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Bibleline, Bibleline, hear God’s word on Bibleline. Everywhere, every time, hear God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the air. You can reach us toll-uchre at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

So anyway, good to have you here today. Take your Bible and we’ll get started here in the Book of Romans chapter 3. Romans and chapter 3. Today’s title is, Many are Called but Few are Chosen. I was going to change it to Many are Called and Few are Frozen. But Many are Called and Few are Chosen. And I wondered what in the world does it mean? It’s in the scriptures, believe it or not. Another one that really mystified me for a long time is, they that shall be first shall be last and those that are last shall be first.

That’s an interesting subject. But here in the book of Romans in chapter 3, I want you to look there in verse 19. Verse 19, now you’re going to be going to a few scriptures, so kind of lemme your fingers up a little bit, you know, kind of massage them a little bit so they’ll be ready to go. Verse 19, Romans chapter 3, now we know the Now what things so ever the laws say it that say it to them that are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, all the world may become guilty before God.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there should no flesh be justified in his sight. Poor by the law is the knowledge of sin. So the Bible simply states that the whole world is guilty and that nobody can be justified by the law so nobody can save themselves. Your works don’t count. Go in the church, doesn’t help. money will help. There isn’t anything that a man can do to save himself. That’s what he’s saying. Therefore, by the deeds of the law, trying to earn your way to heaven, you can’t be justified.

So, it’s not going to work. So then he makes this statement down in verse 21, but now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested. So, in other words, I can have a righteousness and go to heaven without the law, without earning it. It means that God will give me his righteousness as a free gift by simply accepting the payment Christ made on the cross for me, and I didn’t have to earn it. I didn’t deserve it. I’ve had people say, well, you don’t deserve that.

That’s what he says. Grace means you don’t deserve it. But in the back of most people’s mind, they still think you’ve got to deserve it. No. He makes the statement verse 22, verse 22, very quickly, even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all, and upon all of them that believe. So understand that God’s righteousness is unto all, but is only upon them that believe. So yes, God wants everybody to be saved. Salvation is offered to all, but not everyone is going to believe.

So God has chosen to only save those that will believe it. It’s undolled, but God has chosen to only save those that believe. Take your Bible down and turn to the book of Matthew, Matthew in chapter 22. Now some of these verses are going to be a little on the complicated side. Have you ever read some things in the Bible and said, man, I didn’t get a thing out of that. Well, believe it or not, after studying the Bible for 52 years, I still come across things that I don’t totally understand.

I’ve seen some scriptures that are, I guess, there’s a lot of different common taries and they always seem to explain everything except the verse that I want. And so I think, well, they don’t know the answer either. So there is some confusion and I want to try to make things as simple as I can, as clear as I possibly can. So remember these two things. When it comes to salvation, it’s unto all, only a bond them that believe. So it’s under many.

But he’s chosen to save only the few that believe it. And that’s mentioned in a few other places. When it comes to service, God wants all of His children to serve Him. But He’s chosen to use those that will yield themselves, and not everybody will. Salvation, service, the same principle there. So here in the book of Matthew in chapter 22, once you look in verse 11, chapter 22 and verse 11, it says, and when the king came in to see the guest, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment.

And he said unto him, friend, how came his style in hither not having a wedding garment? and he was speechless. Verse 13, then said the king to the servant, bind him hand and foot and take him away, cast him into outer darkness. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called and few are chosen. Many are called and few are chosen. You see, God offers the salvation to everybody, but he’s only chosen to save those that will believe on him.

And so trying to get into heaven without the proper wedding garment is not going to happen. You see God wants you to have on the robe of righteousness that came from Christ. And that’s why he says that the righteousness of man is not sufficient and be found not having your own righteousness which is of the law but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. So yes, we have salvation offered to all, but it’s only upon those that will believe it.

God has chosen to save everyone that will believe. Now, chapter 7 of the book of Matthew, look in chapter 7 of the book of Matthew. And notice in verse 13, verse 13 says, enter ye in at the straight gate. Why does the gate, broad as the way that lead of two destruction? Many, there be which go in their act. Verse 14, because straight as the gate narrow is the way which lead of unto life. Few, there be that find it.

Many and few. You’ll find this mentioned throughout the Scriptures and they talked about how that what Christ What Christ did is for everybody, but only those who will believe it. And God says, there’s many people, but few will find it. Now everybody in all… all the churches are not going to heaven. There is a good possibility to everybody in this room. Though you come to church, you know you dress nice, you look nice, you talk nice, you can use Christian language, have a Christian smile, and you can do all the things just like a carry a Bible, and then when you die, go to hell.

