Called Chosen Faithful
By Capazin Thornton
Throughout the ages, the most persecuted people in the earth are Jews and Christians. Diabolical, satanically inspired, godless enemies of God continue to plot against, rail against, hound, torture, and savagely kill Jews and Christians, with seeming impunity.
In a little while, however, the Lord God omnipotent, the King of kings and Lord of lords, is going to return and overthrow all who make war against Him. With Him are the called, chosen, and faithful. (Rev 17:14)
The Called
The called are believers who hear God summoning them and accept His invitation to be united with Him forever. They repent, that is, they turn from their sinful ways to God and His righteous ways. They receive Jesus the Christ (Yeshua ha Maschiach) as their personal Savior and Lord. (Rom 10:9-10, John 1:12)
Called out from the dominion of darkness, sin, the flesh, the world, and the devil, they are transferred into God’s glorious kingdom of light. Called saints–holy, consecrated, separated ones, they are in the world, but not of the world.
Called to be with Christ, called to like Him, called to do great works in His Name, the called are sealed with the Holy Spirit—the guarantee of their redemption. The Holy Spirit is also their sanctifying agent and supernatural Helper. (Eph 1:11-13; 1 Pet 1:2; John 15:26) Called to grace and glory, the called live by faith in God and His Word through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Chosen
The called are also the chosen. Picked out, selected, elected by God before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him in love (Eph 1:4).
Redeemed by the blood of Jesus, sanctified by the Holy Spirit, the called are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, privileged to offer to God spiritual sacrifices of praise, thanksgiving, and prayer. (1 Pet 2:9)
In His great loving-kindness, God predetermined, ordained, and declared beforehand the appointed destiny of the redeemed—to be children of God, conformed to the image of Christ, inheriting the kingdom of God—righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit—forever. (Rom 14:17)
The Faithful
The called and chosen are also the faithful. We can be faithful because God is faithful.
We could have lived at any other time in history. But God chose us to live in the world today. He appointed and anointed us to faithfully serve this generation by the will of God.
So, no matter the trials, troubles and persecution, we can overcome the evil one by the blood of the Lamb, the Word of our testimony, and by being fearlessly faithful to the Lord even to death. (Rev 12:11)
After all, we have been chosen for eternal glory. Let us therefore live by the faith of the Son of God who loves us and gave Himself for us before time began so that we can live with Him forever!
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Capazin Thornton is a Christian speaker, Bible teacher, and author in Orange County, California.
