Is there a group of people called the chosen ones, the elect?
If God doesn’t make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of God’s chosen ones [the elect], he will make the time shorter. (Matthew 24:22 CEV)
How are people chosen for life? Does God’s sovereignty turn us into robots who cannot resist His grace or is human willingness also involved? What did Jesus say to some Jews who were persecuting Him?
And you are not willing to come to Me so that you may have life. (John 5:40 HCSB)
Is belief also our choice?
Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am, you will die in your sins. (John 8:24 NASB)
When God calls, must we still respond by coming to Jesus?
All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. (John 6:37 NIV)
Does God draw us?
No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44 NKJV)
Are those who plant and water in the church fellow workers with God? Do we all have our part to play?
For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. (1 Corinthians 3:9 KJV)
What did Joshua say about making a choice?
But if it seems wrong in your opinion to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Choose the gods whom your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But my family and I will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15 CEB)
When God knocks on our door, do we choose to open or not?
Listen! I am standing and knocking at your door. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and we will eat together. (Revelation 3:20 CEV)
Must we want to follow Jesus?
He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” (Mark 8:34 WEB)
Must we choose to do God’s will?
Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. (John 7:17 NIV)
Do some Christians choose to rebel against the laws of the land?
So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. (Romans 13:2 NLT)
Do some Christians choose to indulge the flesh?
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13 ESV)
Does being chosen include being justified or given a right standing with God?
Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. (Romans 8:33 NLT)
Are they chosen to be the holy people? Once chosen must we still choose to clothe ourselves spiritually?
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. (Colossians 3:12 NLT)
What did Peter write about being chosen?
He chose you through the Holy Spirit’s work of making you holy and because of the faithful obedience and sacrifice of Jesus Christ… 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. (1 Peter 1:2; 2:9 ESV)
We have our choice to respond to Christ’s call to discipleship or walk away like the rich young man, to answer Christ’s knock on our door and let Him in to eat with us or not. When did God make His choice?
Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. (Ephesians 1:4 NLT)
How dangerous is it to choose to turn away after becoming a Christian?
But what about people who turn away after they have already seen the light and have received the gift from heaven and have shared in the Holy Spirit? What about those who turn away after they have received the good message of God and the powers of the future world? There is no way to bring them back. What they are doing is the same as nailing the Son of God to a cross and insulting him in public! (Hebrews 6:4-6 CEV)
In the midst of waning Christian love, who will receive salvation?
And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 24:12-13 NKJV)
God grant us strength to endure! Jesus stands at the door and knocks. Before the foundation of the world, God chose those who would open the door and let Christ in, to become holy saints. Some respond favorably. Some turn away or fall away later. What’s your response? You decide!
