FEW ARE CHOSEN

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     When it comes to salvation, many have formed ways in attempt to save as many people as possible.

1.       Universalism:  everyone will be saved

2.      The sincere:  those who are genuine and earnest

3.      The good:  not bad, but having positive, admirable qualities

4.      The religious:  those who profess some form of religion

5.      Those who profess faith in Christ:  All one has to do it confess his belief in God’s Son

 

B.     Jesus, however, did not teach that many would be saved.  In fact, He taught just the opposite.

1.       Matthew 20:16

 

So the last shall be first, and the first last:  for many be called, but few chosen.

 

2.      Matthew 22:14

 

For many are called, but few are chosen.

 

3.      Matthew 7:14

 

Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 

C.      Why do we bring this up? 

1.       First, to challenge the false beliefs that bring comfort to those who will be lost.

2.      Second, to challenge us to cultivate a desire to be one of the few

3.      Third, to please God by teaching what is proclaimed in His Word, “few are chosen.”

 

D.     The title of our lesson is:  “Few Are Chosen.” 

 

I.                   THE DEFINITION OF FEW

 

A.     Dictionary.com

1.       A small number

2.      Hardly any

 

B.     Lexicons:

1.       Strong (3641):  puny in number

2.      Thayer:  small quantity

3.      Vine:  few, little, small, slight

 

C.      Peter helps us understand the meaning of the word “few” in 1 Peter 3:20.

 

Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

 

1.       The flood of Noah’s day happened some 1,500 years after the creation of man.

2.      Man was commanded to be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth (Gen. 1:28).

3.      We do not know the exact number of people living during the days of Noah, but some have made estimates.

a.       A website entitled, “The Real Truth,” says that there could have been between 5 billion and 17 billion people on the earth.

b.      At “The Bible Sojourner,” the estimates are between 3.9 billion and 122 billion.

4.      Again, we do not know the exact population, but it was greater than any of us might have imagined.  Yet of all that were on the earth, only eight were saved from the flood.  That is a few.

 

II.               THE NUMBERS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FEW

 

A.     How many were saved from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah?  Only three survived:  Lot and his two daughters (Gen. 19:15, 26).

 

And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.  (NOTE:  Lot’s wife perished when she looked back upon the destruction of the city of Sodom).

 

B.     Israel was not selected to be the people of God because of their great number (Deut. 7:7).

 

The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people.

 

C.      When Israel conquered the city of Jericho, the only survivors were Rahab and her family (Josh. 2:13, 18; 6:17).

 

And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the Lord:  only Rehab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

 

D.     On the day of Pentecost, some 3,000 people obeyed the gospel that first day (Acts 2:41), but there could have been over a million individuals in the city on that day.  Those who obeyed the gospel account for only .003% of the people who were there.

 

III.            WHY ARE FEW CHOSEN?

 

A.     The Calvinists tells us that few are chosen because that is the way God planned it before the foundation of the world. 

1.       They believe that He personally selected the exact number of individuals who would be saved in the last day.  That number, we are told, was few.

2.      Think about that.  The same God who created all men and who says He loves all men, could have saved the majority of them, even all of them, but He only chose to save a few.

3.      If that is the case, why did Paul say that God desires all to be saved in 1 Timothy 2:4?

 

Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

 

B.     The reasons why there will be few saved have nothing to do with the doctrine of predestination as taught by the Calvinists.

1.       Men reject the concept of God and salvation by Jesus Christ completely (Rom. 1:21-23).

2.      Men deceive themselves, and believe that they can save themselves without God and His truth (Jer. 10:23).

3.      Truth can be difficult for some to accept (Ex., the rich man, Matt. 19:16-22).

4.      Men get tangled up in the doctrines of men.  Thus, they are blinded to the truth that will save them (2 Cor. 4:3-4; Gal. 1:6-7).

5.      Men love darkness more than they love light (John 3:19-20).

6.      Question:  What are the things that keep us from giving God our all?  From earnestly practicing our faith?  From abounding in the work of the Lord?  From being zealous of good works?  From being addicted to the ministry?  From counting all thing but loss for Christ?  These are the things that cause only a few to be saved.

 

 

 

IV.             WHO ARE THE FEW?

 

A.     Let’s briefly note who the few are not (1 Cor. 1:26).

 

For ye see your calling brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.

 

B.     Who, then, are called?

1.       The poor (James 2:5)

 

Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

 

2.      The humble (1 Pet. 5:5b)

 

…for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

 

3.      Those with good and honest hearts (Luke 8:15)

 

But that on the good ground are they, which, in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

 

4.      Those who love the Lord (Ps. 145:20)

 

The Lord preserveth all them that love him:  but all the wicked will he destroy.

 

5.      Those who manifest faith in Jesus Christ (Rom. 3:26)

 

To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:  that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

 

6.      Those who will put the old man of sin to death (Rom. 6:6).

 

Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth, we should not serve sin.

 

7.       Those who will render obedience to the will of God (Matt. 7:21).

 

Not every one that saith unto me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

 

8.      Those who are willing to be transformed into the image of Christ (Rom. 8:29; 12:2).

 

And be not conformed to this world:  but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.

 

9.      Those who will deny self and take up their cross for Christ (Matt. 16:24).

 

Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

 

10.   Those who will be faithful unto death (Rev. 2:10)

 

…be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 

 

 

11.    Those who eagerly look for the return of the Lord (Phil. 3:20).

 

For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     Any person who wants to be part of the few can be.

1.       It requires a will.

2.      It requires focus.

3.      It requires dedication.

 

B.     When we do our part, God will do His.

1.       Philippians 1:6

 

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

 

2.      1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

 

And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

 

C.      When you become part of the few, there are concepts that Satan tries to convince you of that are not true.

1.       The few must be wrong.

2.      The few cannot be strong.

3.      The few believe they are “holier than thou.”

4.      The few are really just a cult.

 

D.     The few are the saved. 

The few are the redeemed.

The few are the heaven-bound.

 

E.     The few will be the ones who are rewarded in the last day (Ps. 16:11).

 

Thou wilt shew me the path of life:  in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.