When it comes to our receiving eternal life from God, many are called, but few are chosen. This is a truth that many people find troubling and they ask, Why is this so? Is God unfair? How can I be among those chosen by God?

Fear not, the answer may not be what you think or might have heard. In this post, I will answer these questions and show that how God makes His choice is glorious, full of praise, joy, and comfort.

Who is God?

Since we will be looking at God’s actions in this post, let me first give you a brief introduction to God. God is a divine Family known as “the Godhead” (Acts 17:29) in the Bible. This Family consists of three divine Persons, namely, the Father, the Son called Christ, and the Holy Spirit.

For those who are new to Bible notation, “Acts 17:29,” for example, is a reference to the Bible, which is a collection of books. In the Bible, each book consists of one or more chapters, and each chapter has numbered sections called verses. The quotation referred to as “Acts 17:29” is taken from the book of Acts in the Bible, the 17^th chapter, and the 29^th verse.

What is God like? “God is love” (1 John 4:8) meaning that an identical love exists in the heart of each member of the Godhead and this love defines what is true love. The members of the Godhead never contradict each other at any time and, so, we can truly say, “there is one God.” (Mark 12:32). They speak with one voice.

Our Bible Verse of Focus

Our Bible verse of focus in this post is as follows: “As it is written, Jacob have I [God] loved, but Esau have I [God] hated.” Romans 9:13.

Naturally, you may be wondering, Why does God love one, and hate the other?

God Himself speaks to us, saying, “Fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified.” Deuteronomy 20:3. “Fear not, neither be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8.

“This then is the message which we [who know God] have heard of him [God], and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.” 1 John 1:5. In other words, “The LORD [God] is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.” Psalm 145:17.

You should know though that God says of Himself, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8, 9.

Humanity Originally Created Holy

Here is the story of the human race. “And God said, Let us [the Godhead] make man [humanity] in our image [with a character of love identical to the character of God], after our likeness [in a form (shape) like God’s form]…So God created man [humanity] in his own image [with God’s own character of love], in the image of God [with a character like God’s] created he him; male and female created he them.” Genesis 1:26, 27.

Thus, God created the first human pair, a man named “Adam” (Genesis 2:20) and a woman named “Eve” (Genesis 3:20), whom God married to each other.

Adam and Eve loved each other and they lived in love, joy, peace, and in perfect harmony with God. So, the human race was created holy.

All Humanity Corrupted with Evil

Adam and Eve both fell into sin, which is evil and wrongdoing, because of their yielding to the temptations to sin from an angel named Satan.

This angel, Satan, whose original name was “Lucifer” (Isaiah 14:12), was created holy by God but he fell into the sin of rebellion against the goodness of God. Satan caused other angels in heaven to join him in his rebellion and so God cast Satan and his “evil angels” (Psalm 78:49) out of heaven.

Now “Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat [had] a son in his own likeness [with a form (shape) like his own], after his image [with a sinful character like his own]; and called his name Seth.” Genesis 5:3.

Here then is an example of God’s great law of heredity operating in the human race. That is, Adam, who had become sinful, had a child who inherited his sinful nature, a child who inherited his whole disposition to sin.

Thus, God has placed on record in the Bible what every human being can say of themselves in truth, “Behold, I was shapen [formed] in iniquity [wickedness]; and in sin did my mother conceive me.” Psalm 51:5.

So, God says, “All [humanity] have sinned, and come short of the glory of God [fallen short of fully displaying a character of love identical to God’s love].” Romans 3:23. All humanity then have been corrupted with the evil of sin.

Many are Called

Now God says, “The wages of sin is [eternal] death [which is annihilation]; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23. And “many are called [to receive eternal life from God], but few are chosen [by God].” Matthew 22:14.

You may be asking, Who is Jesus Christ? And why is it that only many are called? Why are not all called? First, let’s look at two Bible verses that answer our questions about the many called versus all being called.

An important point to grasp is that in order to correctly understand the Bible, you need to compare Scripture with Scripture.

So, let us compare the following two Bible verses: “Even as the Son of man [Jesus Christ] came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28. Jesus Christ “who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Timothy 2:6.

Clearly then, Jesus Christ gave His life for all humanity and not just only for some people. In other words, many here means all people and not some people. So, all are called, but few chosen.

Who is Jesus Christ?

