If you do the things God hates and refuse to keep His commandments, you will receive the mark of the beast not the mark of God. How you live your life is evidence to God and man whether you are living by the word of God or the word of man.
Language
Many are called but few are chosen
Are you willing to live like Christ did ?
Many are called yet few are willing to go through the process it takes to be a leader and servant of God.
Christ said if you love me keep the commandments. He preached the gospel message saying REPENT for the kingdom of God is at hand.
God said if you say you love me and don't keep my commandments you are a lier
Few Chosen
a small number "may I ask a few questions?"hardly any
a small remaining quantity of something.
Many are called
a large number of.a great large/great number of
Whats left
Few are chosen means that, of those invited, only the elect (true followers of Jesus) will remain at the wedding feast in the kingdom of God. Those without a wedding garment (the cleansing blood of Jesus' righteousness to clothe them in salvation) will not be permitted to enter.
It means that God calls everyone and gives them the power to respond—but to be chosen, we must respond to the call, using the power God gave us for that purpose.
The statement "God gives His Spirit to those who keep His commandments" is a core theological concept, emphasizing that obedience to God's commands is a sign of love and a means by which His Spirit empowers believers to live a life pleasing to Him.
John 5:45-47
45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
Matthew 7:13-14
“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few
Christ taught that few would be saved because they wouldn't choose to follow the narrow path that leads to eternal life.
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me
.
Matthew 15:24 He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
Matthew 7:13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.
Romans 2:29
But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.
John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.
Isaiah 43:10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me
Romans 13:10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
Romans 8:30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
Genesis 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Revelation 14:4 it is these who have not defiled themselves with women, for they are virgins. It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes. These have been redeemed from mankind as firstfruits for God and the Lamb,
Revelation 7:14 said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
2 John 1:10-11 anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
1 John 5:7 For there are three that testify:
1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
1 John 3:4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
Galatians 3:7 Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham.
Galatians 1:15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace,
2 Corinthians 11:2 For I feel a divine jealousy for you, since I betrothed you to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
1 Corinthians 14:34 The women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.
1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?
1 Corinthians 1:26-28 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not
many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
1 Corinthians 1:26 For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth.
No Greater Love
…15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not understand what his master is doing. But I have called you friends, because everything I have learned from My Father I have made known to you. 16You did not choose Me, but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit— fruit that will remain— so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. 17 This is My command to you: Love one another.…
Cross References
Ephesians 1:4-5
For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love / He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will,
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
Romans 8:29-30
For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers. / And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified.
Matthew 28:19
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
Acts 1:8
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.
Colossians 1:10
so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Philippians 1:11
filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
But we should always thank God for you, brothers who are loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning to be saved by the sanctification of the Spirit and by faith in the truth. / To this He called you through our gospel, so that you may share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 7:4
Therefore, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God.
Isaiah 43:10
“You are My witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and My servant whom I have chosen, so that you may consider and believe Me and understand that I am He. Before Me no god was formed, and after Me none will come.
Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Deuteronomy 7:6
For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.
Isaiah 41:9
I brought you from the ends of the earth and called you from its farthest corners. I said, ‘You are My servant.’ I have chosen and not rejected you.
Exodus 19:5-6
Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. / And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”
Treasury of Scripture
You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
have not.
John 15:19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
John 6:70
Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
ordained.
John 20:21-23
Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you…
John 21:15-17
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs…
Isaiah 49:1-3
Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name…
bring.
John 15:8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Proverbs 11:30
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Isaiah 27:6
He shall cause them that come of Jacob to take root: Israel shall blossom and bud, and fill the face of the world with fruit.
that your.
Genesis 18:18
Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
Psalm 71:18
Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come.
Psalm 78:4-6
We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done…
that whatsoever.
John 15:7
If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
John 14:13,14
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son…
John 16:23,24
And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you…
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John 15
1. The union of Jesus and his members shown under the parable of a vine.
18. The hatred of the world.
26. The office of the Holy Spirit.
You did not choose Me, but I chose you.
