Spiritual Israelite
Well-Known Member
It wasn't really my intention to have an ongoing discussion about Matthew 22:14. I referenced that in my attempt to show that the word translated as "many" or "multitudes" doesn't have to mean "not all", which is a fact.The Gospel message about Christ is freely offered to all of humanity without exception. People from all nations, and kindreds, and tongues are able to hear the message of Christ; the Gospel. Those He did predestinate, them He also called, and He also justified, and glorified. Hearing the Gospel of salvation is not proof of being called by God. The hearing must be accompanied by saving faith that is the gift of God.
Romans 8:30 (KJV) Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Who among all of mankind can be saved according to grace through faith? Whosoever among mankind who hears the Gospel and believes in Christ shall be saved.
Matthew 22:14 (KJV) For many are called, but few are chosen.
Many in this verse are whosoever or the whole number of those who shall be saved. In which shall be an innumerable multitude. In the same way the sojourn of Abraham in the land of the Philistines were many days, for they were not few, neither will the many who are called be any less than a great multitude, which no man could number.
But, since I strongly disagree with what you're saying here, I can't help but respond.
No, the "many" in Matthew 22:14 are not "the whole number of those who shall be saved". Did you read Matthew 22:1-13 to see the context of what Matthew 22:14 means? The gospel call to salvation is compared to an invitation to a wedding banquet. Jesus talked about those who had rejected the invitation in the beginning (the unbelieving Jews) and then the invitation went out to the highways (Gentile nations) after that. Those unbelieving Jews are among those who have been called. But, they are not chosen.
So, the many who are called are all people who are called to salvation, which is literally all people. They are the same people who God commands to repent, which is "all people everywhere" (Acts 17:30). So, the many who are called include all saved and all lost people. It is the chosen who make up "the whole number of those who shall be saved". Multitudes (many) are called to salvation, but relatively few answer the call (accept the invitation).