How can you know if you are one of God’s chosen people? How can you know if you will be saved?
The Bible tells us: “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14). God calls all sinners to Himself. He says through the prophet Isaiah: “Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isaiah 55:1). That is quite a call or invitation to “many”. But notice He also says, “few are chosen”. Why are so few chosen? How does God choose which ones to accept for His children? 1 Peter 2:9 tells us: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light”. Choosing implies a preference of choice. If children choose teams for an athletic game, they will choose who they believe will athletically perform the best, to give them the winning edge. We choose our friends by who we like to be around. A choice implies that there are criteria by which to choose.
God has not left us without a clue as to what His criteria are to be chosen as His. In fact, He has clearly told us in His Word what His criteria are for choosing His people. Consider John 3:16: “. . . that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” There are also many other Scriptures that repeat the same fact: Faith in God is what He looks for, to be chosen for His children. God is also specific as to who He has not chosen. He tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:9: “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived”.
-----
So we see that God has called us all, and given us the criteria by which He will choose. He also told us clearly that all those who meet this criteria are chosen, and those who do not, are not chosen. We have no excuse not to be among the chosen. There is one more interesting point we should perhaps mention about God’s choice. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 tells us: “But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth”.
God has chosen us from the beginning! How could God choose us by the criteria He gives if He chooses us before we were born? Because God foreknows all things. He is not bound to wait on time to pass. He knows if you are going to choose to be faithful to Him, or if you will fall from the faith. All future decisions are totally up to you, but God knows the final outcome. His foreknowledge has no effect on your free will, nor does your free will have any effect on His foreknowledge.
Another term the Bible sometimes uses for God’s choice of His people is “election”. Because God chooses, or “elects” who will be His people, some people assume we have no decision in the matter: some of us are chosen or elected to believe, and the rest are lost. However, God tells us plainly, not only what His requirements are and how we can be among the chosen, but He also tells us that it is totally up to us to make sure we are among the elect!
He tells us in 2 Peter 1:10 to “give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall”.
------
Jesus has promised he will come again! Are you among His chosen? Make your calling sure while there is yet time…