Now, back to the question, Who is Jesus Christ? Jesus is the name given to Christ when He was born in human flesh as a baby boy over 2,000 years ago.

Christ lived a holy life while He was on earth and died “for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2. On the third day after Christ’s death, He rose from the dead to live again and has ascended to heaven from where He had come to the earth.

Thus, “Jesus Christ…hath abolished [eternal] death [which is annihilation], and hath brought [eternal] life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10), where the gospel is God’s plan to save all humanity from eternal death (annihilation).

Why Some Are Chosen and Some Not Chosen

Why are all humanity called, but few are chosen? Well, God asks a question and answers it Himself, saying, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.” Psalm 24:3, 4.

“He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation [which is his being saved from eternal death (annihilation)].” Psalm 24:5.

“For whom he [God] did foreknow [which is every human being], he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image [to the character of love] of his Son [Jesus Christ, that they might be saved by God].” Romans 8:29.

“As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the [eternal] death [the annihilation] of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live [eternally]: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die [an eternal death (be annihilated)]?” Ezekiel 33:11.

For “I [God] will not justify the wicked.” Exodus 23:7. “And I [God] will punish…the wicked for their iniquity [wickedness].” Isaiah 13:11. They “shall be punished with everlasting destruction [annihilation] from the presence of the Lord [God], and from the glory of his power.” 2 Thessalonians 1:9.

This explains why some will not be saved, that is, why some are not chosen to receive eternal life, but why are only few chosen?

Here is God’s answer. God says, “Enter ye in at the strait [narrow] gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction [eternal death (annihilation)], and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait [narrow] is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto [eternal] life, and few there be that find it.” Matthew 7:13, 14.

So, now we know why few are saved, why few are chosen by God to receive eternal life from Him. It is because most people go in the broad way of wickedness. But the question now is, How does God decide who is wicked and who is righteous? This is the question for which we will now seek an answer.

Babies in the Womb: Jacob Chosen and Esau Not Chosen

God says, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” Romans 9:13. This God said while a woman named Rebecca was pregnant with the twins, Jacob and Esau.

What? How could God speak in this manner of unborn children? Well, God says, “(For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election [God’s choosing] might stand, not of works [by any human being], but of him [God] that calleth).” Romans 9:11.

“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid [Absolutely not!].” Romans 9:14.

Babies Conscious in the Womb

God has left on record in the Bible the following concerning a man called “John the Baptist” (Matthew 3:1), whose parents were Zachariah and Elisabeth.

“And it came to pass, that, as soon as the days of his [Zachariah’s] ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house.” Luke 1:23.

“And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid herself five months, saying, Thus hath the Lord [God] dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.” Luke 1:24, 25.

“And in the sixth month [of Elisabeth’s pregnancy] the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused [betrothed] to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary.” Luke 1:26, 27.

“And the angel said unto her [Mary], Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.” Luke 1:30, 31.

“And Mary arose in those days, and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Juda; And entered into the house of Zacharias [Zachariah], and saluted [greeted his wife] Elisabeth.” Luke 1:39, 40.

“And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation [greeting] of Mary, the babe [baby] leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost [Holy Spirit]: And she spake out with a loud voice, and said, Blessed art thou [Mary] among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb.” Luke 1:41, 42.

“And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For, lo, as soon as the voice of thy salutation [greeting] sounded in mine ears, the babe [baby] leaped in my womb for joy.” Luke 1:43, 44.

This then is evidence that, at least by the time of the sixth month of a pregnancy, the baby in the womb is conscious of its surroundings.

God “Speaks” to Babies in the Womb

When God creates a person in the womb, they are created according to the great law of heredity—with a disposition to sin. But even while the baby is in the womb, God sets about correcting this sinful disposition with the light of His truth. It is Christ “that was the true Light, which lighteth every man [person] that cometh into the world.” John 1:9.

Now it can be said of God, “Thou [God], even thou only, knowest the hearts of all the children of men.” 1 Kings 8:39. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him [God] with whom we have to do.” Hebrews 4:13.

Thus, God is able to accurately judge the character of babies in the womb. So, God says, “Yea, thou [the baby in the womb] heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I [God] knew that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor [sinner] from the womb.” Isaiah 48:8.

This, God says, is because of “the fruit of their thoughts…[in that] they have not hearkened [not given respect] unto my words, nor to my law [of love], but rejected it.” Jeremiah 6:19. Thus, God hated Esau because even when Esau was in the womb, he rejected God’s law of love.

