Many Are Called
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:23-26
While men like things to be simple and clear cut? God and His kingdom is not! There are many things that we cannot understand nor will we understand until we get to heaven. Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:
And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
"Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."
' "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. "And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
"But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'
"So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
"So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are called, but few are chosen." Mathew 22:1-14
We see clearly from the parable that God does get furious and destroys those who deserve it, just like He did with Jerusalem and the nation of Israel in 70 AD for murdering Jesus. We also see that although many are called few are chosen. Those who like the man did not have on a wedding garment shall be cast out into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
It is a fact that Jesus Christ never had an altar call although He commanded all men to repent! Salvation is not as simple as men make it out to be. Even conservative Baptists theologians don’t agree on who is saved:
Unbelievers in Baptist churches: an 'affront to God,' speaker says
By Jeff Robinson Baptist Press Friday, July 27, 2001
WILMORE, Ky. - Is the Baptist Faith and Message being contradicted by Baptist church rolls? That's the question Tom Ascol posed during the 2001 Southern Baptist Founders Conference, July 17-20 at Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. The Founders Conference is a national meeting of Southern Baptist pastors and church leaders who embrace Calvinism.
Ascol, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Fla., pointed to the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as continuing the historic Baptist commitment to regenerate church membership. In practice, however, the denomination reflects a wholesale departure from it, he said, citing a North American Mission Board (NAMB) study indicating trouble at this crucial point of biblical doctrine, as well as church membership rosters filled with the names of "inactive" or missing members.
The doctrine of regenerate church membership holds that only born-again persons may be members of a local church. It is a historic Baptist distinctive, championed by all the historic Baptist confessions of faith, including the 1925, 1963 and 2000 statements of the Baptist Faith and Message.
"Our practice doesn't measure up to our confession," Ascol said. "The overwhelming majority of Southern Baptist church members give little or no sign of spiritual life. There are countless studies that have been done in the past 15 years that validate this."
As evidence of this jettisoning of regenerate church membership, Ascol cited figures from the SBC's 2000 church profile and a study conducted by the North American Missions Board which showed that:
SBC churches totaled 15.9 million members but only 5.5 million in total attendance on any given Sunday morning. "Only 33 percent of those who are supposed to be members care enough to come," Ascol said.
The typical SBC church has 233 members but an average attendance of only 70 persons for Sunday morning worship.
Beyond Sunday morning, only one member in 10 takes part in further church activities.
Less than one of every 10 persons who make decisions through the evangelistic efforts of Southern Baptist churches is active in the church one year later.
Ascol called such membership statistics a "sham" and "an affront to God."
http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/content/news/2001/7_27_2001/ne270701unbelievers.shtml
They are many Christians who will say that “once saved, always saved” is true because a person accepted the LORD at an early age and was water baptized. Even though the same person may not have darkened the church doors in recent years or have read his or her Bible in 50 years. But there is more to “salvation” than just the first step of confession or profession! Just entering the race is not enough. There must be fruits and persistence and perseverance and holiness. For God’s word is unchanging:
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. Ephesians 5:1-7
According to the word of God, you cannot be a fornicator, unclean person, a covetous man, an adulterer, an homosexual, a sodomite, a thief, a liar, a murderer, sexually immoral, or a drunkard and have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God, even if the person believes in the demon doctrine of once saved, always saved! Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:
And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. Revelations 22:10-15
Then Jesus said to His disciples, "Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. "And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, "Who then can be saved?"
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:23-26
While men like things to be simple and clear cut? God and His kingdom is not! There are many things that we cannot understand nor will we understand until we get to heaven. Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:
And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, "and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come.
"Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."
' "But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. "And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them.
"But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. 'Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.'
"So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. "But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment.
"So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. "Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' "For many are called, but few are chosen." Mathew 22:1-14
We see clearly from the parable that God does get furious and destroys those who deserve it, just like He did with Jerusalem and the nation of Israel in 70 AD for murdering Jesus. We also see that although many are called few are chosen. Those who like the man did not have on a wedding garment shall be cast out into outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
It is a fact that Jesus Christ never had an altar call although He commanded all men to repent! Salvation is not as simple as men make it out to be. Even conservative Baptists theologians don’t agree on who is saved:
Unbelievers in Baptist churches: an 'affront to God,' speaker says
By Jeff Robinson Baptist Press Friday, July 27, 2001
WILMORE, Ky. - Is the Baptist Faith and Message being contradicted by Baptist church rolls? That's the question Tom Ascol posed during the 2001 Southern Baptist Founders Conference, July 17-20 at Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky. The Founders Conference is a national meeting of Southern Baptist pastors and church leaders who embrace Calvinism.
Ascol, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Fla., pointed to the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message as continuing the historic Baptist commitment to regenerate church membership. In practice, however, the denomination reflects a wholesale departure from it, he said, citing a North American Mission Board (NAMB) study indicating trouble at this crucial point of biblical doctrine, as well as church membership rosters filled with the names of "inactive" or missing members.
The doctrine of regenerate church membership holds that only born-again persons may be members of a local church. It is a historic Baptist distinctive, championed by all the historic Baptist confessions of faith, including the 1925, 1963 and 2000 statements of the Baptist Faith and Message.
"Our practice doesn't measure up to our confession," Ascol said. "The overwhelming majority of Southern Baptist church members give little or no sign of spiritual life. There are countless studies that have been done in the past 15 years that validate this."
As evidence of this jettisoning of regenerate church membership, Ascol cited figures from the SBC's 2000 church profile and a study conducted by the North American Missions Board which showed that:
SBC churches totaled 15.9 million members but only 5.5 million in total attendance on any given Sunday morning. "Only 33 percent of those who are supposed to be members care enough to come," Ascol said.
The typical SBC church has 233 members but an average attendance of only 70 persons for Sunday morning worship.
Beyond Sunday morning, only one member in 10 takes part in further church activities.
Less than one of every 10 persons who make decisions through the evangelistic efforts of Southern Baptist churches is active in the church one year later.
Ascol called such membership statistics a "sham" and "an affront to God."
http://www.biblicalrecorder.org/content/news/2001/7_27_2001/ne270701unbelievers.shtml
They are many Christians who will say that “once saved, always saved” is true because a person accepted the LORD at an early age and was water baptized. Even though the same person may not have darkened the church doors in recent years or have read his or her Bible in 50 years. But there is more to “salvation” than just the first step of confession or profession! Just entering the race is not enough. There must be fruits and persistence and perseverance and holiness. For God’s word is unchanging:
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them. Ephesians 5:1-7
According to the word of God, you cannot be a fornicator, unclean person, a covetous man, an adulterer, an homosexual, a sodomite, a thief, a liar, a murderer, sexually immoral, or a drunkard and have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God, even if the person believes in the demon doctrine of once saved, always saved! Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:
And he said to me, "Do not seal the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is at hand. "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still." "And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." Blessed are those who do His commandments, that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter through the gates into the city.
But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practices a lie. Revelations 22:10-15
Matthew 8:16 When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick,
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.
When Jesus the Anointed One walked the earth as the son of man and son of God He demonstrated the will of God by doing good, healing all who were sick and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. This is a ministry that all true anointed Christians are to exhibit and demonstrate as put forth by Jesus Christ who clearly stated to all believers:
Mark 15:"Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
EXTRACT FROM Be Filled With All The Fullness Of God
http://walthope.tripod.com/befilled.htm
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