Called and Chosen

They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin. [John 15.22]

Many are called but few are chosen. This is ringing in my ears over the last couple of days.

God so loved the world... many are called.

The ones deemed "guilty" above are those who, when introduced to Jesus (called), refuse to respond in faith. And, because only faith pleases God, their lack of faith - their unbelief - makes them guilty of sin with no excuse (and, therefore, not "chosen").

The "guilty" ones are those who consider Jesus but refuse to believe. In other words, the "guilty" ones' hearts are 'hardened by Jesus.' They refuse to believe in Him and, instead, elect to believe in something else (science, nature, reason, logic, etc... - even religion).

We have but one response to God. Faith.

Faith renders us "chosen." Even though the world is "called," few will respond in genuine faith and be "chosen."

At His calling, the disciples dropped everything to follow Jesus. Even Judas. But just like the parable Jesus told in Matthew 21.28-32, Judas had a change of heart about Jesus. Did it have anything to do with the fact that Judas kept up with the ministry money? Judas was indeed called, and at first followed Jesus, but as it played out, Judas stopped believing (became hard-hearted) and slipped away from the classification of "chosen."

What worries me, is that the disciples "left all" to follow Jesus and, even one of them failed in faith. How can we, who have basically "left nothing" think we are in faith?

We would not be guilty if we didn't know Jesus' story and refused to "leave all" for Him. But we know... for God so loved the world...

Father, I am coming to conclusions that are not easy. Please help me.