This morning, I want to bring
a message to you. I believe the Lord has given
me a message, if he'd give me the grace to preach it. In our opening passage this morning,
what solemn words we heard, that there was a feast and that many
were called to that feast, but few were chosen. In that passage
of scripture, we've seen that a man come to the feast and he
had no garment. And the Lord looked at him and
said, take him, bound him, and cast him into outer darkness.
This man who showed up at this feast, he had no righteousness. And at the conclusion of this,
our reading, he concludes with this, for many are called, but
few are chosen. What solemn words. What solemn
words are these? Many are called, but few are
chosen. I think of Judas. Judas was called
to follow the Lord Jesus Christ as a disciple. But we find at
the end that Judas was not chosen. That Judas was a son of perdition. And does that not cause you,
and does that not cause me to look at myself and say, oh my
soul, many are called. But few are chosen. If you would
turn with me over to Matthew chapter 7. Or turn back to Matthew
chapter 7. Verse 13. And let's read these words. Enter
ye in at the straight gate. For wide, wide is the gate, and
broad is the way that leadeth to destruction. And many, many
there be which go in thereat. Because straight is the gate,
and narrow the way which leadeth unto life. And few, few there
be that find it. Many are called, but few are
chosen. Those that enter the Broadway,
there are many. There's a great number, vast
amount of people, numerous people. But few enter into that way,
that narrow way, that door that Bob spoke of this morning in
that arc, Christ. Few there be. that find Christ. Now look down at verse 21. Not everyone that saith unto
me, and this is the day of judgment. This is the day of all days. This is the day that every man
stands before God. Not every man 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. Not every
man that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom
of heaven. Not every man. But look at verse 22. Many, many
will say unto me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in thy name? These are religious people that
are standing before the Lord. These aren't rebel rousers and
drunkards. and harlots and men who raise
all sorts of trouble. These are religious people who
are standing before the Lord and saying, Lord, Lord, have
we not prophesied, have we not preached in thy name? And in thy name have we not cast
out devils? And in thy name done many, many
wonderful works. And then I will profess unto
them, I never knew you. How solemn. How solemn are these
words. And when I read these passages
of scripture, do you not do as I do? Do you not look at these
and say, is that I? Many are called. I believe I'm
called, but few are chosen. I hope I'm chosen. I hope I'm one
of the chosen. Is the believer to live in uncertainty
or wait to come into this house every Sunday in fear and without
any assurance, and come in here not knowing if we have a good
hope? No. No. Turn with me to 2 Peter chapter
1. Second Peter chapter one. And
we're going to read verses 10 and 11. And as we read it, I
want you to notice the contrast and the difference where for
the rather brethren give diligence to make your calling and your
election. Sure. For if you do these things,
ye shall never fall. For so, an entrance shall be
ministered unto you abundantly in the everlasting kingdom of
our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What wonderful words. If all
I had read was that many are called and few are chosen, then
I might fall into despondency. And when I read of those that
stand in judgment of that day, that causes me to fear. And I look at that and tremble.
But when I read this verse, it's an astounding verse. This verse
is telling me that the command is an indication of the ability
to do what it's saying, make your call and election sure. I would never thought you could
do that had it not been in this word. Can I go back before the
ever the world was and look into the book of life and see if my
name is there? No. Then how can I make my election
sure? Well, what is this? Let's look
at this path. And I've wrote down some things
that I want us to look at first. First, it says, give diligence
to hasten, make haste to exert oneself to make your calling. And that calling is an invitation
to a feast. We read over in Matthew that
there was an invitation to a feast. This calling is that calling. It is an invitation to a feast. It is a divine embrace of God's
salvation. Make your calling an election.