Proof that God Accurately Judges a Baby’s Character

You may ask, Suppose God was mistaken about Esau? To demonstrate that God cannot make mistakes and never has, God has left on record in the Bible, Esau’s character as one who was born into the world.

“Lest [to prevent any possibility that] there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For ye know how that afterward, when he [Esau] would have inherited the blessing, he [Esau] was rejected [not chosen by God]: for he [Esau] found no place of repentance [no sorrow for, nor turning away from his sins], though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrews 12:16, 17.

Jacob, however, was the opposite of Esau in character, in that, there was hope that Jacob would, by the end of his life, keep God’s law of love. This then is the reason why Jacob was chosen by God and Esau was not chosen.

Hence, God says, “Chasten [discipline] thy son [child] while there is hope [that they will not reject God’s law of love], and let not thy soul spare for his [or her] crying.” Proverbs 19:18.

Jacob responded positively to God’s discipline, and at the end of his life he had a character of love identical to that of God’s character. That is to say, Jacob kept God’s law of love. Thus, Jacob’s character justified God’s love for him from the womb and his being chosen by God to receive eternal life.

Born into the World: Pharaoh Not Chosen

Now Jacob, whose name God changed to “Israel” (Genesis 32:28) went into Egypt with his family during a famine to get food.

“And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land [of Egypt] was filled with them.” Exodus 1:7.

And it came to pass that the Egyptians made the children of Israel into slaves. “And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour [cruelty]: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter [mortar], and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour [cruelty].” Exodus 1:1, 14.

So, God sent a man named Moses to the Pharaoh king of Egypt to tell Pharaoh to let Israel go free. “And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD [God], that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD [God], neither will I let Israel go.” Exodus 5:2.

Therefore, because of Pharaoh’s defiance of God and his stubbornness, God sent plagues upon Egypt. “But…Pharaoh…he hardened his heart, and hearkened not [gave no esteem] unto them [to Moses and his brother, Aaron who delivered God’s message to him]; as the LORD [God] had said [that Pharaoh would do].” Exodus 8:15.

The ten plagues which God sent upon Egypt were miraculous, that is, supernatural deeds of God. After the tenth plague, Pharaoh sent the people of Israel away out of Egypt, but as soon as Israel was gone, he changed his mind and chased after them to bring them back into slavery. However, God delivered Israel out of Pharaoh’s hand by parting the Red Sea for Israel to cross over on dry land to the other side. The pursuing Egyptian army was drowned in the Red Sea when God closed up the path He had made for Israel to pass through.

Thus, God says of Pharaoh, “And in very deed for this cause have I [God] raised thee up, for to shew in thee  [Pharaoh] my power; and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth [for all the miracles I, God, have done].” Exodus 9:16.

It can therefore be said of God in truth, “Surely the wrath of man [persons] shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou [God] restrain.” Psalm 76:10.

For God says, “A wicked man hardeneth his face.” Proverbs 21:29. “He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed [by God], and that without remedy.” Proverbs 29:1. Pharaoh then was not among those chosen by God to receive eternal life because he never repented of his sins.

Few are Chosen

At the time of Christ’s third coming to the earth, every human being who had ever lived is alive on earth—the righteous who are chosen are in God’s holy city, and the wicked who are not chosen are outside the holy city.

In reference to the wicked, God says, “the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.” Revelation 20:8.

We see then that of the whole human race, those chosen to receive eternal life from God are few compared to the number of the wicked who will receive eternal death (annihilation) from God.

How Can I Be Among God’s Chosen?

The crucial question that now arises is, How can I be among God’s chosen who receive eternal life from God?

The answer is simple:

Step 1: Yield to the Holy Spirit so that so that you are led to repentance which is deep sorrow for your own sins. It is always God’s “good pleasure” (Luke 12:32) to have “granted [you] repentance unto [eternal] life.” Acts 11:18. Then it is that you will confess your sins to God and surrender your will to God’s will. Thus, “submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7. In other words, be one of those people who have “purposed in his [or her] heart” (Daniel 1:8) to “follow after [seek] righteousness.” Isaiah 51:1.

In essence then, when you take Step 1, God gives you the gift of repentance.

