God's foreordained plan for man

God's plan for man was foreordained in Christ before the foundation of the world, as it is written; “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.'

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having  made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth --- in Him”.

“In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory” (Ephesians 1:3-12).

The plan which God has for man and was foreordained before the foundation of the world, is the covenant He made with Jesus Christ, for man's restoration and holiness. For “Thus says God the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and that which comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk on it: I, the LORD, have called You (Jesus Christ) in righteousness, and will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house. I am the LORD, that is My name; And My glory I will not give to another, nor My praise to carved images” (Isaiah 42:5-8).

Again, thus says the LORD; " In an acceptable time I have heard You, and in the day of salvation I have helped You; I will preserve You and give You as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth, to cause them to inherit the desolate heritages” (Isaiah 49:8).

And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself."

God the Father gave Jesus Christ as a covenant to the people, to restore the earth. This covenant was ratified with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, when He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to His disciples, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” This covenant became effective after the death of Jesus Christ since it is stated that, “Where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives” (Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:16-17).

The sad thing is that, the majority of people do not see this covenant which became effective only after the death of Jesus Christ, going beyond the cross, they believe that the once and for all necessitates no more offerings to be made on behalf of sins. But the irony of truth is, the once and for all signifies that , once and for all there is an offering that can present the worshiper perfect and sinless before God, and thus fulfilling the will of God. And so Jesus said; "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the first that He may establish the second. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

So the question is, are we offering the Lord the food for His offering when we present ourselves before Him! Or are we so self righteous to believe that we can with all our limitations, with all our sinfulness, and with all our unworthiness present ourselves before the Father?

Going to the Father through Jesus Christ who intercedes on our behalf as our High Priest without presenting His body and blood is incomplete, because one is incomplete without the other. For it is stated quite clearly that; “There are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit (Jesus Christ), the water (His flesh), and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1John 5:8).

The testimony which God has given us regarding His Son is simply this; “And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

Now with regards to this life the Son said quite emphatically; “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For  My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven --- not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever" (John 6: 53-58). 

Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life

It is the offering of the body and blood of Jesus Christ with Jesus Christ interceding as our High Priest that grant us access to the Father, as clearly stated by the apostle Paul who wrote; “Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.'

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:19-25).

The bottom line is, “ This is what the LORD spoke, saying: ' By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people I must be glorified " (Leviticus 10:3).

To regard the Lord as holy, one must be holy themselves, and the way one becomes holy is by eating of those things with which the atonement was made. Truly these times of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent.

Copyright © 2013 by Lucius Joseph

All rights reserved

Key to the unification of the church (part five)

The truth of the matter is, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross as our peace, reconciled Jews and Gentiles, and created in Himself, in His body which is the church, one new man from the two. And so it is written; “For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. And He came and preached peace to you (Gentiles) who were afar off and to those who were near (Jews). For through Him we both (Jews and Gentiles) have access by one Spirit to the Father” (Ephesians 2:14-18).
Therefore, the unity of the true church of God which is the body of Christ, is between believing Jews and Gentiles, who acknowledge and recognize the priestly service of Jesus Christ, and consider themselves as a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own special people, and who as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, and to proclaim the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light. So for anyone to assumes, or to make believe that, by unifying all religious sects, denominations, and other major religions, regardless of their diverse doctrinal differences, and customs and traditions, into one universal church, will fulfil the Lord's desire for church unification, is both erroneous and deceitful.
The irony of truth is, no matter what name any religious denomination/s call themselves, as long as they are not teaching and living in accordance to the oracles which God gave to the Jews, regarding worship, and how to live with one another, they are still aliens to the body of Christ. What we all have to bear in mind is the fact that Gentiles, who originally referred to all other nations that were not of the commonwealth of Israel, were called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands, and were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
While on the other hand, the Israelites, are the ones to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen” (Romans 9:4-5).
So, the question was asked; “What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? The response is, “Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God.” The other question raised was, “What if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?' The answer is, “Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar.” And so, we have been instructed saying, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. Therefore, whatever they tell you to observe that observe and do, but do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do” (Romans 3:1-4; Matthew 23:2-3).

To be continued.

