Chosen by God?

The usual question when it comes to being chosen by God is why would He choose some and not others? From experience and from Scripture, I get the idea that when God calls someone to faith in Him, that call is irresistible, yet Jesus says many are called but few are chosen. Israel was called as a nation, yet they failed in that calling and the Lord turned to the Gentiles. Yet if humans can say no to God, then how can God be sovereign? Who are we to control our own destinies? I cannot resolve this puzzle, yet today this passage added a dimension not thought of before; Jesus was also chosen. . . .  

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4–10)

From this passage, those ‘chosen’ are ‘in Christ’ because Christ is chosen, just as we who are in Christ are righteous and justified. It is not our own righteousness but His. That is, like the pages in a book, I am in Christ. Or like the hand in a glove, He is in me. That union with Christ by faith and by the grace of God grants me the status of being chosen. It is not about God standing in the heavens and picking this person and not that person but a description of those who are in Christ.

In other words, being the elect or chosen is not a description of how I got there but a description of where I am. This explains the phrase ‘many are called but few are chosen’ in that God calls people to Himself yet only a few who are invited are actually in that kingdom of Christ and called His family.

This idea has holes in it too. However, I’m content with it. The NT uses the term “mystery” for several things including the gospel, what has happened with Israel, the fact that some will not ‘sleep’ but be changed, the will of God, how marriage depicts Christ and His church, that Christ is in His people, and several more truths about God’s doings. My nature is to love AND solve puzzles, yet faith tells me to simply believe what God says even if I cannot unravel it. One of those puzzles is that some believe and some do not.

PRAY: Lord, there are people who decide that all will eventually believe, or that no one goes to heaven against their will, or that only those who say yes to the calling will get in. . . all trying to simplify what You say is a mystery. All I know for sure is that God chose You and that You chose me. I cannot understand that choice except that “You chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; what is weak in the world to shame the strong; what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in Your presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:27–29, personalized) This humbles me, but I am content to be humbled and that You are glorified.

Amazing grace . . .

 

A friend told us that her son was not interested in salvation because he did not want to be in heaven with “those religious leaders who abused children.” While this revealed his sense of justice, it also shows he thinks some sins are worse than others (like his own sin of rejecting God’s grace) and negates the power of God to forgive and change lives of those who repent.

For July, MacArthur writes about the wonders of being united to Christ, of having access in prayer to God and to receive His blessings, our role as His children, our spiritual security, and much more. All these are reason for boundless joy and heartfelt thanksgiving. He begins with this:

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.” They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do. But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:4–10)

God has a different value system than the world. For instance, people value those who are healthy, wealthy, wise, popular, have a big house, and on goes the list of things that do not last and have no advantage in impressing Almighty God. That value system rejects Christianity, but God considers His people as chosen and precious. I need to remember His thoughts about me:

For consider your calling . . . not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:26–31)

It is easy to measure myself against others and have a pity party. They have a nicer house or greater skills,  are better cooks or gardeners, make more spectacular quilts, or their writing attracts more readers. However, the NT reminds me that this is foolish. Paul said:

Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding. But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you. (2 Corinthians 10:12–13)

This means sticking to thinking of myself as God thinks of me, without comparing myself to others. Paul also said, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.” (Romans 12:3)

Worm theology has some Christians eating dirt and feeling as if they are no good at all. Others boast in all their accomplishments and how hard they strive to please God. Either way, the focus is on self rather than Christ. But when I consider what He has done for me, there is balance: the humility of being totally unworthy and useless yet being chosen and precious in the sight of God, holy, acceptable through Christ, a part of His family. He gives me status as part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a recipient of His mercy and the label that I am His child, no matter what I think of myself.

PRAY: What can I say to You, Lord? Your mercy and grace are overwhelming. The world’s list of what is important is a joke compared to all that You have done and keep doing in my life. I’ve heard many complaints about all sorts of things and realize that just being able to draw the next breath is a gracious gift from You. Enable me to always count your blessings and be thankful every day.

PONDER: Read Ephesians 1:3-14 and 1 Peter 1:3–9, thanking God for His mercy.