Does the Bible ever say who is elected or chosen?

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PaulThomson

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Oct 29, 2023
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#41
Can you give me some verses that say on what basis God chooses? I know He chose David because of the condition of his heart.

He chose Saul for who knows why, maybe to show israelites they should of listened to God and kept the judge system God gave em, but Israel insisted.

He chose Jeremiah and Paul before they were even born, that is a hard one to explain.
I would suggest that God loves and chooses ALL conceived human beings for salvation, but not all human beings choose to love God back and trust Him, so pass up on the salvation He has chosen them for.

God chooses and prepares some particular people from the womb for some particular roles to course-direct the world or a nation toward His non-negotiable goals. He probably had a few babies contemporaneous with Jeremiah who could have done what Jeremiah was commissioned and used to do, but Jeremiah is the one who first said,
"Here I am, Lord. Yes, I will go for you."
 

Hakawaka

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Jul 1, 2021
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#42
I would suggest that God loves and chooses ALL conceived human beings for salvation, but not all human beings choose to love God back and trust Him, so pass up on the salvation He has chosen them for.

God chooses and prepares some particular people from the womb for some particular roles to course-direct the world or a nation toward His non-negotiable goals. He probably had a few babies contemporaneous with Jeremiah who could have done what Jeremiah was commissioned and used to do, but Jeremiah is the one who first said,
"Here I am, Lord. Yes, I will go for you."
But the Bible says FEW are chosen, not all. Many are called, few are chosen.
 

PaulThomson

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Oct 29, 2023
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#43
How does that work with this part of Romans 11?

25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
The Israel of God is made up of believing Jews and believing Gentiles. When Paul says,
" And in this way, all Israel will be saved," he is saying that Jewish and Gentile believers will be saved by God allowing blindness only in part within each generation of Jews. There will alays be a remnant of Jews in ecery generation who trust in Christ, who will be grafted back into the olive tree alongsde the Gentiles in each generation being grafted into the same olive tree. This means it behoves Gentile Christians to pray for and evangelise the antagonistic Jews to deliver the convertible Jewish remnant in their generation, and we cannot afford to wipe our hands of the Jews, despite their animus toward Christians. God still loves the Jews, despite their treason against Him. We Gentiles obtained salvation through the first Jewish believers being persecuted by Jewish unbelievers, and bringing the gospel to us. Now we Gentiles can bear persecution from the unbelieving Jews to take the gospel to the Jewish remnant in our generation. God has spoken clearly to all the Jews that they are all in unbelief, so that they might all come to Him for mercy. And whoever of them comes, He will have mercy upon them.
 

PaulThomson

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Oct 29, 2023
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#44
But the Bible says FEW are chosen, not all. Many are called, few are chosen.
A fair rejoinder. But what is the context of this statement by Jesus.

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

He is referring to people who were called to a wedding feast, but who needed to be dressed appropriately to be chosen to remain among the wedding guests.

There were many people who were chosen to be invited to the wedding.
Mat 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

And there were many fewer people than those chosen to be invited, who were chosen to be allowed to remain at the wedding feast, because they were following the wedding protocols.
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 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.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

So, many are chosen to be called to the wedding, but few of those called are chosen to remain at the wedding.

We always have to ask "chosen for what". Elect/chosen does not always refer to the same group of people in every Bible passage.

.
 

Suze

Active member
Mar 14, 2025
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#45
A fair rejoinder. But what is the context of this statement by Jesus.

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

He is referring to people who were called to a wedding feast, but who needed to be dressed appropriately to be chosen to remain among the wedding guests.

There were many people who were chosen to be invited to the wedding.
Mat 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

And there were many fewer people than those chosen to be invited, who were chosen to be allowed to remain at the wedding feast, because they were following the wedding protocols.
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 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.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

So, many are chosen to be called to the wedding, but few of those called are chosen to remain at the wedding.

We always have to ask "chosen for what". Elect/chosen does not always refer to the same group of people in every Bible passage.

.
If this helps , I believe the wedding garment is a metaphor for Christ's innocent blood that was spilled to cover our sins , remember how Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with outfits made of leaves ? God covered their shame by sacrificing a lamb and using its skin to cover their shame , shame that they felt because of their sin . Jesus is the lamb , slain from the foundation of the world and we are covered by his sacrifice , he is our wedding garment . He is the Way , the Only Way and if any try to enter God's Kingdom any other way , without a wedding garment , they will b noticed and kicked out .
 

PaulThomson

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Oct 29, 2023
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#46
But the Bible says FEW are chosen, not all. Many are called, few are chosen.
Or from another perspective, "many" can be "not all", but many can also be "all". So, "many" are called can be "all conceived human beings" or perhaps "all those conceived human beings who reach an age where they are able to hear God's call".

"Many less than" the above groups can be considered "few". By this approach, "Whoever is able to hear God's call are called to the first resurrection, but not many of those are chosen to be allowed to enter and remain in the holy precincts where the resurrected saints celebrate their communion with their returned Lord.
 

Hakawaka

Well-known member
Jul 1, 2021
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#47
A fair rejoinder. But what is the context of this statement by Jesus.

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

He is referring to people who were called to a wedding feast, but who needed to be dressed appropriately to be chosen to remain among the wedding guests.

There were many people who were chosen to be invited to the wedding.
Mat 22:3 And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:9 Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.

And there were many fewer people than those chosen to be invited, who were chosen to be allowed to remain at the wedding feast, because they were following the wedding protocols.
Mat 22:12 And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13 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.
Mat 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

So, many are chosen to be called to the wedding, but few of those called are chosen to remain at the wedding.

