You just gave me more about Jesus. My question is, if I am to use my “real” brain on this earth, can I call to GOD using another name other than Jesus and still be loved by the big guy?
John, The answer to your question is YES.
Thanks Cliff
I’m not God’s because I believe…
I believe because I am God’s.
Amen bruce.
Great comment’s and great post cliff.
The original ? was “do you need Jesus to have the kingdom of God or will other ways suffice ? Yes, we need Jesus and his sacrifice and ressurection which ushered in the kingdom of God, no other way. When the ? was asked again “if I am to use my “real” brain on this earth, can I call to God using another name other than Jesus and still be loved by the big guy” just lost me. Cliff you said “yes”. Could you explain both the ? and the answer? Sorry, I get confused easy. Because he first loved us - Sue
Sue, Someone can call on a different name because it is never the action on our side that secures our redemption, but that is different from being saved. When we (on our side) call on the name of the Lord understanding that He paid the complete price leaving NOTHING on our part then we find salvation from our minds of fear. And by the way, our fearful minds are a direct result of the law of sin and death. Some may live out there entire lives with minds of fear but we are given the promise that every knee will eventually bow and every tongue will give praise to God, just like Saul (Paul) did on the road to Damascus. Read of Paul’s conversion and ask yourself what part he really played.
1 Tim 1:12-17
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
ALL THOSE WHO ACT IN IGNORANCE AND UNBELIEF WILL RECEIVE THE GRACE OF GOD. Doesn’t that include everyone you know?
Cliff, Yes, it does include ALL, I just get hung up when it says “Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example FOR THOSE WHO WOULD BELIEVE ON HIM AND RECEIVE ETERNAL LIFE”. I’m not trying to be hard to get along with, but it’s just hard to reconcile all the verses that sound exclusive, sometimes in the same verses that talk of grace and freedom. I quit the church of Christ 25+- years ago and went to many other churches and studied (on my own) and read. It was my distaste for exclusion and Pharasee mindset and always power hunger and greed and cliques, preacher worship, hell, fire and damnation, judgements about ones income ,clothes, looks etc. that turned me off. Same stuff found in the world but with righteous indignation and self righteousness claiming thier belief gives them the right to judge everyone else because they understand the scriptures correctly. I felt more lost in a church then out. I have not gone to any church for many years. I cling to grace and that nothing will separate anyone from the love of God, not even oneself. I love the way you express understanding with such quiet love and discernment. thank you - Because he first loved us - Sue
Am I misunderstanding what I am reading, or what? It sounds to me like you all are saying EVERYONE will go to heaven, no matter what. This whole thing about not having fear confuses me also, because God tells me to fear Him, reverant fear, but fear, as you fear your father. Jesus died on the cross to pay for all our sins, yes. But we are told, by Jesus, unless a man is born again, he will not enter the kingdom of heaven. We have to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, to give Him complete control of our lives. When we are saved, we are no longer our own. You cannot live like you want, and never go to church, and expect to just go waltzing right into heaven, it doesn’t work that way. If you want to live like this world, then you have your reward. My reward is waiting in heaven. I will gladly give up my life, and live by His laws and commandments. His righteousness is what will get me to heaven, nothing else. Again, I hope I am misunderstanding you, but if I am not, PLEASE don’t rely upon your own understanding. Believe in Him, give your life to Him, and follow Him. Take up your cross daily. Die daily. Open your eyes to the truth of the gospel. It is ALL about Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Welcome Alan!
No you are not reading incorrectly.
This blog is a group of people who trust Christ. Not, Christ plus what we must do… just Christ. If the message of the Cross is true, then Christ has secured the redemption of all the world, once and for all. We believe that, and we trust that.
You have an understanding of the Gospel that most of us came out of. But, we have repented of that thinking and turned our faces to Christ, alone. I know, that’s a lot of trust. But, it is the message we have turned to.
And by the way, aren’t YOU leaning on your own understanding?
It’s OK friend, we all do.
Stick around, maybe you’ll find some relief from all that fear you carry around. I love to see burdens lifted from the hearts of people. And there is no better feeling on earth than to realize that your Creator loves you and accepts you unconditionally, no matter what.
Bruce, I know my Creator loves me. And no, I don’t lean on my own understanding. There’s not a whole lot I can say to you right now. I still am dumbfounded by your writing. The ignorance is knee deep. I love you and am praying for you. God bless.