Key to the Unification of the Church (part four)

Since man has been given six days to carry out his own works, the seventh day is the pivotal time that members of the body of Christ should have all things in common.
But the queston remains, how are we able to fulfill the Lord's desire for the church which is that, we all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among us, but that we be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment? How can we achieve this goal when we contnue day after day, week after week, month after month, and year after year ignoring the key in resolving this issue. Are we anticipating some sort of a miracle! or expecting it to come to fruition outside the confines or boundaries of righteousness! So, what if some does not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar, for the Lord has ordained specific guidelines on how we can all speak the same thing. be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgement and not having divisions among us.
The Lord has allotted to man six days of the week to carry out all their works, but has reserved the seventh day and specific holy days for Himself, so that man can come before Him along with their households to have fellowship with Him and with one another. therefore, it is our failure, rejection or disbelief of this simple law that is the root cause of the disunity and confusion that exist  in the body of Christ, the church.
Beause, even with the liberty where; "One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it" (Romans 14:5-6).
This still does not give anyone the credit, the licence or the authority to designate other days for worshiping the One and only true God, except those which the Lord has ordained for His people. As clearly stated, "He who observes the day (not a day), observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day (not a day), to the Lord he does not observe it." Therefore, even if one choose not to observe the day, his/her belief regarding the day of worship will not be contrary to what the Lord has instituted and their belief and understanding will still be in harmony with those who are observing it.
This will therefore, not cause any confusion and division in the church, and furthemore, one of the most important considerations one must consider when preparing to appear before the Lord is, " When you come to appear before Me, Who has required this from your hand, to trample My courts?" Therefore, one must not trample the Lord's courts which is the inner court without an appointment, or, without following the specific guidelines or  protocol for entering the inner court.

Important points regarding the Lord's Sabbaths
There are indeed some very important points that all believers should note with regards to the Lord's Sabbath/s which are also the main reason why the Sabbath/s is the key to the unification of the church and disregarding them is the source of all the disunity and confusion that exist in the church which are as follows:
It is an appointed time and the one who has issued the appointment is the Lord Himself.
It is a feast day, a festival commemorating the works which the Lord has done for humanity.
It is a time which is holy, sanctified and set aside to the Lord for holy use.
It is a time which is holy to the people of God
It is a day of solemn rest
A day to refrain from servile work or gainful employment
A day to have a holy convocation principally to offer the Lord the food for His offerings.
It is a perpetual, everlasting covenant
Any belief or practice that is contrary or falls short of the above-mentioned, is a sure reason or ground for division and disunity in the church because, any compromise reached outside the confines of this act of righteousness can never produce unity in the body of Christ.

To be continued.

Key to the Unification of the Church (part three)

The sin of irreverence is the main reason why there are so many fractions, divisions and disunity in the body of Christ. It is the expression and demonstration of the lack of respect and dishonor to Jesus Christ as the Lord. Therefore, the reverence of Jesus Christ as the Lord, which is demonstrated by following the prescribed manner of true worship is the key to the unification of the church. For we have been duly instructed saying; "that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him" (John 5.23).
So how are we to honor the Son just as we honor the Father? We do that by, ascribing to both the Father and the Son the honor and the glory due to them by observing His Sabbaths. For thus says the Lord, "You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the LORD" (Leviticus 19:30; 26:2).
From the creation of the world the Lord made a clear distinction between the Sabbath and the other six days of the week to honor Him as the Creator, for it is written; "Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made" (Genesis 2: 1-3).
When the Lord delivered the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt and gave them His living principles, He specifically reminded them by saying; " Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore, the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it" (Exodus 20:8-11).
The Sabbath is an outward sign to prove that we are worshiping the One and only true God and that we are His special people, for the Lord spoke to Moses saying, "Surely My Sabbaths you shall keep, for it is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I am the LORD who sanctifies you. You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people. Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh is the Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death. Therefore, the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed " (Exodus 31:13-17).
Similar instructions were also given to the prophet Ezekiel for the children of Israel stating, "Moreover I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and Me, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them". Also, "I am the LORD your God: Walk in My statutes, keep My judgments, and do them; hallow My Sabbaths, and they will be a sign between Me and you, that you may know that I am the LORD your God" (Ezekiel 20:12,19-20).
Observing the Sabbath/s is the outward sign that identifies those who are sanctified, for we have been admonished saying; "If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the LORD honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken" (Isaiah 58:13-14).
Since the mouth of the Lord has spoken these words it means that the Lord has sworn by Himself; The word has gone out of His mouth in righteousness and shall not return. And to Him every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath. Therefore, these words are irrevocable. Not only did the Lord created the heavens, the earth, the sea and all that is in them in six days, He also allotted to man six days to do all his works, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of rest.

To be continued
We have also been reminded saying; "There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Hebrews 4: 9-12).
Since man has been given six days to carry out his own works, the seventh day is the pivotal time that members of the body of Christ should have all things in common.

