*continued
Wait a minute! I remember reading something very similar. Jesus speaking to people who are not wanting what He gives them, they
feel that what they have is "ok".
Revelation 3:14-22
And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
These people obviously think that what they have is sufficient, not realizing they are naked without the garments Christ wants to give them.
In the story we are told that the original invites "would not come". Would the man without a robe 'not' receive a robe?
Ok. Here is what I know so far. God has to call(invite - *imperative command) me. I can't just say, "hey, I think I am going to go to that feast". When I show up, believing that there is a feast, I can't just walk on in. I
have to put on a robe that He gives me. I also know, that He owns the robe, so I cannot steal it, or take it from Him. I have to receive it. But its a must that I put it on after receiving it.
What a picture of faith! But wait, isn't there one question your not answering yet? Does God call everyone? Does God choose everyone He calls? "Many are called, few are chosen". Obviously we see that God does call many, as many as would hear Him. But what about that choosing? Is it a choosing just because, or is it a choosing for a reason He gives us?
I believe it is quite clear why 'some' are chosen. The ones He 'chooses' are the ones who
will receive His gift, who
will receive His grace, who
will receive His righteousness, who
will receive His faith, who
will receive all that He offers - without basing it on anything
they have done(even belief).
Matthew 7:8 - For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
John 1:11-13- He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 12:44-50
And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.
John 17:8 - For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me.
Acts 2:37-41
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
Big question now; What is the difference between believing and receiving? I thought it was just "believe" or "who ever believes in Him". Whats this receiving all about? Great question Nathan.
Believing is what I do, it is the only "work of God" that leads to salvation. Ahhhhh, it
leads to salvation. Gotcha. Believing in and of itself
is not salvation. I have to
receive God's gift. Is that not the same thing? Nope. Its not actually. Interesting.
"Receive" - lambanō - to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing
in order to use it
Bingo! Belief just says, yea I believe that. I understand that. I think its true.
To receive something means, "I believe it and I am going to use it."
So no wonder so many are called but few are chosen. Those who are chosen are the ones who receive the faith given - in order to use it. The ones
called, may or may not believe, but they have no desire to use the faith that God offers. The
elect, are the ones
called and who receive faith, not just believe. You ever wonder why Peter said to confirm your "calling and election"?
2 Peter 1:1-11
Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Use it or loose it. Yup. Faith is not a belief, its also not something you can believe in. You cannot produce faith by believing.
Its a gift, and you cannot accept that gift without the desire to use it. That is what election is all about. Its about accepting God's gift of faith, by belief that His Son paid for your sins, and then walking in the newness of life. God's call, God's choice, God's provision - your
accepting of this - to all who will accept this - to all
who will use it.
Peter was telling the believers to make sure it was God's call, and God's choice they had believed - not just because they wanted it. How would they know that it was God's call and choice? They could see that what God gave them was being used in their life - acceptance. If there was no use of the faith, then there is no real acceptance of it. Is this righteousness by works? No silly, if its God's faith that works in us, leading us, then how can it be our own works?
Oh boy. That leads into a whole other discussion......
