John 11: 45-57

(John 11: 45-57)

Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.  But some of them went their ways to the Pharisees, and told them what things Jesus had done. Then gathered the chief priests and the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many miracles.  If we let him thus alone, all men will believe on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.  And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all,  Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.  And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation;  And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death.  Jesus therefore walked no more openly among the Jews; but went thence unto a country near to the wilderness, into a city called Ephraim, and there continued with his disciples.  And the Jews' passover was nigh at hand: and many went out of the country up to Jerusalem before the passover, to purify themselves.  Then sought they for Jesus, and spake among themselves, as they stood in the temple, What think ye, that he will not come to the feast?  Now both the chief priests and the Pharisees had given a commandment, that, if any man knew where he were, he should shew it, that they might take him.

This is the story of the people's reaction and what the Lord did after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Many Jews who saw the scene of raising Lazarus from the dead believed that Jesus was the Messiah. Some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. Some who saw the miracles of Jesus believed in the Lord as the Messiah, and others made accusations against Him. Perhaps the person who informed the Pharisees considered the power of Jesus to raise the dead Lazarus as magic or trickery.

There are also two kinds of faith in the church. It is the faith that you believe in and the faith that comes from heaven. The faith of the born again is not the faith of all, but the faith that has been acknowledged and gifted from God. It is not the faith that I will believe, but the faith that is united with Christ on the Cross. Titus 1:1 says "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness"
The faith of those whom God has chosen is the faith that is united with Christ on the Cross. He said, "There are many called, but few are chosen." The standard of salvation must be chosen.

The criterion for election is the metaphor that Jesus said in Matthew 22 that heaven is like the king prepared for his son's wedding feast. But the king invited him, but no one came to the feast. So, destroy all those who have been invited, and bring anyone. However, some of those invited did not wear wedding robes. In 22:13『 Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. God sent the Messiah to the Israelites, but no one believed and killed him on the cross. That is why God called the Gentiles. However, some of them did not wear wedding robes. The robes are said to be clothes of righteousness. It means those who have been purified. Those who drink the cup of the covenant of Jesus are those who are cleansed. Those who participate in the covenant drink the cup together. That cup is the cup of those who participate in the blood shed from the cross. It represents participation in death with Jesus on the cross.

In Matthew 22:7, 『But when the king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. 』This word contains two meanings. It represents the destruction of the temple of those who killed the Messiah by sending an army by General Tito in Rome. But in the end, it reveals the judgments of Revelation.

The wedding robes are prepared immediately upon receipt of the invitation. It is to enter the wedding feast wearing a formal dress with an invitation letter. He holds a lantern and waits for the groom, but if the oil runs out, he cannot enter the wedding feast. The other sump tells you that it must be prepared from scratch. When a person who believes is dead, if God says, "I didn't know you," he is not ready. You have no choice but to go to hell. Everyone in the church says they believe, but how will you know who will be the target? In Hebrews 4:1, let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.』

In the Bible, the standard of salvation is found in Matthew 22:13-14, 『Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. For many are called, but few are chosen. "to be.
Although the saints are called to the cross, they cannot be chosen unless they are united with Jesus who died on the cross. Many churches say that all those who are called are saved, but those who are chosen are a matter of reward. All are saved by believing in Jesus, but there are those specially chosen by God. If you do not repent, everything becomes a false gospel. He is called, but he cannot be elected unless he repents, denies himself, and is united with the cross of Jesus. Those who are not elect will be thrown out in the dark.