This phrase emphasizes the doctrine of divine election, where Jesus asserts His sovereign choice of the disciples. In the cultural context of first-century Judaism, disciples typically chose their rabbis, but here, Jesus reverses that norm, highlighting His authority and initiative. This echoes Old Testament themes where God chooses individuals for specific purposes, such as Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3) and Israel (Deuteronomy 7:6-8). It underscores the grace of God in salvation, as seen in Ephesians 1:4-5, where believers are chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
And I appointed you to go and bear fruit—
The appointment to "go and bear fruit" suggests a mission-oriented life, reflecting the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20). The term "bear fruit" is often associated with spiritual growth and the manifestation of Christian virtues, as seen in Galatians 5:22-23. The agricultural metaphor would resonate with the disciples, who lived in a society where farming was a common occupation. This fruit-bearing is not just personal holiness but also includes evangelistic efforts, as seen in the early church's expansion in Acts.
fruit that will remain—
The concept of lasting fruit implies enduring impact and eternal significance. This can be connected to the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:1-23), where the seed that falls on good soil produces a lasting harvest. Theologically, it points to the perseverance of the saints and the eternal nature of the work done in Christ (1 Corinthians 3:12-15). The enduring nature of this fruit is a testament to the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers and sustains believers (Philippians 1:6).
so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
This promise of answered prayer is contingent upon asking in Jesus' name, which implies alignment with His will and character. In the cultural context, a name represented one's authority and identity. Praying in Jesus' name is not a formula but a reflection of a relationship with Him and submission to His purposes. This is consistent with 1 John 5:14-15, which speaks of the confidence we have in approaching God when we ask according to His will. The promise of answered prayer is also seen in John 14:13-14, reinforcing the idea that the disciples' mission is supported by divine provision.
Persons / Places / Events
1. Jesus Christ
The speaker of this verse, Jesus is addressing His disciples, emphasizing His sovereign choice and mission for them.
2. The Disciples
The immediate audience of Jesus' words, representing all believers who are chosen and appointed by Christ.
3. The Father
God the Father, to whom believers are encouraged to pray in Jesus' name.
4. The Fruit
Symbolic of the spiritual results and impact of a believer's life and ministry.
5. The World
The broader context in which the disciples are sent to bear fruit, representing the mission field.
Teaching Points
Divine Election and Purpose
Understand that being chosen by Christ is a profound privilege and responsibility. It is not based on our merit but on His sovereign will.
Bearing Lasting Fruit
Reflect on the nature of the fruit you are bearing. Is it temporal or eternal? Seek to invest in what has lasting spiritual value.
Prayer in Jesus' Name
Approach prayer with confidence, knowing that when you align your requests with Jesus' mission and character, the Father is eager to respond.
Mission and Obedience
Embrace the call to go into the world and make a difference. Your life is meant to impact others for the Kingdom of God.
Dependence on God
Recognize that the ability to bear fruit and see answered prayers is rooted in a deep, abiding relationship with Christ.
Lists and Questions
Top 10 Lessons from John 15
What defines a fruitful Christian?
What is Unconditional Election?
Can one be saved without being predestined?
(1 Thess 1:4) Is there any tangible evidence supporting divine “election” beyond Paul’s assertion to the Thessalonians?
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers
(16) Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you.--Comp. Luke 6:12 et seq., and in this Gospel John 6:70; John 13:18. The thought of His love for them, which had exalted them from the position of slaves to friends, from fishermen to Apostles, is made to remind them again (John 15:17) of the duty of love to each other. In John 15:20 he reminds them of the words which accompanied His own act of humility in washing their feet (John 13:15-16). The chiefest Apostle owed all to His gift and election, and should be ready to sacrifice all for his brethren, as He Himself was. . . .