To be continued

The key to the unification of the church (part two)

Anyone who knows and understands the Lord's heartful desire for the oneness and unity of His church, will agree that the church is far from accomplishing the Lord's heartful desire, beause, of the divisions and confusions that presently exist in the body of Christ.
Those who are able to perceive the magnitude of the present dilemma and know the root cause and the soluton to the problem has a mandate just as the prophet Isaiah had the mandate to "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins" (Isaiah 58:1).
They also are to be vey mindful of the admonition given by the apostle Paul to the servants of the Lord which states, "But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife. And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will" (2 Timothy 2:23-26).
So then, what is the root cause of the dilemma that the church faces today, which prevents the members from being of one mind and perfectly joined together as they have been urged by the apostle Paul to do, saying; "Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1 Corinthians 1:10).
It is perplexing to see how those of us who profess to be believers are closing our eyes and ignoring this admonition day after day, week after week, month after month and year after year without having the earnest desire to resolve the issue, or asking ourselves the honest queston; Is God pleased and approved of the divisions that exist in our midst? We see families and households claiming to be believers, yet the husband is part of one denomination, while the wife, children and best of friends are part of another! In our honest opinion, is this the way the Lord ordained for His followers? Is He pleased with this? Or, is He a God of confusion? So how do we personally feel if we are one of those who fall into this dilemma?
And to those who may think otherwise, this is what the admoniton says, "Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church" (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).
So then, what is the root cause of the problem of disunity and divisions that exists in the church, the body of Christ? And what is the key in resolving this issue?

To be continued

The key to the unification of the church (part one)

The unification of the church-the body of Christ, has been the earnest plea of Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul from the very inception. Jesus Christ in His prayer to the Father on behalf of His disciples prayed saying; “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.”
And on behalf of all believers Jesus prayed saying; “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one. I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me” (John 17:9-11; 20-23).
The apostle Paul also made an earnest plea to all believers saying; “Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment”.
He also accused the church of sectarianism, which he considered to be sinful and carnal, for he said;  “Now I say this, that each of you says, "I am of Paul," or "I am of Apollos," or "I am of Cephas," or "I am of Christ. Is Christ divided?  Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?” ...”And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ. I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?” (1Corinthians 1:10, 12-13; 3:1-4).
Therefore, for the church-the body of Christ to be divided into so many different sects, denominations and fragments is not in accordance to the will of God, for this is sinful and carnal. So what is the solution! What is the key to the unification of the church?
Will the reconciliation of the two legs of the great image of Daniel's prophecy, one in the East, and the other in the West, bring about such a unification? Will the reconciliation of the Catholic Church with the protestant churches which was signed in 1999 bring about this unity? Or will a reconciliation between Christians and Muslims bring about such a unification?
The irony of truth is, none of the above holds the key to the unification of the church-the body of Christ. The key to the unification of the body of Christ – the church, is for both believing Jews and Gentiles to believe in the heart and core message of the cross, and apply the priestly service of Jesus Christ, as their one and only gateway to the Father. For this is what to the Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are being saved, it is the power of God.
Because in the true sense of the word, there are only three categories of people, which are; The Jews, those to whom God gave His oracles or sacred writings; the Gentiles/Greeks, all other nations outside the commonwealth of Israel, who do not now God; and the church of God, which consists of both believing Jews and Gentiles, of whom it is said; “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Galatians 3:26-29).
Therefore, in order to be able to resolve the issue of the divisions that exist in the body of Christ (the church), one has to first and foremost find the root cause of the problem in order to be able to resolve it, otherwise, we will only be dealing with the effects and not the problem itself.

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To be continued

The Chosen Few

To those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ have been admonished by Jude a servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James saying; “I want to remind you, though you once knew this, that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed those who did not believe” (Jude5).

The apostle Paul echoed similar sentiment by saying; “But with most of them God was not pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted.” And that “All these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come: Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1Corinthians 10:5-6, 11-12).

Unfortunately, there is a condemnation leveled on the church where ungodly men have turned the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ, and for this reason although many have been called, only a few will be chosen.

Who is responsible for choosing only a few from the many, is it God? Is it predestination?

For sure it is not God, because according to the truth of God’s inspired word He shows no partiality. “For the Lord our God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe. He administers justice for the fatherless and widows, and loves the stranger, giving him food and clothing” (Deuteronomy 10:17-18).

God’s role in man’s eternal destiny is to:-

a. Blessed him with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

b. Let His divine power give to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these we may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2Peter 1:3-4).

c. Execute righteous judgment. For He will render to each one according to his deeds. To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life. But for those who are self seeking and who rejects the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for everyone who does evil. First for the Jew, then for the Gentiles, but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; for God does not show favoritism.” In every nation whoever fears God and works righteousness is accepted by Him” (Romans 2:6-11; Acts 10:35).

The many called and few are chosen is it a matter of predestination?

In one sense of the word yes, but not as many presumed it is. It is not a matter of; some individuals are predestined to be saved while others are predestined to be lost.