Your election, the act of picking out. And that is God's act. Let's look at 2 Thessalonians
chapter 2, and I want you to read this for yourself. back
right before Hebrews and what I'm trying to do this
morning is right here from the word is to find these words from
the scripture 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2 look at verse 13 and
this is the Apostle Paul writing that we are bound to give thanks
all the way to God for you brethren because beloved of the Lord Because
God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through the
sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth. Your
election, the act of picking out, God has chosen you to salvation. Election is the act of God's
free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed
his blessings to certain persons Turn forward just a few pages
the second Timothy chapter 1 Verse 9 who hath saved us. Who is this
speaking of? Our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath
saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our
works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given in us Christ Jesus before the world began. Christ has saved
us. Our election is the degree made
from choice by which God determined to bless certain persons through
Christ alone. And I tell you what is funny
about I had wrote some of these definitions down and then I went
to the scriptures and you know what I found? The Bible shines
a whole lot of light on dictionaries. The Bible shines a whole lot
of light on the commentaries. It really does. This is just
as plain as it can be. God has chosen. This term, this
Bible, this blessed term of election is God doing the electing. Now, the last thing to look at,
make it sure. Our text reads, Back in 2 Peter
chapter 9, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election
sure. We make it sure, stable, fast,
firm, confidence. And notice the result of this. Ye shall never fall. You shall
never, never fall. You shall never stand in that
day and the Lord say to you, where is thine wedding garment? You shall never fall. And an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly. into the everlasting kingdom
of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What an amazing passage
of scripture. Wherefore, brethren, give diligence
to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things,
ye shall never fall. For so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ. What an amazing passage. But it doesn't seem like this
passage is fitting to me. I can see it being for some people,
but me? I am such a terrible sinner. I am such a terrible sinner. And shouldn't this passage be
for those who are not such a terrible sinner? Well, I doubt more than
I rejoice. How can I, who doubts so frequently,
who doubts so often, how can I? make my calling and election
sure. I don't think I just don't know
the passages. I don't know the scripture. This
is for somebody who has aged. This is for somebody who's been
in the church for years, who has labored in the gospel, who
knows the word of God. This is not for me, a babe. I'm just a new believer. This is for the others. This
is who this was written for, you. Let's look back at the beginning
of this chapter, 2 Peter 1. Let's look at who is writing
this. And then let's look at who it is written to. Verse 1, Simon Peter, a servant,
an apostle of Jesus Christ. Simon Peter, a bond slave. Simon Peter, I'm just a slave
of Jesus Christ. I'm so glad that Bob used Peter
this morning as our example. The man who wrote this is the
man that Bob was talking about this morning. The man who was
full of pride, who said, Lord, I will never, I will never deny
thee. These men may deny thee, but
I'll never deny thee. That's the man who's writing
to us and telling us to make our calling and election sure.
Notice that he introduces himself as just a bondservant, a servant. That word is in reference to
the Old Testament, the old slave, the old bondservant who followed
his master because he loved his master. And that's who Peter
is presenting himself as, a bondservant. It's not Dr. Peter. Not Dr. Peter, not the theologian Peter.
I'm theologian Simon Peter. No, no. I'm Simon Peter, a bondservant
of Jesus Christ, an apostle. Now why does he tell us he's
an apostle? So that you might believe. Because he has been
given the authority by the Lord Jesus Christ that he might tell
you, I'm a bondservant and you can make your calling and election
sure. And notice who it's written to.
The second part of this verse 1, to them that have obtained
like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and
our Lord Jesus Christ. Who was this written to? To you
who believe. It is written to you who believe,
whether you're young, or old, or have been believing many years,
or a few years, or a few days. This is to you who believe. So then we ask, I can make my calling and election
sure? And according to the scripture,
it says that we can. Now the question, how? How can
I make my calling and election sure? How? Isn't that the mystery of this
verse when we look at it? How? Look with me and please turn
to John chapter 7. I want to give you the introduction
to this as you turn. John chapter 7. Our setting is the last day of
the feast. It is the last day of the Lord's
Passover. And ever since the Lord has called
Israel out of Egypt and if you go back into Egypt and if you
remember the Lord's Passover the lamb that was the blood was
placed on the door and the night that the the angel come through
and slayed well from that time forward every year the Passover
was recognized it was the biggest event of the year people would
come from miles away miles away into Jerusalem. And it had become
a huge religious tradition. And what I kind of see in my
mind, a picture I kind of get is, come August, race day, look
at Bristol up there. I mean, there's campers everywhere. Well, this Passover, these people
come in and there's tents everywhere you look. Every hotel is booked. And the rates were high, too.
This was a time to bring in the vendors. They would bring the
lambs and the doves and the bulls. And you can see the commerce
going up and down the roads. You can see the vendors selling.
