The Chosen
Ephesians 1:4-5 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Jesus told his disciples, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you"!
For God to choose these humble disciples it was an undeserved choice, an unprecedented choice, an uncanny choice, a unique choice!
Sometimes preachers get all wrapped up in Calvinism when they come to this scripture. Instead of trying to dissect what it means to be "called", we should be celebrating the fact that God would even look our way to begin with!
For example, I have been called to preach the gospel, but not everyone has been called to preach the gospel. The gospel is for everyone and for whosoever will, but only a few people have the calling to stand and preach it.
For the same purpose, God calls out people to establish churches and to preach and work in ministry so that the world may hear and be saved. That is the context by which Paul speaks of "predestination and the call or election" of the Saints. It is written in the context of ministry specifically as it relates to the church to reach "whosoever will".
2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
It is important to remember that we cannot cut what Peter said out of the Bible under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. The God that so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, "is not willing that ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that ALL SHOULD COME TO REPENTANCE"! God chose the Saints, the leaders of the ministry of the church to reach the world. That is why Jesus said many are called but few are chosen (i.e. the world has been delivered the message, but not everyone is a preacher or in Ministry)... as Matthew 22 declares, everyone is invited to the wedding but not everyone decides to put the wedding garment on by faith. The Chosen are those who accepted the gospel by faith and can be used to serve God in his kingdom. The called are those who have heard the message but have rejected it. Simple.
As it relates to the Ministers of the Gospel:
*Chosen in the plan of his word
*Chosen before his presence without blame (v.4)
*Chosen for the purpose of witnessing (John 17)
*Chosen in his pleasurable will (v.5)
*Chosen with power to work
(Brian Edes)