Bible Questions Answered:
Jesus said, many are called but few are chosen. What is the difference between being called and chosen?
Bryan/ Seattle, Washington
Bible Answer:
Bible Text:
Matthew 20:16 KJV (Jesus)
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.
Matthew 22:1-14 KJV (Jesus)
1 And Jesus answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
4 Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
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.
13 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are called, but few are chosen.
The clear reference given to us from our Lord's parable of the marriage of the Kings son, is that
the difference between called, and chosen, was (as it is today,) based solely upon the recipients decision to accept the invitation or to neglect it.
To refuse the invitation, was not to be chosen.
To accept the invitation was to be chosen.
In either case all were called.
Albert Einstein once said, regarding the order of the cosmos, “God does not throw dice.”
And may it be so added that in the salvation of men, neither does He throw dice regarding the salvation of men!
The Word of the Lord:
Isaiah 45:22 KJV
Look unto Me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.
Isaiah 55:1 KJV
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Ezekiel 33:11 KJV
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?
Luke 12:28 KJV
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess Me before men, him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God:
John 4:14 KJV
But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 7:37 KJV
In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.
Acts 2:21 KJV
And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 10:43 KJV
To Him give all the prophets witness, that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins.
Romans 5:18 Geneva Bible
18 Likewise then, as by the offence of one, the fault came on all men to condemnation, so by the justifying of one, the benefit abounded toward all men to the justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one, shall many also be made righteous
Romans 10:12,13 KJV
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him.
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
I Timothy 2:3,4 KJV
3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Titus 2:11,12 KJV
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
II Peter 3:9 KJV
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
I John 2:23 KJV
Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.
I John 5:1 KJV
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth Him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of Him.
II John 9 KJV
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
Revelation 3:20 KJV
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
Revelation 22:17 KJV
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
Man has choice:
Exodus 32:26 KJV
Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.
Deuteronomy 26:17-19 NLT
17 You have declared today that the Lord is your God. And you have promised to walk in His ways, and to obey His decrees, commands, and regulations, and to do everything He tells you.
18 The Lord has declared today that you are His people, His own special treasure, just as He promised, and that you must obey all His commands.
19 And if you do, He will set you high above all the other nations He has made. Then you will receive praise, honor, and renown. You will be a nation that is holy to the Lord your God, just as He promised.”
Deuteronomy 32:19 KJV
I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Joshua 24:15 KJV
And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Ruth 1:16 KJV (Ruth to Naomi.)
And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
I Kings 18:21;38,39 KJV
21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow Him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
38 Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
39 And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, He is the God; the LORD, He is the God.
Psalm 31:14 KJV
But I trusted in thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my God.
Psalm 119:30 KJV
I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
Isaiah 65:12-15 NLT
12 now I will ‘destine’ you for the sword. All of you will bow down before the executioner. For when I called, you did not answer. When I spoke, you did not listen. You deliberately sinned—before My very eyes— and chose to do what you know I despise.”
13 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign Lord says: “My servants will eat, but you will starve. My servants will drink, but you will be thirsty. My servants will rejoice, but you will be sad and ashamed.
14 My servants will sing for joy, but you will cry in sorrow and despair.
15 Your name will be a curse word among My people, for the Sovereign Lord will destroy you and will call His true servants by another name.
Hebrews 11:24,25 KJV
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Almighty God, knew the end from the beginning.
He knew those who would turn to Him, and those He called.
Isaiah 46:9,10 KJV
9 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure:
Romans 8:28-30 Geneva Bible
28 Also we know that all things work together for the best unto them that love God, even to them that are called of His purpose.
29 For those which He knew before, He also predestinate to be made like to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.
30 Moreover whom He predestinate, them also He called, and whom He called, them also He justified, and whom He justified, them He also glorified.
Romans 8:28,29 NLT
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
29 For God knew His people in advance (The foreknowledge of the "All Knowing," God), and He chose them to become like His Son, so that His Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
30 And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him. And having called them, He gave them right standing with Himself. And having given them right standing, He gave them His glory.
Have you chosen the Lord Jesus Christ, as your Saviour?
If you do, you will become, not only called, but the chosen of the Father.
Born again, a child of God.
John 1:12 KJV
But as many as received Him (The Lord Jesus Christ, God's Son), to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:
