Chosen?

Do You Choose God? 

Who Is Responsible For Your Salvation?

Frequently Christians say that they "invited" Christ into their lives or that they "accepted" Christ or "received" Him.  This wording seems to put the initiative and the power with the individual.  The Bible, however, may tell a different story.

From the verses that are cited below, and from the hundreds of others that support God's calling of His sheep, we trust that you will agree and understand that God Himself does all the work in salvation.  He calls.  It is His seed of faith that is implanted.  He causes the soul to be regenerated, which issues forth in confession (repentance and faith).  He justifies the sinner before God.  He offers assurance that what He has begun, He will also finish.  The Bible says that He knows His sheep and He never loses one of them.  He knows them all by name.

We invite you to do some serious Bible research.  Examine just some of the verses in God's Word that deal with God's calling, God's choosing, and God's electing of His own people.  After honestly reading and reviewing these verses, we encourage you to ask yourself, "Did individuals really invite God into their lives?"  or "Does He implant all genuine Christians with the gift of faith so that they will respond to Him?"  We believe that the Bible teaches that salvation is entirely God's work, His initiative and He carries it through to completion all the way to eternity.

Research the verses for yourself;

The following 30 verses are merely a sampling of the word "Called" in Paul's Letters in the New Testament.

Rom. 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God,

Rom. 1:6 among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ;

Rom. 1:7 to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rom. 8:28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Rom. 8:30 and whom He predestined, these He also called; and whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

Rom. 9:24 even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.

1Cor. 1:1 Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Sosthenes our brother,

1Cor. 1:2 to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by called, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours:

1Cor. 1:9 God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1Cor. 1:24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

1Cor. 1:26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;

1Cor. 7:18 Was any man called already circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Has anyone been called in uncircumcision? Let him not be circumcised.

Gal. 1:6 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;

Gal. 1:15 But when He who had set me apart, even from my mother's womb, and called me through His grace, was pleased

Eph. 1:18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,

Eph. 4:1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called,

Col. 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful.

1Th. 2:12 so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.

1Th. 4:7 For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.

2Th. 2:14 And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1Ti. 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called, and you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

2Ti. 1:9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity,

Heb. 5:4 And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

Heb. 9:15 And for this reason He is the mediator of a new covenant, in order that since a death has taken place for the redemption of the transgressions that were committed under the first covenant, those who have been called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance.

Js. 2:7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called?

1Pet. 1:15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;

1Pet. 2:21 For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

1Pet. 3:9 not returning evil for evil, or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.

1Pet. 5:10 And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.

2Pet. 1:3 seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

20 NT Occurrences of the Word "Chosen"

Mt. 12:18 "BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL IS WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.

Mt. 22:14 "For many are called, but few are chosen."

Lk. 12:32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.

Jn. 6:70 Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?"

Jn. 13:18 "I do not speak of all of you. I know the ones I have chosen; …"

Jn. 15:16 "You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that you should go and bear fruit, …"

Jn. 15:19 "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.

Ac. 1:2 until the day when He was taken up, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen.

Ac. 9:15 But the Lord said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;

Rom. 11:5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God's gracious choice.

Rom. 11:7 What then? That which Israel is seeking for, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;

Eph. 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love

Col. 3:12 And so, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;

1Th. 1:4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

2Th. 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

2Ti. 2:10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.

Tit. 1:1 Paul, a bond-servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,

Js. 2:5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

1Pet. 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen

Rev. 17:14 "These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

The word "Draws" in the New Testament.

Jn.  6:44 "No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.

8 occurrences of the word "Elect" in the New Testament.

Mt. 24:22 "And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short.

Mt. 24:24 "For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

Mt. 24:31 "And He will send forth His angels with A GREAT TRUMPET and THEY WILL GATHER TOGETHER His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other.

Mk. 13:20 "And unless the Lord had shortened those days, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect whom He chose, He shortened the days.

Mk. 13:22 for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order, if possible, to lead the elect astray.

Mk. 13:27 "And then He will send forth the angels, and will gather together His elect from the four winds, from the farthest end of the earth, to the farthest end of heaven.

Lk. 18:7 now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?

Rom. 8:33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;

If, after reading this brochure, you find that you are outside of God's flock, we invite you to contact any leader of this church and we will attempt to answer questions which may have impaired you from receiving God's gift of faith and eternal life.  To God be all the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Jan Paul Sattem