The truth concerning the two groups–Elect and Very Elect–existing within God’s true church is born out in several places in Scripture. In John 1:11 we read that Jesus “came to His own people and they refused to accept Him.” His “own people” referred to the Jews (tribes of Judah, Benjamin and Levi) living in the Promised (Holy) Land at that time. He came to them specifically and walked among them, preaching, teaching, healing, delivering, feeding, etc. Ironically, the vast majority of those for whom He came rejected Him outright. Of the tens of thousands He dealt with personally, who saw and heard Him for 3 1/2 years, only about 120 truly embraced Him. These were His original Elect. But as the Book of Acts and the epistles of the apostles tell us, not all of His Elect became His Very Elect by remaining true to His Words and examples. These comprised the “remnant” of Israel He and the apostles would refer to several times in the Scriptures (Rom. 9:27; 11:5). In Luke 12:32 Jesus calls them His “Little Flock.” The word “remnant” refers to a small portion of a larger entity. In this case the word identifies those few self-professed “Christians” who actually believe and obey the Words of the Lord as compared to the masses who claim to do so but do not. The latter, by disobeying Him, prove that they reject both the Father and the Son. Jesus made this life or death statement to His disciples and preserved it for us today: “He who hears you (His messenger) hears Me. He who refuse to hear you (and Me) DESPISES ME; and he who despises Me DESPISES HIM WHO SENT ME” (Lk. 10:16). Sinners saved by grace people, faith is all that is required for salvation people, Sunday Sabbath people, Christmas and Easter people, the Law was nailed to the cross people, instant salvation people, heaven or hell at death people, denominational people–Catholics and Protestants–ARE YOU LISTENING TO WHAT JESUS SAID IN LUKE 10:16? IF SO, DO YOU BELIEVE HIM? IF SO, DO YOU CARE ENOUGH TO TURN FROM YOUR WICKEDNESS, STUDY HIS WORD, BELIEVE AND OBEY IT? DO YOU WANT TO BE AMONG THE VERY ELECT? The answers to these questions will determine the future for every church member.

In some cases those who reject the Lord Jesus by rejecting His Words have a history with Him, having walked with Him as part of His Very Elect for many years. The five foolish “virgins” (Christians) are a case in point (Mat. 25:1-12). The foolish virgins originally had everything their wise counterparts had: vessels, wicks, oil, etc. However, unlike their wise fellow Christians, the foolish virgins began listening to false prophets and their alternative methods of worshiping and serving God that did not line up with the Lord’s rules of engagement. Today these alternative modes of operation are known as Catholicism and Protestantism. God lumps them into one category and labels them “heathen.” These people do worship Him, but their religiosity is a waste of time. Note what Jesus said in Matthew 15:9 about zealous religionists who refuse to obey His Words: “But they worship Me IN VAIN, substituting man’s commandments for My doctrines.” This perfectly describes the Counterfeit Church system which Satan has spread throughout today’s world. Returning to the foolish virgins, note that they arrived at the door of the marriage feast fully expecting to be allowed in. But note carefully what the doorkeeper said to them: “I DO NOT (NOW) KNOW YOU ….” He did not say that he had NEVER KNOWN THEM, but that he NO LONGER KNEW THEM. They had at one time been members of the Very Elect and had been known (intimately) by the Lord. Contrast what the doorkeeper said to the foolish virgins to what Jesus will say to those of His church–the Elect–who had never been part of the Very Elect: “I NEVER KNEW YOU ….” Note that they called Him “Lord, Lord” and reminded Him of all the “… wonderful works we have done in Your name ….” (Mat. 7:21-23). Dear reader, if you are involved in false religion– Catholicism, Protestantism, Islam, Hindu, occult, etc. systems–Jesus is speaking to you in Matthew 7:21-23. Are you listening? If so, do you believe Him? If so, what are you going to do about it? God demands action, not simply mental acceptance of His Truth. L.J.