Hi Andrew,
Here are a few emails, I think they may help you get a better idea of the called and the chosen.
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,2633.0.html -------
Dear Tony:
We must learn to read more carefully. Every word is important. Here is what Jesus said: "But I say unto That whosoever is angry with HIS BROTHER....and whosoever shall say to HIS BROTHER, Raca...." (Matt. 5:22).
These lying, two-faced, blaspheming hypocrites were not Jesus' "brothers." Here are those who are Christ's "BROTHERS": "For whosoever shall DO THE WILL OF MY FATHER which is in heaven, the same IS MY BROTHER...." (Matt. 12:50). Contrarywise, "whosoever shall NOT do the will of My father is NOT my brother..." This is because "Ye [same scribes and Pharisees] are of YOUR FATHER [not Christ's FAther, but YOUR father] THE DEVIL" (John 8:44).
God be with you,
Ray
http://www.forums.bible-truths.com/index.php?topic=109.msg393#msg393 ---
Dear Daryn:
You question is: Why does God call many but only choose a few? Because there is much greater learning to be gained by the way God is doing it.
We need to thoroughly understand why the many called will not be in the Kingdom of God. We are to rely completely and totally on God for our salvation. The many called rely on their own blasphemous, free-will sovereignty over God. They believe that they can either make or brake God, all according to how they will exercise their own fabled "free will."
Those who are in the first resurrection have been totally purged of any such blasphemy. God determines how deeply He wants His Sons and Daughters to understand these spiritual truths before they are accepted into His Kingdom. Even Paul had no guarantee that he would be saved regardless of how he either obeyed or did not obey until the very end. Yet, "All is of God."
God be with you,
Ray
http://forums.bible-truths.com/index.php/topic,4866.0.html -----------
I have stated this very very clearly in my writings: If God has chosen and pre-ordained you to be one of His Chosen Elect Few, THEN YOU WILL BE ONE OF THEM. Period. Ananias and Sapphira were decidedly NOT two of God's Chosen Elect. They were CALLED, but not chosen, and like all "called" but NOT chosen, they could NOT obey from the heart and be among those in the first resurrection to reign with Jesus.
It matters not, Brett, whether we say it is necessary to "do" something or that we "must do" something. The word "must" does not necessarily add to or detract from something that God says will be "DONE." Example: Jesus said, "And why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and DO not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). Now do we see the words "MUST DO" in this verse? NO. But can you imagine one of the disciples saying to Jesus: "You mean we MUST do what you say?" OF COURSE we "must" do what Jesus says!! But that does not mean that we "do" what we "MUST do" by our own power and will. Nothing I have said in Installment 16 contradicts the Scriptures or anything that I have said in any of my other installments. God KNOWS who is and who isn't one of His chosen elect, but WE DON'T. That is how God keeps us from becoming spiritually lazy and complacent. It may "appear" that God has "chosen" us for one of His elect, but there is no way of be ing 100% sure until THE END.
This is why, the Greatest Apostle who has ever lived, said that even he could be a "castaway" from the Kingdom of God if he did not daily fight the good fight of faith (I Cor. 9:27).
God be with you,
Ray
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Here is a excerpt from Ray's paper 'A Scriptural Explanation of the Lake of Fire' part 5 in the Lake of fire series. I think this will give you a better understanding of who the chosen are.
http://bible-truths.com/lake5.html -------------------------
WE ARE GOD’S GARDEN
In what "certain ways" are we "like God’s garden?" Remember we must compare spiritual things with spiritual. Answer:
"My Father is the Farmer… "I [Jesus] am the grape vine. You [that’s us] are the branches. He who is remaining in Me, and I in him, this one is BRINGING FORTH MUCH FRUIT" (John 15:1 & 5). I
sn’t this easy when we stop fighting God’s Word with our own preconceived doctrines? And trust me; this is as hard as it get, if we will just allow God’s spirit to TEACH US spiritual things!
Now then, WHAT KIND of fruit are we talking about—apples and grapes? Let’s again, compare spiritual things with spiritual. Answer:
"But the FRUIT of the SPIRIT [in God’s spiritual garden, which we are] is love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and self control" (Gal. 5:22-23).
All of these character traits from God’s Spirit are invisible and they are SPIRITUAL. But does that mean that they are not real? Of course not. In fact, we can SEE the results of these invisible, spiritual character traits of the spirit just as Jesus told us we can see the results of the invisible wind.
WE ARE GOD’S BUILDING
In what "certain ways" are we "like" God’s "building?"
"Know ye not that YE [that’s us] ARE the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells IN YOU" (I Cor. 3:16). "For ye are the temple of the living God…" II Cor. 6:16).
Notice that "ye are the temple of God" is another metaphor. In what certain ways are we like the temple of God? Answer:
"Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief corner stone; in Whom ALL THE BUILDING fitly framed together grows unto AN HOLY TEMPLE in the Lord: In Whom YE [that's us again] ALSO ARE BUILDED TOGETHER for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph. 2:19:23).
The Lord of heaven and earth "dwells not in temples made with hands" (Acts 17:24). Where does God then dwell? Are you ready for this? This is heavy stuff!
"If a man love Me, He will keep My words: and my Father will love him, and WE [both Jesus Christ AND His Father] WILL COME UNTO HIM [this is US if we love God], AND MADE OUR ABODE [our home] WITH HIM" (John 14:23)! WOW!
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I hope this helps
mercy, peace and love
Kat