Many are called but few are chosen – Part One
He leads me …
The confusion about the verse ‘Many are called but few are chosen’ (Matthew 22:14) comes about by the word ‘call’. When Christians want to know about vocation or ‘calling’, we usually mean, ‘Is God calling me to a particular job or other type of work?’ This is an important question, because the work we do matters to God. He created us with gifts and abilities for a particular purpose, so it makes sense to ask Him what He wants us to do.
However, the concept of calling goes deeper than any one aspect of life. God calls people to become united with Him for various reasons many times throughout their life. As we know the most important call is Christ’s call to follow Him. This call is then the basis for every other calling that God brings after that.
Please note, that the call to follow Christ is different to His calling to become a professional church worker or missionary. The meaning of ‘many are called but few are chosen’ is actually the initial call to follow Jesus and become His disciple.[1] What this verse is saying is that many receive God’s invitation for salvation, but few respond to this call. Those that do respond are the ones who the Lord refers to as chosen.
Once we become a Christian, the Holy Spirit continues His work in us by making us progressively more like Jesus. In doing this He is also preparing us for the call to ministry. Historically ministry has been seen as being a priest, minister, pastor or deacon. However, since Martin Luther introduced the concept of the priesthood of all believers, which denied any special authority to those holding church titles, most modern churches follow a blend of the two concepts. While there are those in church office called pastors or ministers, there are also numerous ministries providing help to those both inside and outside the church which come under the oversight of a church or a Christian faith-based organizations.
To clarify, those Jesus refers to as ‘chosen’ are the people who respond to the invitation to come to Him, and then respond in the proper manner to enter His kingdom. This means that our primary calling as followers of Christ is by Him, to Him, and for Him. Our personal answer to God’s call should be that yes, we want Him as Lord of our life, and yes, we will obey what He asks us to do.
There are two parts to this initial call. The first part is what we are most familiar with and is referred to as the external call. It is the summons of God through the gospel message. This call counsels men and women to come to Christ on account of their shame for sinning, a desire to put it right (repentance) and to let God be in charge of their lives. They do this by faith. Examples of this call would be, someone sharing the gospel with us, us reading Christian literature and also observing the living example set by true Christians.
The second part of this call is the internal call. This is the committed, saving work of the Holy Spirit which then combines with the gospel’s outward call. This internal call powerfully and effectively turns the sinner from their sin to Jesus Christ so that when the external call comes, the sinner is in the right mental condition to respond correctly.
The bad news is we have no power in ourselves to change our rebellious hearts. The good news is God is delighted to be able to change rebellious hearts by the perfect power of His Spirit.
If we have responded to the external call with repentance and faith, it is only because God has first been at work in us to turn to Him. Salvation is truly by grace (God’s undeserved favour) alone. Jesus wants us to find salvation and life in Him alone too. It is because only in Christ may we find an everlasting, unshakeable foundation.[2]
To qualify as being chosen by God there is a process that a lot of Christians do not do particularly well. When we ask Jesus to come into our lives, the prayer usually has parts to it. First we acknowledge that we are a sinner, and then we that we believe that His Lordship and work on the cross actually happened for us. We then ask Him to forgive us. Then comes the part that we struggle with. There are usually words like -
By faith I receive You into my heart as the Son of God and as Saviour and Lord of my life. From now on, please help me live for You, with You in control. In Your precious name, Amen
We say the words, but find it hard to live the bits that say that we will live for Him and allow Him to have control of our lives. Sadly there are people in churches today who believe that God is there to approve and support what they do without checking to see whether the Bible agrees, or even praying about it first.
Some believe that because they have said the prayer and asked Jesus to come into their lives they are qualified to go to Heaven, so they can carry on living pretty much as they did before. This is not what they agreed to, and by not keeping their side of the agreement they miss out on the most amazing experiences.
The reason that they do not want to give everything over to the Lord is that they want to hold on to at least some control of their lives. They may even be scared that if they submit completely to the Lord, He will have them doing things and going places that are too far out of their comfort zone.
This is contrary to what He says in the Bible. Firstly He created us for His purposes. We read in Jeremiah 29:11 – ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.’ (NLT) This verse reminds us of God’s plan for our life. Although we may feel that our life is ordinary or hard work, in the hands of our Maker the extraordinary is always possible.
God knows exactly what He is doing. In Proverbs 3:5-6 it says, ‘Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.’ (NLT) Then in Psalm 32:8 we read, ‘I will instruct you (says the Lord) and guide you along the best pathway for your life; I will advise you and watch your progress.’ (TLB)
The Lord will also provide our resources as Paul shows us in 2 Corinthians 9:10-11 – ‘For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you. Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous.’ (NLT)
Finally for those who might be concerned that the Lord may require them to do things that they are not happy about, Jesus says in Matthew 11:29-30, ‘Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.’ (NLT) Here a burden is ‘the obligation which Christ imposes’.[3] It could be the Lord requiring us to go and forgive someone, or it could be His call to do a particular job.
The life lived by faith is a much lighter yoke and a much easier burden to carry than the heavy and burdensome yoke of self-righteousness.[4] We do not have to work hard at our self-image. When we surrender to His will, He gives us the peace that settles our hearts and gives our minds rest.
We can be part of something great when we need the Spirit’s help to accomplish supernatural things like – forgiveness, perseverance, self-control, godliness, and love. So folk, what great thing is God hoping to achieve through your surrender?
Dear Reader – If you have found some value in this blog, please feel free to send a copy on to your family and friends. Kind regards, John
[1] Calling & Vocation (Overview), Produced by Theology of Work Project;
https://www.theologyofwork.org/key-topics/vocation-overview-article
[2] What Did Jesus Mean by ‘Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen’? Guy Waters, The Gospel Coalition;
[3] International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
[4] What does it mean when Jesus says, “my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30)? Got Questions Ministries
https://www.gotquestions.org/yoke-easy-burden-light.html
