14 min
Why Does God Choose Some and Not Others? That's in the Bible
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- Religion
Announcer: Next, on That's in the Bible!
Brother Bob Pellien: Jordan wrote to us this question:
[On-screen text] If there is really one true church, then why are there so many different religions in the world? (Jordan, San Diego, CA)Brother Bob: In fact, all of us are one race, the human race.
[On-screen text]
What's important is that we are all united and in Christ.
[Show open]
[On-screen text]
Brother Bob Pellien
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob: Hello! I'm Brother Bob Pellien, and thanks for joining us on this episode of That’s in the Bible! Our first question today comes from Julyne in Los Angeles, California. She wrote down this question:
[On-screen text] If God loves all man, then why does He have chosen ones to serve Him?
Julyne
Los Angeles, CA
Brother Bob: Julyne, thank you for your question. And you know, Julyne, you're right. God so loved the world. In fact, in this very famous quote of our Lord Jesus Christ in John 3:16. He described how He proved His love, which was by giving His only son as a sacrifice.
[On-screen text graphics]
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.
[John 3:16 Good News Translation]
What does it mean to be set apart and chosen?
Brother Bob: And you're also right in saying that He has chosen ones. And as you also said, those chosen ones were chosen to serve Him. But you know, Julyne, there's another reason stated in the Bible, which is recorded by the writings of Apostle Peter in I Peter 2:9-10. It says:But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy.
[I Peter 2:9-10 New Century Version]
Brother Bob: So, here, Julyne, God shows us yet another reason why He has His chosen, set-apart people. He's expecting us to lead others out of darkness, and into the light of truth. How are we to do that? By telling others about the wonderful acts of God. And you know, Julyne, here's how our Lord Jesus Christ described that responsibility—the responsibility of God's chosen—to be fruitful, to bear fruit. It was worded this way, and quoted in the Book of John, chapter 15. This is the description given there by none other than the Savior Himself:
You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.
[John 15:16 Today’s English Version]
Brother Bob: So here, Jesus described the reason—or one of the additional reasons—for God choosing, Jesus used the term “appointing”—and the purpose was to bear fruit. In fact, to use such terminology as bearing much fruit. And you know, Julyne, regarding that issue of God's choosing (or in the words of Jesus,
Announcer: Next, on That's in the Bible!
Brother Bob Pellien: Jordan wrote to us this question:
[On-screen text] If there is really one true church, then why are there so many different religions in the world? (Jordan, San Diego, CA)Brother Bob: In fact, all of us are one race, the human race.
[On-screen text]
What's important is that we are all united and in Christ.
[Show open]
[On-screen text]
Brother Bob Pellien
Minister of the Gospel
Brother Bob: Hello! I'm Brother Bob Pellien, and thanks for joining us on this episode of That’s in the Bible! Our first question today comes from Julyne in Los Angeles, California. She wrote down this question:
[On-screen text] If God loves all man, then why does He have chosen ones to serve Him?
Julyne
Los Angeles, CA
Brother Bob: Julyne, thank you for your question. And you know, Julyne, you're right. God so loved the world. In fact, in this very famous quote of our Lord Jesus Christ in John 3:16. He described how He proved His love, which was by giving His only son as a sacrifice.
[On-screen text graphics]
For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.
[John 3:16 Good News Translation]
What does it mean to be set apart and chosen?
Brother Bob: And you're also right in saying that He has chosen ones. And as you also said, those chosen ones were chosen to serve Him. But you know, Julyne, there's another reason stated in the Bible, which is recorded by the writings of Apostle Peter in I Peter 2:9-10. It says:But you are a chosen people, royal priests, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession. You were chosen to tell about the wonderful acts of God, who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. At one time you were not a people, but now you are God’s people. In the past you had never received mercy, but now you have received God’s mercy.
[I Peter 2:9-10 New Century Version]
Brother Bob: So, here, Julyne, God shows us yet another reason why He has His chosen, set-apart people. He's expecting us to lead others out of darkness, and into the light of truth. How are we to do that? By telling others about the wonderful acts of God. And you know, Julyne, here's how our Lord Jesus Christ described that responsibility—the responsibility of God's chosen—to be fruitful, to bear fruit. It was worded this way, and quoted in the Book of John, chapter 15. This is the description given there by none other than the Savior Himself:
You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures. And so the Father will give you whatever you ask of him in my name.
[John 15:16 Today’s English Version]
Brother Bob: So here, Jesus described the reason—or one of the additional reasons—for God choosing, Jesus used the term “appointing”—and the purpose was to bear fruit. In fact, to use such terminology as bearing much fruit. And you know, Julyne, regarding that issue of God's choosing (or in the words of Jesus,
14 min