To be called and to be chosen

 
 

『For many are called, but few are chosen. 』 (Matthew 22:14)A few days before Jesus died, he told the disciples by parable: A king had a wedding feast for his son. The king invited people, but no one came.

 

『The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son, And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come. Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come unto the marriage. But they made light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise: 』 (Matthew 22:2-5)

 

The reason for those who do not want to come to a wedding feast is because of their own business. They thought that the present work was more important than the kingdom of God. The others insulted or killed the servant sent by the king. So the king was angry and sent his army to destroy the murderers and burn the town.

 

Those who killed the missionaries who went to preach the word of God are judged in this world. Countless missionaries have lost their lives. God will surely judge. The people of the world hate Christians. The world hates Christians just as the world hates Jesus. The reason is Satan. Satan prevents people from entering the kingdom of God. In particular, the Old Testament Israelites caught and killed the prophets. Even Jesus was executed on the cross.

 

The king sent his servants to invite everyone who passed by, whether wicked or good. Today, they will be people who are led to the church. The king, however, swept away those who were not dressed in robes among those invited to the marriage feast. If you don't wear robes, you can't enter the kingdom of God. Those who sit in church and worship but are not dressed in Christ are thrown out. The robes are Christ. Those who are not dressed are not chosen, but those who are dressed are chosen by God because God sees Christ. It doesn't matter if the invited person is good or bad. For no one is good before God. The standard is dress. God does not see the personality, effort, integrity, or occupation of the invited person. You only see if you are dressed in robes.

 

Robes are Christ. If we die on the cross in union with Jesus Christ, we can dress in Christ.『 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 』 (Galatians 3:27) In dressing in Christ, many church people think of a "new heart." It is not the mind but the body of the spirit. Dressing in Christ should not be thought of as a change of heart. God directly clothes Christ with those who die on the cross with Jesus. The dead with Jesus on the cross put on a new body and rule over the flesh with holy conduct. There is no new heart in the flesh received from parents. If Christians do not die with Jesus on the cross, nothing will happen.

 

The dead with Jesus on the cross are clothed in Christ. Dressing in Christ is participating in the resurrection of Jesus. In other words, to be born again. Dressing in Christ means being born again. Robes are the body of the spirit that is born again. It is not the character but the spirit body. People emphasize the state of mind. The state of mind must not be first, but the spirit body must be preceded. Without the body of the spirit born from God, we still cannot escape from carnal greed. Thus, those who do not die with Jesus cannot be clothed with Christ, even if they say they are Christians.『Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother. 』 (1 John 3: 9-10)

 

Those who are born of God have a spirit body. Those who do not have the body of spirit will eventually be guilty of greed. The spirit body is inaccessible to Satan because it is at the right hand of God in Christ.『We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not. 』 (1 John 5:18)

 

Although we have a physical body from our parents, God-given spirit is in the spirit body. Whether the consciousness of the spirit can control the body will depend upon the help of the Holy Spirit.

『Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. 』 (Romans 8:26-28)

 

When those who are called by God wear the spirit body, they go on the good path in the Triune God

God helps those who are chosen.『Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 』 (Romans 8:33-35)

 

God helps the elect. Only those who are chosen are born again into the spirit body. Those born of the spirit body are repentant and buried with Jesus on the cross.