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For many are called, but few are chosen.
(Matthew 22:14)
In chapter seven of Revelation the inspired seer beholds a great multitude, which no man can number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues standing before the throne of the Lamb and rejoicing over their salvation. Great is the number of the chosen, of God's elect, when viewed by itself. But few are the saved when compared with the vast number of those who hear the Gospel call but do not come to Christ.
From Christ's parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), as also from other clear passages of Holy Writ we learn that the fault lies not with our merciful God, who wants to save each and every sinner. The fault lies altogether with so many sinners who reject the Gospel call in unbelief. They reject it because they love sin or because they do not want to be saved by grace.
But our election and salvation is by grace and not by any work of ours; otherwise grace is no more grace (Romans 11:6). Let us hold fast that divine truth, and we shall have no trouble about our final salvation. God's undeserved grace, which called us to faith in Christ, will also preserve us in that saving faith to the end. In Christ, our loving Savior, we must look for, and find, our election, and then this doctrine will prove of wonderful comfort.
The Formula of Concord states: "Therefore this doctrine affords also the excellent, glorious comfort that God was so solicitous concerning the conversion, righteousness, and salvation of every Christian and so faithfully provided therefore that before the foundation of the world was laid, He deliberated concerning it and in His purpose ordained how He would bring me thereto and preserve me therein." It is because of this our election by grace in Christ that we can confidently declare with Paul: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor power, nor things present nor things to come... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord." [see Romans 8:35-39]
Should earth against my soul engage
And hellish darts be hurled,
Then I can smile at Satan's rage
And face a frowning world.
Benediction
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all.
Amen.
[devotion text by Rev. F. W. Herzberger (1920) -
from the Family Altar - CPH (1957 edition)]
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