Step 2: Now “God hath dealt to every man the measure [portion] of faith.” Romans 12:3. That is, everyone receives the gift of faith from God but without repentance people have a superficial faith and not saving (correct) faith that takes proper hold of God’s truth by the working of the Holy Spirit. Exercise the gift of faith from God by yielding to the Holy Spirit so that you believe in all God’s promises. When you do so, you instantaneously receive the gift of “love with [increased] faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 6:23. Thus, you are now “justified by faith” (Romans 5:1), that is to say, you are now declared righteous by God because your sins have been forgiven by God and you now have God’s love in your heart so that you can “cease from sin.” 2 Peter 2:14.

Step 3: “Go on unto perfection” (Hebrews 6:1) in that, for the rest of your life, you “keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 1:21) by maintaining a state of repentance and faith in God’s promises. When you have become perfect, God describes you as having become “sanctified by faith” (Acts 26:18), that is, as one who keeps His law of love.

For “to them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory [who seek to fully reflect God’s character of love] and [seek for] honour and immortality, [the gift of] eternal life [from God].” Romans 2:7.

This then is how you can be found among God’s chosen. Isn’t God marvellous? God makes the way to eternal life simple to understand, and He gives supernatural gifts to bring every human being to perfection, that is, to a state of sanctification by their keeping of His law of love.

Conclusion

We have seen that there is no need to fear that you will not be among God’s chosen. God’s requirements are simply that we turn away from all evil and that we love and trust God as a child loves and trusts their parents, for God is humanity’s heavenly Parent.

So, even though as our Bible verse of focus says, “many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14), we can truly say that the way God makes His choice is glorious, full of praise, joy, and comfort. Make sure then that you take the necessary steps to inherit eternal life from God.

Note that I asked a number of questions regarding our Bible verse of focus. These questions were answered by drawing upon my store of Bible knowledge gained by my reading the Bible daily in order to answer each question. In addition, the questions were answered by comparing Bible texts with each other as a means of unlocking the meaning of our Bible verse of focus.

The Bible Teaches Us How to Obtain Eternal Life from God

“In the beginning was the Word [Christ], and the Word [Christ] was with God, and the Word [Christ] was God.” John 1:1. “And the Word [Christ] was made flesh [was born as a baby boy named Jesus], and dwelt among us [human beings], (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father).” John 1:14. Thus, Christ, whose “name is called The Word of God” (Revelation 19:13) is the One who gave the whole Bible to humanity, from the Bible’s beginning to its end. Further, “God is love.” (1 John 4:8), which is to say, Christ is love.

And every one of you as a human being are to “lay apart [put away] all filthiness and superfluity [abundance] of naughtiness [of wickedness], and receive with meekness the engrafted [the implanted] word [from God, which is the Bible and], which is able to save your souls [from annihilation by God as the penalty for sin].” James 1:21. For the word of God, the Bible, being implanted in us means that “the love of God is shed abroad [is poured] in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [the Holy Spirit] which is given unto us.” Romans 5:5. So then, “love is of God; and every one [every human being] that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7. This is known as “justification” (Romans 4:25) which is accomplished by our repentance, that is, our deep sorrow for our sins and the gift of faith from God, which when exercised to believe God’s promise of forgiveness of sins and cleansing from sin brings us the gift of love from God. Note that everyone receives the gift of faith from God but without repentance people have a superficial faith and not saving (correct) faith that takes proper hold of God’s truth by the working of the Holy Spirit.

Immediately upon our justification, God tests our character to see if we will successfully resist all temptation to sin. Our success depends on our exercising faith in Christ’s keeping power through the Holy Spirit and, hence, we become sanctified (made holy) and thus receive eternal life from God.

And this is life eternal [everlasting life], that they [as human beings] might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent [to the earth as a Deliverer from sin].” John 17:3. Thus, when the whole Bible makes our character a character of perfect love, it means that we know God and, hence, we will receive eternal life from God.

How This Blog Teaches Bible Study

My blog posts take one or more Bible verses and unpack what is often the hidden meaning in them, to help you to gain in your understanding of the Bible, and to receive insights into how to study it. For God says, “Study [the Bible] to shew [show] thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing [interpreting] the word of truth [the Bible].” 2 Timothy 2:15. There are new blog posts every two weeks on a Monday at 12:01 a.m. in timezone UTC-5 (GMT-5).

Further Reading

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