Everything's going on. This was the Lord's Passover.
This was the Passover. And it had become nothing but
a religious circus. And right in the middle of this
religious circus There stood a lamb. There stood the very
lamb of God. In the middle of this circus
stood the Passover lamb. And look at him here in verse
37. And in the last day, that great
day of the feast, Jesus stood. He looked up and he seen all
of these religious people. and his heart broke. And he cried,
saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me and drink. Do you hear the call? Does any man thirst? And I ask
you this morning, Do you thirst for righteousness? If you thirst
for righteousness, Christ has declared and Christ has called,
come. That is the call. Come. Come. Are you going to go? No, I wasn't invited. Come. You thirsty? Come. Look over
Matthew chapter 11. Let us read verse 28 through
30. Come unto me. Come unto me, all ye that labor
and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Come. Come unto
me, ye that labor. Who are those that labor? Is
it not you who has labored to try to please God? You labor
under the law. You labor to do good. You labor
to please God. Oh, you come up so short, but
you labor, and you labor, and you labor, and you become so
weary of the labor. You get so weary, so ashamed,
and you labor. Come unto me, ye that labor and
are heavy, that are labor, and I'll give you rest. This is the
call. If you're here this morning and
you labor under the law and you labor, you labor to please God
and you can't please him and you're heavy laden, this is the
call. Well, I don't really labor. You're
not called. This is for he who labors. This
is for he who is heavy laden. This is for he that is a thirst. I'm not thirsty. You're not called. You're not called. I'm not thirsty. You're not called according to
this book. But if you're thirsty, if you
are thirsty for righteousness, if you are heavy under the burden
of the law and you cannot please God, come. That's the call. Okay? I can make my calling,
sure. But many are called. I cannot
look into the book of life and see if my name is there. Many
are called, but few are chosen. Do we not still have that anxiety
there? Many are called. I'm a sinner.
I'm called. I'm first going to tell you how to make your election sure. I'm going to tell you, and then
I'm going to show you in the scripture, then I'm going to
tell you what I showed you. And I'm going to do it in that
way because I want to make sure that it's clear. I want to tell
you, we make, now listen to this, we make our election sure by
looking to Christ. That is how we make our election
sure. We look to Christ. We look to him as our substitute. And we look to him for all our
righteousness. That is how we make our election
sure. What is this Lamb's Book of Life? If my name is in the Lamb's Book
of Life, Could I not say I am elect? If I could look in that
book and see my name there, I believe we could say I'm elect. Now,
the Lamb's Book of Life. Have we done this book any harm
by calling it the Substitute's Book of Life? Is it not the Substitute's
Book of Life? The Lamb, remember the Passover
Lamb? Remember the Passover lamb who
stood and cried and said, come unto me. We make our election
sure by looking to Christ as our substitute and for all our
righteousness. Election, and I realized this
as I began studying this, I thought, you know, election has something
to do with substitution. And I kind of knew that. And
I got to studying this more and more, and I said, election has
everything to do with substitution. It has everything to do with
substitution. Turn with me to Isaiah chapter
42. Let's look at verse number one
with me. Behold my servant Isaiah 42 chapter
1 or chapter 42 verse 1. I'm sorry. Behold my servant
whom I uphold mine elect. whom my soul delighted I have
put my spirit upon him and he shall bring forth judgment to
the Gentiles now who is this that he is speaking of my servant
my elect this is the Lord Jesus Christ he is the firstborn of
many brethren Christ is the elect Okay, now turn with me over to
Isaiah 26, or turn back to Isaiah 26. And then let's look at verse 20.
