SECTION 2

Matthew 22:14, “For many are called (klhtoi) but few are chosen (eklektoi).”

Romans 8:29-30, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

These are the 2 verses that the LORD gave me so that I could finally, once and for all, be at PEACE with this particular doctrine. Below, I have taken each of the words highlighted in this section and shown each stage of their progressive development that was derived from the original root word. Feel free to click on the word progressions below if you want to see how exactly the word progressed and how the definition changed in this progression.

Let us first begin with the transliterated definition of foreknow in Romans 8:29. This word means to have knowledge beforehand or to have understanding as one who has known the outcome of a situation for a long period of time because they originally knew it beforehand. Psalm 139 tells us that God knew each one of us before we are born. He knew us before He knit us in our mother’s womb. He knew our thoughts before we thought them and our actions before we acted on them.

The next word, predestinate, means to decide something beforehand. To predetermine a final consequence. To set up specific limits in advance so that the predestinated action will remain within those limitations. To possess this knowledge from long ago or at the beginning of time. To anticipate the fulfillment of the predestinated expectation....as each day progresses, we see the complete fulfillment on the horizon. Each day that passes, the horizon becomes closer and we are that much closer to seeing the predestined object fulfilled.

Let us know think about the words ‘foreknow’ and ‘predestined.’ Based on the transliterated progressions below, this verse is saying that God knew each one of us beforehand. He knew everything about us, our actions, decisions, and the future paths that we would embark upon. God loved each one of us so much that He willingly took the time to foreknow us and predestined a pathway for each of us in which......... “all things work together for the good to them that love the Lord” (Rm 8:28)............and has PRE destined our lives to head down this path.

What is important to understand is that the word ‘pre-destined’ begins with the prefix of ‘PRE’ meaning beforehand. To have a life predestined does not mean to have a life that has already been destined. To predestine someone means to guide them into a path that will ultimately fulfill their particular destiny. God set up a predestined path of salvation for each one of us. He set up events in our lives and set up circumstances that would lead us from a PRE-destined beginning to a definite, fulfilled destiny at the end. It is important to note that God uses the word “pre” before the word ‘destined’ because He has provided each one of us a path to take, walking with Him in personal relationship, to our final destiny. God set this path up before we were born because He foreknew us. Yet as we are about to see in a moment, He does not force His predestined path on our lives. It is a conscious choice on the part of each individual to embark on this predestined path of salvation or to take the scenic route to hell. God loved us so much that He gave Jesus on our behalf. The Bible says that He was the LAMB slain from the beginning; it was foreknown. (Revelation 13:8)

Jesus’ path to the cross was predestined by God for our salvation. Yet as we saw in the Garden of Gethsemane, He had to choose to follow this path or not. He asked His Father to remove this cup from Him.....if it were possible. Jesus said He knew all things were possible with God. Jesus had the choice to either walk the predestined path to the Cross or to abandon the idea, thereby damning all of humanity. It is important to note that Jesus was faced with a choice and that He had to make a definite decision by choosing a particular choice. (Luke 22:40-45)

The Bible not only supports this viewpoint by providing us with an agonizing moment in Christ’s life where He had to make a choice, but it also provides another verse which clearly defines our God-given right to choose.

Matthew 22:14 and Romans 8:30 both have the word ‘called’ mentioned in the verses. This word is very important because the word ‘called’ comes from the word ‘kaleo’ which means ‘to be called, to be summoned, and to be invited....in a very urgent, incessant, intense manner.” Now when someone is invited, even if it is in an aggressive manner, it clearly denotes that a choice must be made on whether to accept or decline this invitation. As we saw above, Jesus stands at the door and knocks. He wills us to invite Him in, yet we are the ones who have to accept the invitation and allow Him entry into our hearts. What is so fascinating is that this word, ‘called’ is seen in both Matthew 22:14, which says many are called but few are chosen.........and in Romans 8:29-30, that those who are predestined are called.

Above, we saw that God foreknew each one of us as our Creator before we were even born. He loved us so much that He was willing that none would perish. He sent His Son Jesus to die on our behalf so that we could have the invitation to believe on Him and have a personal relationship with the most wonderful Savior imaginable.

God purposely predestined a path for each person with this ultimate goal in mind. But we are invited or summoned to accept this predestined path. To be invited means that an offer is extended, but to accept the invitation means to CHOOSE to accept or to decline it. We have the option, the choice to decline this predestined path and to choose our own path of destiny. No matter if you take your predestined path or create your own path, we are given a choice to accept or decline God’s invitation.

Just because God lovingly set our lives on a path that He created for us does not mean that He will force us to accept the invitation (the calling) that will be our passport to ultimate destiny. Many are called......many are invited. But few accept the invitation that must be chosen in order to walk this predestined path to their ultimate destiny. Of even further intrigue, is the fact that the synonym for ‘calling’ is defined as Strong’s 5823, which is defined, “to harshly cry out, to shout, to cry without ceasing, to scream.”

God is so loving to us that He will shout, scream, do anything in His power (because all things are indeed possible with Him) to keep us on our predestined path. He will aggressively and relentlessly pursue us........do everything imaginable to convince us of His Love........even to the point of desperation in which He will cry out to us, scream to us from the other side of the door of our hearts that Jesus is standing behind, to get our attention. To influence our acceptance of His divine invitation, so that we might be chosen for a destined path of salvation.

Click Here to See Transliterated Word Progression