K046. Many are called, but few are chosen (2)

I have said in K040 (in fact Jesus has said it Mat 22:14) that Many are called; but few are chosen. But today many argue, "That is a hard saying. It is a cursing or condemning message which we will never preach to our believers. Those who preach that the believers can fall are from the devil. They are the tares. They have always condemned us and misunderstood us. Some churches have even falsely accused us and said that we preach license to sin or cheap grace which saves everyone in the churches. No, they lied. We have only said that only the true grace believers who believe like us are saved .."
I will ask them, I thought you said that the sermon and the warnings of Jesus were for those who were under the law, and therefore, His doctrine and principles have become obsolete, inapplicable, and impractical to you? Why do you preach that His warning of the tares is valid now? I thought you said that only the true believers were saved, and therefore, some believers (lukewarm believers) can fall too. Why are you so upset when we warn that some believers in our churches can fall? Will you accuse the Lord as the condemning preacher because He warned that the believers can fall too? Do you think that preaching or warning that any or some believers in the churches can lose their salvation is too condemning to you or is a threat to you?

They will argue, "No, you have misunderstood us again. Yes, I believe that only the true believers are saved. But we should constantly preach and continue to preach only the true encouraging message of assurance to all our true believers that they are 100% saved; not the message of condemnation."
I will ask them, If you know that all your believers are true believers who are 100% saved, do you still need to preach that they will be 'more saved'? Even if you may be right to do it, are you going to focus on only those who are 100% saved or 100% righteous? How about those who are still ignorant and lost and need the wake up call or warning from the Lord? What makes you think that you should stop thinking about those who are ignorant and lost even though they could be the minority in the ratio of 1 to 99? Obviously, you do not know the focus and the grace of the Lord to the lost even though you are the preachers. You would only want to preach what you and your own 'followers' want to hear when there are still so many who are ignorant and lost in your church and who still need to know the call of repentance from the Lord:

Luk 15:4-11 KJV  What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?  (5)  And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing .. (7)  I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance .. (11)  And he said, A certain man had two sons .. (I have heard preachers who argued vehemently that repentance is change of mind and resting on the shoulder of Jesus, like the sheep WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING. That is another story .. I will explain how ridiculous it is, next time)

But now let us go back to our focus on the words of the Lord: Many are called, but few are chosen:
  (1. Many sinners were called in the highways)
Luk 5:32 KJV  I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
Luk 14:22-35 KJV  And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.  (23)  And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.  (24)  For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper ..
  (2. But few disciples were chosen; there were criteria)
.. (25)  And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,  (26)  If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.  (27)  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple ..
This Bible passage should be read in conjunction with the similar call (or warning) to the disciples in Mat 22:10-14 KJV ( .. So those servants went out into the highways ..  (11)  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: (12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. .. (14) For many are called, but few are chosen.) The chosen ones are the disciples who will take up their cross and follow the Lord at all cost. Those who are called will come prepared with their wedding garment. However, those who come unprepared will realize that there are 'rules' for the wedding dinner. They will become speechless when they realize that they have been deceived for so long and they did not know it !

Interestingly do we notice the 'switch' in Jesus' words when the great multitude started to follow Him and when He turned and said to them? Actually it was the 'turn' to choose His disciples and find out who were the true disciples and the willing ones.
I stopped here in my previous post K040 and showed the 'switch' in Jesus message to the people, from 'the sinners' to 'the disciples'. There was a 'switch' of focus in His message to those who responded to His call of repentance, and then to the true disciples who would truly follow Him.

Interestingly I realise that there was also a 'switch' in Paul message to the people too, from his message to 'the babes' to his message to 'the true believers':
(1. Many were babes with weak foundation and they could still fall)
Heb 5:12 - 6:12 KJV  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.  (13)  For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. (6:1)  Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of ..  (2)  Of the doctrine ..  (3)  And this will we do, if God permit.  (4)  For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,  (5)  And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,  (6)  If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame ..
(2. But the mature disciples showed works and labour of love in Christ)
.. (9)  But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.  (10)  For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.  (11)  And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:  (12)  That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

I said that there were two groups of people mentioned by Jesus and Paul. But I realise that there was something common in the first group of the people they mentioned? Those people mentioned in the first group might have accepted the call of repentance or the invitation to the wedding dinner. They might look at the finished work of Jesus Christ or His cross. But they would not carry their cross or grow in the principles of the doctrine of Christ. Hence, they could have fallen. But they still thought that they were very safe or very fantastic in doing many things for the Lord until the Lord rejected them:
Mat 7:12-23 KJV  Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.  (13)  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (15)  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  (16)  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? .. (21)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22)  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23)  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

(See K040 also)
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