The predestination of either being saved, or being lost: lies in the belief or disbelief in Jesus Christ. Jesus said emphatically, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets; they will all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from Him comes to Me” (John 6:44-45).

Again Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has enabled him” (John 6:65).

The irony of truth is, because of the Father’s impartiality towards man He has drawn every one to Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself” this He said, signifying by what death He would die” (John 12:32-33).

Christ’s death on the cross reconciled all men to the Father, giving each on the equal opportunity to be saved. As it is written; “For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life: And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:10-11).

The only thing we have different to each other is, “To each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.’

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the same Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.’

“All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He gives them to each one, just as He determines” (Ephesians 4:7; 1Corinthians 12:4-11).

Why are many called but few are chosen?

Many are called but few are chosen because of the following reasons:-

1. The calling is initially not an everlasting calling.

It is a calling to lead us to the Father. Jesus whilst praying for Himself said, “Father, the hour has come: Glorify your Son , that your Son also may glorify You, as you have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as you have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:1-3).

One must not forget that, “The Lord having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterwards destroyed those who did not believe.” With regards to this general calling, there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for we are all one in Christ Jesus, and in Him we all live and move and have our existence.

2. The calling is a call to holiness.

To all who have been drawn to Jesus Christ has a mandate to live holy lives, “For the love of Christ constrains us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again” (2Corinthians 5:14-15).

Everyone who has been drawn to Jesus Christ is urged to “Have a walk worthy of the calling with which he/she has been called.” And, “As obedient children, they are not to conformed themselves to the former lusts, as when they were ignorant, because this time of ignorance God has overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent. But as He who called us is holy, we also must be holy in all our conduct, because it is written; “Be holy, for I am holy” (Ephesians 4:1; 1Peter 1:14-16).

It is a calling that one should esteem highly. “For we see our calling brethren, think of what we were when we were called. Not many of us were wise by human standards, not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things – and the things that are not – to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him.”

It is because of God the Father that we are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God – that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord” (1Corinthians 1:26-31).

The call to holiness is the main objective for which we were called. “Just as God the Father chose us in Jesus Christ before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:4-7).

The will of God for those who have been called, is their sanctification. He did not call them to uncleanness, but in holiness, unto holiness, perfecting holiness in the fear of the Lord.

Holiness is a state that is derived from the act of righteousness. It is the fruit of righteousness, not of our own, because man´s righteousness is as filthy rags before God, nor is it by the deeds of the law, because by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, but from the act of righteousness which Christ has done, and we continue to believe in, and partake of, which has become our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.

3. One must abide in Christ in whom he/she has received the calling.

 

Jesus Christ gave an illustration on how we can abide in Him by saying, “I am the vine you are the branches”, and according to Jesus Christ’s own words, “Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit the Father takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.’

“Therefore, Jesus’ admonition to those who are in Him is; “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.’

“If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:2-7).

The chosen ones are those who are called, sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ.

How does one abide or be preserved in Jesus Christ?

According to Christ’s analogy regarding the true vine and the branches, the sap of the vine [His blood] must continue to flow through the branches, and the branches have to be bearing fruits, and this is accomplished by:-

1. Partaking of Christ’s flesh and blood [Communion]. Jesus said; “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” (John 6:56).

2. By allowing the truth which was heard from the beginning concerning the Word of life to abide in us.

According to the apostle John the truth which was heard from the beginning concerning the word of life is this: “The life was manifested, and we have seen and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us – that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ: And the basis of this fellowship is for us to be holy, blameless and spotless, walking in the light even as He is in the light.

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father” (I John 1:1-3; 2:24-27).

3. Keeping God’s Commandments.

It is written; “Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us” (1John 3; 24).

And, “If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit” (1John 4:12-13).

Keeping God’s commandments which is the love of God, and the love of our neighbor is prerequisite to receiving the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit is given to those who obey God, and Jesus Himself said, “If you love Me keep My commandments, and I will pray the Father and He will give you another Helper that He may abide with you forever. Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you” (Acts 5:32; John 14:15-17 ).

4. By abiding in love:

It is written; “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him” (1John 4:16).

The way God expressed His love was to give His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. And the belief that one should have concerning the Beloved Son in order to have everlasting life is to believe that, Jesus Christ is the living bread which comes down from heaven and give life to the world.

For thus says the Lord, “Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world” (John 6:47-51).

5. Confessing that Jesus is the Son of God.

For, “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God” (1John 4:15).

In conclusion the few who are chosen are those who have acknowledged their calling in Christ, are walking worthy of this calling, which is to walk in holiness, and are preserved in Christ by abiding in His love, which is tantamount to keeping His commandments, and feeding on His flesh and blood, by partaking of communion at the appointed times.

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He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

With brotherly love
Lucius Joseph