Now notice the first word, come. You see the calling? Come. Come,
my people. Enter into thy chambers, and
shut thy doors about thee. Hide thyself, as it were, for
a moment, until the ignomination be past. We are to come, my people. And where are we to hide? We
are to hide in Christ the elect. We hide in him until the wrath
is past. You see, he is our substitute. He is our hiding place. He is
the elect of God and we hide in him. Come. The call this morning is
to come. It is to hide in Christ. It is to hide in my elect. You know, as I was reading and
studying this, and I want you to think about this over time,
but, you know, our calling, our calling has something to do about
our unrighteousness. Who are the called? The called
are the thirst, those that thirst for righteousness, those that
have no righteousness. Our calling has something to
do with our unrighteousness. You know, our election has something
to do with his righteousness. Now just think about that. Our
calling has something to do with our unrighteousness. and our
election has something to do with his righteousness. Now,
turn with me to Numbers 21. And while you're turning there, I
want to read a passage from John. Now, while you hold your place
there and just stay there, don't just hold your place, stay there,
in Numbers chapter 20, I wanna read you a passage because I
want us to apply it to the text we're about to read. This is
our Lord Jesus Christ speaking to Nicodemus. And he says, as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must
the Son of Man be lifted up. that whosoever believeth in him
should not perish but have eternal life. Whosoever believeth in him should
not perish. If I believe in him then I am
elect. Okay, now let's look at the passage.
Numbers chapter 21 beginning in verse 6. And the Lord sent fiery serpents
among the people, and they bit the people, and much people of
Israel died. Therefore the people came to
Moses and said, We have sinned For we have spoken against the
Lord and against thee. Pray unto the Lord that he take
away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the Lord said unto Moses,
make thee a fiery serpent and set it upon a pole and it shall
come to pass Now listen, that everyone that is bitten when
he looketh upon it shall live. And Moses made a serpent of brass
and put it upon a pole. And it came to pass that if a
serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass,
he lived. What we have here in this text
is we have a bitten sinner. Sin runs in his veins. He is bitten and he is going
to die. There is no hope until the Lord
comes and makes an image like that serpent And he puts it up
on the pole, and every man that is bitten, when he comes and
he looks at that brass, that brazen serpent, that man lives. Now that brazen serpent represents
our Lord Jesus Christ. I've always wondered as a child,
how, if I'm going to make an image of some sort of the Lord
Jesus Christ, I'm not going to make a snake. It's almost sacrilegious,
isn't it? But you know what that is a picture
of? You know what this is a picture of in this book? He was made
sin who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of
God. So when I'm bitten with sin and I look to the Lord Jesus
Christ, I see a substitute for sin. I see a substitute Are you
bitten? Come. Are you bitten? Look. There is your substitute. Do you want to make your calling
and election sure? Your calling? Are you bitten? Are you elect? Are you looking? That is how we make our calling
an election sure. Now, who cannot make their calling
an election sure? Can everybody? No. Everybody
can't make their calling election sure. And I didn't realize this
until actually I was reading the passages of scripture. But
who cannot? The person that says, I don't
believe in election. You don't believe in God's electing
grace, my friend. You cannot make your calling
and election sure. Does that need any more explanation?
You cannot. If you do not believe the word
of God regarding the electing eternal love of the Lord Jesus
Christ, you cannot make your election sure. And the scripture
says, he that does shall never fail. You will fail. And then
there is another that cannot make his election sure. And let
me give you this in a summary and we will look at one more
passage. We turn in the Galatians chapter five. There is another that cannot
make his election sure. And it is he. whom Paul, writing
to the Church of Galatians, he said to them, I stand in doubt
of you. Paul wrote to a group, some men,
and said, brethren, I stand in doubt of you. I stand in doubt
of your salvation. Why? Because you have taken something
and added it to Christ. Let's look at Galatians chapter
5. And let's read verses two. Behold, I pause saying to you
that if you be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every
man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to do the whole
law. Christ is come of no effect unto
you. Whosoever of you justified by
the law, you are fallen from grace. Look to Christ and nothing else. Don't, no works, no works. Look to Christ. Look to Christ
alone. And then I want to close by reading
a passage of scripture. If you will turn with me to Revelation
chapter 22, and it's the very last passage in the word, the
very last chapter. And we will close with this reading. Verse 16. I, Jesus, have sent
mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches.
I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bride and morning
star. And the spirit and the bride
say, come. And let him that heareth say,
come. And let him that is a thirst,
come. And whosoever will, let him take
the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man
that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book. If any
man shall add unto these things, if any man adds anything to Christ,
God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book. And if any man shall take away
from the words of the book, and if any man takes away from Christ,
God shall take away his part out of the book of life. and
out of the holy city, and from the things which are written
in this book. He which testifieth these things
saith, surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, Lord, come, Lord
Jesus. For the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you all. Amen.