Based on John 15:16 (New King James Version)
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
Today’s passage tends to cause confusion among those that do not know well the context of the Scriptures. The following issue has existed for a long time: “Are we chosen by God, or, do we choose to follow Him?” And to be able to understand this, we need to be careful with the Scriptures and be able to understand very well our position (because this is what produces in part the departure). The greatest care we need to have with the Scriptures is that we cannot take one verse here and another verse over there and create something that goes completely against everything else is that is written (to start).
The first clarification is that the Holy Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, does not have any contradictions, and whoever believes there are contradictions is because they are missing something, or simply, they are not understanding what they are reading. The reason why the Word of God is inerrant is because it is more than words printed on some pages, it is the essence of God. God is the Word. So then, basically, finding contradictions in the Word is like finding contradictions in God (and I know that many believe this, but that happens because of limitations, or simply because of disbelief, and there is nothing that can be done for that). So, for something to be taken as a sound teaching from the Word, it needs to agree with absolutely everything else that is written (that’s why we need to be very careful with additions, changes, etc. with the Word of God). Together with this clarification, this is what shows us the importance of studying the Bible. The Bible needs to be studied, and of course, with the illumination that only the Holy Spirit can give (this happens when we convert to the Lord). There are many that spiritualize things (per se) and think that we are going to know God’s things instantaneously, and it doesn’t work like that. Instant knowledge will only occur when we arrive before the presence of God; not before. While you are here, it is your responsibility (a word that is being wiped out from our vocabulary) to search the Scriptures, and to let yourself be taught by the Holy Spirit while you do it.
Now then, what is the misunderstanding? We the gentiles are not more than the Jews, to start, and especially before the eyes of God. If chosen people exist, it would be them. And even though they are God’s chosen people, they always had the power to choose to not follow God, and to not follow what is established. For it is written: “For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?’ But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil, in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the Lord your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess. But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them, I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess. I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; that you may love the Lord your God, that you may obey His voice, and that you may cling to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days; and that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Deuteronomy 30:11-20. The Bible continues teaching the following: “Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell [speaking of the Jews], severity; but toward you [speaking of us, the gentiles], goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?” Romans 11:22-24. So then, everyone that is reading this today is not chosen (per se).
So, who was the Lord talking to? Easy, the Apostles. The other big problem is that the Scriptures are interpreted carelessly, and the obvious is missed. There were moments that the Lord spoke to His Apostles directly. We see this when the Lord prayed for His disciples, “and” also for us, as it is written: “I do not pray for these [His disciples] alone, but also for those [us] who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.” John 17:20-21. The Lord literally chose His twelve disciples, so then, they were chosen. But, that also didn’t mean that they didn’t have the power to either follow or not follow the Lord (Remember Iscariot?). And if there was a chosen being, it was John the Baptist. This is what the Word says: “And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples and said to Him, ‘Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.’ As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: ‘What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet. For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, who will prepare Your way before You.’ ‘Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.’” Matthew 11:2-11. And even John the Baptist could have derailed towards the end, because of lack of faith, or else, why send people to ask if it was Him, if he had declared Him as the Christ personally?
God calls everyone to Himself, but it is our decision to follow or not. And also, it is our decision to remain in Him or not. Everything is our choice! God does not force anyone, because love can never be forced. So, have you obeyed His call to follow the Him? Lord bless! John