If you’ve never really, really, truly trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, because you hear about it, but God’s the one that knows if you really believe it. So we can fool each other, but no man can fool God. That’s why it’s so important for you to understand that’s why he says they’ll be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. Look what he says also in verse 22. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and thy name cast out devils and in thy name done many wonderful works?

So they did everything right. The only thing they hadn’t done is they hadn’t trusted the Lord. So you can do all the right things, good things. But if you don’t trust the the Lord, you don’t get there. And then look what he says in verse 23, then will I profess them to them? I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity, and then there’ll be weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth. So this is something that’s going to happen.

God has talked about it in his word. He’s made it crystal clear, and yet people don’t always get it. Understand this. In the scriptures, especially in the book of Matthew, you’ll find phrase mentioned quite a few times, the kingdom of heaven. And you’ll also find the words kingdom of God. And sometimes it seems like they’re synonymous. They just mean the same thing, but not exactly. So take your Bible look in the book of Romans in chapter 14. Romans chapter 14, because it does make a distinction between the two, though narrowly it’s, I’m not saying I’m totally right on everything.

When I’m not totally positive, I will try to tell you that so that you know that something may be a little yanthiology, but I believe I’m close enough on the Scriptures that it’s not going to do harm, it’s not going to do your damage. When it comes to the gospel of how to go to heaven, I’m right on. Talking about serving the Lord, I think I’m pretty close to that. Some things on prophecy may not be too good on it, but I know a few things.

I know enough to keep me motivated in serving the Lord. I believe you ought to know enough to keep you going. But here in the book of Romans in chapter 14, look what he says there in verse 17, for the kingdom of God is not made and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. Now the kingdom of God, as Christ had told some people, he was talking to, he says, the kingdom of God is within you.

And then he also says in the gospel of John in chapter three, when he talked about Nicodemus, you know, the rule of the Jews came to Jesus by night instead that at Him Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God, for no man can do the miracles of the thou does except God be with Him. And Jesus said, you must be born again, because if you’re not born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God and you can’t enter them to the kingdom of God.

So we believe that the kingdom of God is the spiritual realm of God. And so only by trusting Christ as your Savior, you get into the kingdom of God. Though God’s in charge of everything, but it’s a spiritual realm. When we talk about the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of heaven is when the king comes from heaven and sets up his kingdom upon the earth. So when Christ was here, he was born king of the Jews. When he chose his twelve, he was chosen the cabinet and when he gave the attitudes and so forth, he was talking about how he was going to rule and reign in his kingdom upon the earth.

So he says certain things about the kingdom of heaven is as a man that did this, or someone who went into a far country. kingdom of heaven is like and he keeps talking about the kingdom of heaven a kingdom of heaven a kingdom of heaven because he’s going to set up a kingdom upon the earth and there he also made the statement many are called but you’re chosen and the last shall be first and the first shall be last I thought okay what are we talking about I love to study the scriptures not because I can totally understand everything but because I might get a little jewel here and a little jewel there and you’re looking for ways to try to explain things to keep it clear and simple.

And I know there’s a possibility when you’re teaching a difficult subject like this, well everybody understand what you’re saying and you’ve been all spiritually minded here you’re gonna understand every word I say. So I like that. So take your Bible and turn to the book of Mark chapter 10. Mark chapter 10. You have Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, Mark, chapter 10. Mark, chapter 10. And look there in verse 23. Verse 23, Mark chapter 10, Jesus looked around about and said unto His disciples, how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God, the kingdom of God.

Down in verse 25 it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into that kingdom of God. And so in verse 26 they said, who then who can be saved? Because Jesus says with man this is impossible but with God all things are possible. Because he told Nicodemus you cannot see the kingdom of God or enter into the kingdom of God unless you’ve been born again. Born again is a spiritual birth that’s performed by God, not by man.

All that you do is believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you are saved, born into God’s family, and you’re going to heaven when you die. And so now that you’re in the kingdom of God, I am in the kingdom of God. I will see it one day because right now I’m still seeing with these old physical eyes, but I can enter it because you said you cannot see it or enter unless you’re born again. So we have trusted Christ as our Savior.

Then it seemed like the subject changes, just to tell you. Peter says, look, as he talks to the Lord, he says, we have reference to the disciples. We’ve left everything. We have forsaken everything for you. And since we forsaken everything, hey, where are we going to get out of this? you that way. If the Lord says, I want you to serve me, you say, well, what am I going to get out of this? Why should I? My name is Washington yet, but there’s a question there.