We always have to ask "chosen for what". Elect/chosen does not always refer to the same group of people in every Bible passage.

.
Thanks! This is the best explanation I have ever heard on this phrase. This is the truth.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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#49
Thanks! This is the best explanation I have ever heard on this phrase. This is the truth.
Are you still uncertain as to whether the parable has to do with salvation?
 

HeIsHere

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May 21, 2022
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#50
Thanks! This is the best explanation I have ever heard on this phrase. This is the truth.
The parable is eschatological.

The wedding feast alludes to promise found in Isaiah on the restoration of Israel.

The servants being the OT prophets being sent out.

5 “But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Jesus says that the servants gathered both the “evil and good” into the wedding hall.

End of the age where the wheat and the tares were not easy to tell apart.

The burning of the city reveals God turning to the Gentiles as one age ends and the other begins.

Many >>>>> all of Israel had the promise, but only a few converted.

Not about individual selection to salvation.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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#52
Jesus says that the servants gathered both the “evil and good” into the wedding hall.

End of the age where the wheat and the tares were not easy to tell apart.
Gentiles were seen as evil. Of course God's people were evil also, and as the story recounts, God's emissaries
had been before killed by them, and were again mistreated and then destroyed by God before everyone close-
by, anyone they could find, was invited, showing the inclusivity of God's invitation to salvation. I thunk this
very clearly shows the coming grafting in of the Gentiles. Wheat and tares were never easy to tell apart.
 

HeIsHere

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May 21, 2022
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#53
No im quite certain a connection is there to the wedding of the Lamb
Yes it is and this is why eschatology is so important to understanding scripture, what/when is the wedding of the Lamb?... something to think about. :unsure:
 

Hakawaka

Well-known member
Jul 1, 2021
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#54
Yes it is and this is why eschatology is so important to understanding scripture, what/when is the wedding of the Lamb?... something to think about. :unsure:
Revelation 19, when Jesus returns.
 

Pilgrimshope

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Sep 2, 2020
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#55
Yeah thats what I believe too. My reasoning for why Paul was chosen was becuase he was a devout guy in his "Former religion" a.k.a judaism. His heart was sincere and he did the persecution in ignorance. So God knew this guy would be a great tool to use.
Paul was a chosen apostle a sent an empowered messenger of Jesus and his gospel . like these ones

“Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?”
‭‭John‬ ‭6:70‬ ‭KJV‬‬

paul also was chosen for a purpose

“And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest. But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision: but shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judæa, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance. Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: that Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭26:15-20, 22-23‬ ‭KJV‬‬

theres a difference in apostles and the church

“For we are labourers together with God:

ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3:9‬ ‭KJV‬‬

chosen witnesses is why we have a bibles nt today

“And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭10:39-42‬ ‭

The apostles and even many other witnesses in hat generation were chi Owen to witness the things they saw and heard even possibly pre ordained for those things in order that Gods plan to preach the gospel to all people would be fulfilled

also Paul’s example choosing gave more Hope to sinners who would repent and believe in Jesus after him

“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭1:15-17‬ ‭KJV‬‬

at here are really
Important people who are chosen throughout the Bible Moses for instance was chosen and many lives because of loses and his intercession between they and God. Many men David also was chosen but there’s always a service these men are chosen to accomplish it’s never just random choosing “I’ll save this man and not the other “

His choosing of one man always works and serves to save many others who believe it’s been that way always really
 

JohnDB

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Jan 16, 2021
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#57
Called vx chosen.

Chosen (as when Jesus used both terms together) is a reference to a title given by Jews. That's the title "Born From Above".

"Born from above" refers to those unique individuals who have passion for God and are given specific, special tasks by God to fulfill.
This can be anything from delivering a message to being a leader in battle (and all points in between)

As far as being a Spiritual leader? (Which is what most people erroneously think they are) that's usually not on God's radar screen...or at least to the people they wish to be a Spiritual leader of. (E.G. Jonah)

Most people are like those suffering from Jerusalem Fever....naked except for their bed linen and street preaching with their KJV in their hands while in Old City Jerusalem. (Most there only speak modern Hebrew or Farsi....a few speak English)
 

Chad7

Junior Member
Apr 24, 2017
14
9
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#58
Can you give me some verses that say on what basis God chooses? I know He chose David because of the condition of his heart.

He chose Saul for who knows why, maybe to show israelites they should of listened to God and kept the judge system God gave em, but Israel insisted.

He chose Jeremiah and Paul before they were even born, that is a hard one to explain.
Ephesians 1:1 refers to predestination as a plan that determines who receives eternal life. God chose before the beginning of the world that He would send His Son to be a redeemer, and all who received Him would have eternal life. Everyone has to choose as to whether to accept God's plan or reject it. Those who choose Christ are therefore the chosen ones.
 

GWH

Groovy
Oct 19, 2024
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#59
Ephesians 1:1 refers to predestination as a plan that determines who receives eternal life. God chose before the beginning of the world that He would send His Son to be a redeemer, and all who received Him would have eternal life. Everyone has to choose as to whether to accept God's plan or reject it. Those who choose Christ are therefore the chosen ones.
Yes, this understanding agrees/jibes/harmonizes with John 3:16.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#60
How does that work with this part of Romans 11?

25For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

26And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

27For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.

28As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the fathers' sakes. 29For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance. 30For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 31Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy. 32For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
The body of Christ is not Israel. This is a reference to the remnant in the tribulation upon the return of their Messiah and King, Jesus Christ. In this present church age, they are enemies of the gospel of Jesus Christ. They rejected it as a whole.