Verse 16. - From the thirteenth to the fifteenth verse, our Lord, in a brief digression, has justified a portion of the great commandment of mutual love. That love is to correspond with his love to the disciples, and to explain his self-sacrifice to them; he proves to them that they are his "friends," and therefore the objects of his dying love. Then the appeal is still further clenched by showing the origin and purport of his friendship for them. Ye did not choose me (ἐξελέξασθε... ἐξελεξάμην are middle, "you chose... I chose... for yourselves or for myself"), but I chose you. I selected you as individuals, not excluding thereby a gracious choice of other souls; I destined you to accomplish work dear to me and essential to my kingdom. Christ has already told them that he must "go away" from' them to the Father, and that they "cannot follow him now, but afterwards;" and he has also convinced them that, though he go away, he will "come again, and abide with them," and also that "severed" from him they can "do nothing." Consequently when he adds, I appointed you (see 1 Corinthians 12:28; 1 Timothy 1:12; Hebrews 1:2; Acts 20:28, for similar use of τιθέναι) as my apostles and representatives, to do work in my Name, there is no contradiction in his adding, that ye should go forth, depart into the world with my message and in my Name, as I am "departing" to the Father, to rule over you from a higher and more august position. And bear fruit. A passing reference to the imagery of the first part of the chapter, showing that their "going forth or away" upon this mission would not separate them from his Spirit, or divide the link without which they could bear no fruit at all. The "fruit" may here, in its issues, suggest another class of ideas. In the first case the "fruit" was the "fruit of the Spirit," but here it would seem to be the abiding consequence of the "greater works" which they would be called upon to do. This rich fruit includes all the victories they were to win over souls, and all the effects of their ministry. "Fruit" in either case is only valuable when it is utilized by the Husbandman and according to his purpose. "Fruit" is a Divine self-exhaustion of the living organism; it does no good to the branch nor to the stem; it is the sacred property of the husbandman, whether for his own joy or for fresh seed. In this case your fruit will abide for ever, not in the branch, but in the Father's hands, that (ἵνα) whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my Name, he may give it you. It now becomes a question whether the second ἵνα introduces a clause which is co-ordinate with the former or one logically depending on the preceding. Meyer concludes the first, viz. that the granting of prayer brings about the fruit and its continuance (so De Wette, Lucke, Stier, Godet); and Olshausen maintains the second, viz. that by going and bringing forth fruit we enter into that relation with God from which proceeds the prayer in the name of the Son which the Father will grant, thus bringing the passage into close relation with John 14:13 and John 16:23. Hengstenberg says, "By their fruit they would show themselves to be true disciples of Christ, and to such the Father can deny nothing." But Westcott and Lange endeavor to combine both ideas. The co-ordination of the two clauses requires the inversion of their order, or the introduction of καὶ before the second ἵνα. Moreover, the thought that Christ chose and appointed them in order that whatsoever they should ask God would give, is out of harmony with "the conditions of acceptable prayer" elsewhere insisted on; while the bearing of fruit - in both senses,
(a) that of Christian grace and
(b) Christian usefulness = - completes the idea in a concrete form of abiding in Christ and having His Words abiding in them. Surely the view that the Second clause is conditioned by the First, is far from obscure, as Luthardt Says, while He virtually accepts the same interpretatio," see John 16:24.)
NT Gospels: John 15:16 You didn't choose me but I chose (Jhn Jo Jn)
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 16:7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners. They are well known to the apostles, and they were in Christ before me.
Romans 11:26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob”;
Romans 11:1-36 I ask, then, has God rejected his people? By no means! For I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not rejected his people whom he foreknew. Do you not know what the Scripture says of Elijah, how he appeals to God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed your prophets, they have demolished your altars, and I alone am left, and they seek my life.” But what is God's reply to him? “I have kept for myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. ...
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
Romans 2:28-29 For no one is a Jew who is merely one outwardly, nor is circumcision outward and physical. But a Jew is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter. His praise is not from man but from God.