But look what he says in verse 28, then Peter began to say unto him, lo, we have left all and have followed thee. Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, there is no man that hath left house or brethren or sisters and father or mother or wife or children or lands for my sake and the gospels, but he shall receive a hundred fold. Now in this time, houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the world to come eternal life.

Well, looks like you could just about become a Mormon here. I mean, I left my wife in in verse 30, in the future I’m gonna get houses and brethren and sisters and mothers and children. I’m going to get children. Good night. What does all this mean? And it looks like a contradiction to other things that we learn about. And then on top of that, he says, and in the world to come eternal life. And then it’s those, this verse in there.

I thought, well, what’s this verse doing here for? But many that are first shall be last and the last first. I guess the first one who leaves his wife for his sake. No, they can’t be that. So you try to figure out, now what is he talking about there? And so you read and you study and, because you know that you always, always keep the gospel clear and you know that the gospel cannot have anything to do with works except his work.

So you know that salvation is always a gift, it’s always free, and the Scriptures can’t contradict. Now what is it that you’ve got to get out of this verse and what’s he talking about? And how would you explain this? We’ve left everything. We’ve left it allufact. What are we going to get? He says, if you leave the house, you leave your wife, your sisters, your mother, and blah, blah, blah, blah. He says, you’re going to get more. Then he also refers to you in this lifetime.

Well, they all died, they didn’t get it. Remember, when he came, John the Baptist came on the scene, Matthew chapter 3, preaching the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of heaven. The king is here going to set up the kingdom. And the king is telling everybody, if you do this and this and this and this and this for my sake, this is what you’re going to have in my kingdom. But what did they do to the king? They rejected him.

They rejected him. So they didn’t get what they could have had. Do you realize that Israel could have already been living as the greatest nation on the earth for the last two thousand years? But no, they had to mess up. And they’d messed up bad. Jesus told him it says, because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation when God visited. When God came to visit, how would you like to have it? God couldn’t come to your house tonight.

Hey, God, hear. Scared you to death. They didn’t recognize him. And it says, they wished not who it was. They didn’t know who he was. He came onto his own and his own received him not. And so then the emphasis begins to change. And sometimes you wonder, he came to the Jew first. And as the gospel says in Romans chapter one verse 16, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

So many people take that to, we’re supposed to go to the Jew first today and then did to the Gentiles. I take it with the, or meant to the Jew first. And now it is going to the Gentiles. But I’m not against reaching anybody. I think we ought to reach everybody we can. I don’t care whether you’re Jew or if you’re Gentile or if you’re watching Aborigines. It doesn’t matter just when people are the Lord. And get them to trust Christ as Savior.

But it’s so important that you understand some of these verses. Now, along with this verse, I want you to look there in verse 28 and 31, 28 and 31. these scriptures are talking about in the regeneration. How do you know it’s talking about the in the regeneration? Well, because I’m going to show you the verse that will explain that to you. Now, in verse 35, I want you to take a look quickly in verse 35, there’s a question that came up, a problem.

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came unto him saying, Master, we would that thou should have do for us whatsoever we shall desire.” Isn’t that wonderful? And he said of them. What would you that I should do for you?” They said it to him, grant unto us that we may sit one on thy right hand and the other on thy left hand in thy glory. They didn’t ask for much. Hey, when we get this kingdom set up, I want to be on one side and he wants to be on the other side of you.

I can’t believe they did that. That’s for me and James. We’re going to do that. I can’t believe that they tried to get in on what we’re going to have on James. Number one, what he says, he says in verse 38, you don’t know what you’re talking about. You don’t know what you’re asking. But he says on verse 39, and they said to him, we can, and Jesus said to them, ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of, and be baptized with so forth.

And then in verse 40 he says, but to sit on my right hand and on the left hand is not mind again, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared. So God, the Father, is going to do it when He’s ready and might be you. In verse 41, and when the 10 heard it, they were so excited. They begin to be much displeased with James and John. Who do you You think you are. I mean, now I’ve often said this.

You know God got a lot of kids in His family. And in every family, you know as well as I do, there’s a pet child. And I’m His pet child. I mean He loves you, He loves you, He really loves you. But He, I’m His pet child. And you’re supposed to feel the same way. I’m joshing with you now. But they were very displeased. verse 42, and Jesus called them to him and he said, you know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them.

And they’re great ones, exercise lordship or authority over them. But so shall it not be, but it’s so shall it not be among you. But whosoever will be great among you shall be your minister. And whosoever of you will be the cheapest shall be servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give his life a ransom for many.” What he’s saying is, if you want to be first, you’ll have to be last.

You want to be first, you’ll have to be last. If you want this honor, then you’re going to have to serve the greater. the Lord is serving people. And if you want to be greatly used by God in the future in the kingdom, then you have to serve the Lord greatly here. So that means you’re not setting yourself up so you can be served. You’re trying to serve people. And you know I’ve had Krishna says, I don’t want to be involved in nobody’s life.

That’s why they don’t want to get involved in a ministry because because then you got to try to help people. And all they’re interested in is themselves, not others. So there’s something here that he mentions that’s very, very important, and I want you to see it. So take a Bible and look at Matthew 19. Matthew chapter 19. Matthew chapter 19. And look at verse 27.

A similar question is asked, And when you read the book of Luke chapter 14, you’ll see that when he talks about, unless you’re willing to leave mother and father and brother says, you must love me more than them. Because if you don’t, he said, you got to hate them to serve me. It means that your love for the Lord should appear as hate toward everybody else. You’re loving so much more than anything to love the Lord more than your wife or more than your children or more than your husband or more than anything.

How much do you love the Lord? You see, if you love anything else in this world, more than you love the Lord than whatever it is you love becomes the nisel and becomes between you and God. And God is a jealous God and God has a habit of removing anything that you place before Him between you and Him. Be careful. But notice what says in verse 27, then answered Peter and said unto him, Behold, we have forsaken all, followed thee.

What shall we have there for? What are we going to get? And Jesus said in verse 28, I send you that ye which have followed me in the regeneration. When the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory. So we know when the regeneration is. You see, God created the heavens and the earth, but there’s a time coming when He’s going to redo this over, and it’s going to be like the Garden of Eden. And He’s going to set up His kingdom upon the earth, and it’s going to be for a thousand years.

When He sets this up and when He comes back from heaven to the earth, and His feet will touch upon the Mount of Olives, it will cleave in the mist, and He sets up His kingdom, The Bible says he’s going to have the judgment of the nations. This is when Christ was set upon his throne and he will rule and reign and he makes a promise to his disciples. Now remember what he said before, who gets to sit on one side and who gets to sit on the other side is not mind to give, but this is what he did say.

when the Son of Man shall sit in the throne of His glory, ye shall also sit upon twelve thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” So you hear people talk about the lost tribes of Israel. Well, somewhere along the line he’s going to find them. And they’re going to be here, and they’re going to be twelve judging the tribes of Israel. So, look what else he said. And then, beside them, everyone. There’s everyone that is many, and there’s the disciples, the apostles that are few.

You see, when he comes to salvation, everybody in the world, the many. God calls all through the gospel. Many. But few are chosen. See, God’s only chosen to save only those that will believe the gospel. That’s why we present the gospel to everyone. Now, when it comes to serving the Lord, God says there’s certain things that He wants to have us do with our lives. And if we will serve the Lord, God is going to use us in various positions in our service to Him.

Now it comes on to this. I’ve been saved for 52 years. I don’t know how long you’ve been saved about. Six years? Seven years. Now, I’ve been serving the Lord for almost 52 years. He’s only been serving the Lord for seven years. We both died today. When we get to heaven, let’s say he’s been as faithful to serve the Lord for those six or seven years as I have been with the 52 years. Well, of course, I’m gonna get a lot more than Him.

I mean, I worked harder. I worked longer. I mean, I was there in the heat of the day. I started early in the morning. He shows up late in the afternoon. He puts in one hour’s work. If he gets what I get, that’s not fair. I was first. He was last. It’s not fair. Be honest. In your understanding, it’s not how long you serve the Lord. Is Are you faithful with the time God gave you? You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr.

Ralph Arnold. We pray that you were blessed by today’s message. Part two of this teaching will conclude with tomorrow’s broadcast. If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, you can reach Bibleline and pledge your support to keep us on the air in your area by dialing toll-free, 1-800-576-3771. That’s 1-800-576-3771. To listen to today’s message again, or to obtain a free download of any of our Bibleline programs, just go to our homepage at BibleLineMinistries.org and click on the radio broadcast link.

If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Our Sunday morning services begin at 10-30, and at six o’clock on Sunday evening. Live broadcast of our services may be seen by clicking on the Calvary Community Church link at BibleLineMinistries.org. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline, and now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound, and we will be changed.

caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day, believing that the Lord is coming soon, and just keep looking up.