Is everyone called in this Gospel Age to follow Christ?

Hi :) I have thought about this too!! The bottom line I conclude is whoever is a friend of this world is an enemy of God. Whoever loves the things of this world, the love of the Father is not in them. Whoever says they know Him but does not keep His commandments is a liar. And no liar has eternal life abiding in them.

Eternal life is knowing the one TRUE God and Jesus Christ. [Jn17:3] Not what people want to believe, but the truth. By people's unrighteousness they suppress the truth. He said all liars, fornicators, adulterers. blasphemers, abusers of themselves with mankind, drunkards, false accusers, etc. have no inheritance in the kingdom of God. Why? Because it proves that they loved their own lives, the prince of the power of the air, their own selves and this evil and adulterous generation more than the One True God who loved them so much He paid the price to ransom them from their selfish idolatry and destruction to bring them safely into the beloved kingdom of His dear Son, who is blessed forever, the Creator. Amen.

This is why we are warned over and over again not to be deceived. People don't want to believe this because they take pleasure in unrighteousness. Many can have a form of godliness, but by their WORKS they deny Him. Narrow is the way. Broad leads to destruction, Jesus said, MANY enter therein, FEW are being saved. I do not believe that all who say "Lord Lord" will enter the Kingdom of Heaven, but ONLY those who DO the will of the Father. This is why Jesus commissioned us to go throughout the world teaching all nations to observe everything He commanded us to do. It is that important! Besides all this, Jesus manifests Himself to us when we obey Him so we want to, so we can see His glory. That is why He said "if you love Me, you will keep my commandments."

I think that the plan God has is to show steadfast love and kindness, with abundance of faithfulness and mercy to all who love Him. But to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth there is wrath and indignation just as it says. The whole reason the world is corrupt is because of selfish desire. God's anger burns against it, that's for sure.

We should walk just as He walked, self-denial. It is difficult, but we have each other, right? And He is a helpful and merciful God. That always makes it bright in my eyes. If we truly have faith, we will do what He says, for it is God who works in us to will and do what pleases Him...

God is Love. To Love God above all and love one another, such is to fulfill the Law of Christ.

"Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law." Romans 13:8

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death." 1John3:14

To officially answer your question, if we are called we also are to follow Christ, I believe so, here's why:

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." John3:36 (The kjv didn't translate accurately from the Greek, it says "whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life" Because believing is obedience as He said in John14:15-23 which includes denial of self and taking up our cross to follow Him.

And another scripture in the kjv: "And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;" Hebrews5:9 Unto all that OBEY Him.

Whoever thinks they are on their way to paradise while they carouse in the daytime, they better think again and come out from their false teaching, seek the truth and do the truth whereby they will be set free. We are all called to work out our own salvation. Praise God. We can do all things through Christ who won the victory and gives us the strength!

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you." 1Peter5:6-7 :)

Also, because lawlessness will increase the love(agape) of many will grow cold. (Matt24:12)

There's the hot, the cold, and the lukewarm... the lukewarm get spewed out. Those are they, I believe, who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof.

Only the hot make it. Their love didn't wax cold because they obeyed the gospel of Life and love!

Besides this, common sense says to me, I wouldn't want to spend eternity with alleged brothers and sisters who really had evil unbelieving hearts under their smooth talk and flattering speech and appearance of godliness. Even those who told "white lies" I wouldn't want be around, that's for sure.

God is really a genius if you think about it.

Therefore, what should we do?...

"All who have this hope in Him purifies Himself just as He is pure." 1John3:3

In fact purity and good deeds is the reason He redeemed us it says in Titus2:14

So whoever doesn't become holy as He is, and do His Will then they essentially refused to accept His offer of salvation and rejected Christ altogether.

God is not going to force anyone in His kingdom who doesn't legitimately want to come. And why should He permit someone to stay who disregards what the King has to say and won't submit to His authority? They deny Him in that way.

Jesus Christ is the Word of God. He is Life Eternal. He is the Way and the Truth.

Glory to God!

Everyone one is called but not everyone is chosen. did the Lord G-d not also say "Jacob I loved but Esau I hated." therefore is it not the Lord G-d whom will have mercy upon whom He will have mercy? Even Jeremiah spoke these Words

That before I was formed in the womb the Lord foreknew me." so The Lord knows who are of His sheep and His sheep know His voice and follow Him.

In 21st century English John 3:16 says... "16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son,+ so that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life."

From this it is easy to see the offer of everlasting life is made to everyone. But do you see the requirement or string God has placed on the offer? Faith is a basic requirement. The KJV says believe instead of exercising faith. If you do your language research you will find they are the same. Just a 400 year separation in lingo.

Basically then the offer is made to everyone. But many do not want God guiding their lives. They would rather be independent. Many on YA express this view. Others want the offer. But they want it only on their terms. An example would be a common saying, "I do not care what any one says. I am going to heaven." These ones in effect tell God how he should run things instead of being humble.

The verse you partially quote is found in Mathew 22:14. Many are called or invited, But few are chosen or accepted by God.

What is it that is the basic problem facing everyone on earth that either makes them acceptable to God or are rejected? What is it that defiles a man in the eyes of God? Here is a clue. Note Jesus words to the Pharisees.

". 34 Offspring of vipers, how can you speak good things when you are wicked? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man out of his good treasure sends out good things, whereas the wicked man out of his wicked treasure sends out wicked things. 36 I tell you that men will render an account on Judgment Day for every unprofitable saying that they speak; 37 for by your words you will be declared righteous, and by your words you will be condemned." (Mathew 12:34-37)

Did you see Jesus words, "the mouth speaks what is in the heart". So the heart of people is the source of the answer as to why some would be accepted and others rejected. That is why Proverbs 4:23 gives us this wise advice.

"23 Above all the things that you guard, safeguard your heart, For out of it are the sources of life."

Your question about how everyone is "called' or have the opportunity, is good one. But the many who do not guard their heart will not see life.

Can you see from this how important a personal knowledge of the Bible is so important in guarding the heart?

https://www.jw.org/en/free-bible-study/

EDIT: Final trump in a comment made a very astute observation in a comment. That is to the effect that those called are those of the elect or 144K of Rev 14:1-3. I asked him to look again at John 10:14-16 which says.

"14 I am the fine shepherd. I know my sheep and my sheep know me,+ 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;+ and I surrender my life* in behalf of the sheep.+ 16 “And I have other sheep, which are not of this fold;+ those too I must bring in, and they will listen to my voice, and they will become one flock, one shepherd."

So these two groups are collected as if there was only one. They just have different destinies. The little flock are destined to be Kings & Priests of God and rule over the earth with Jesus as their first assignment. The "other sheep" become citizens of the Kingdom and remain human. They are talked about in Rev 7:9-17 as those who come our of the great tribulation (Mathew 24:21, 22) as survivors into a new earth.

These ones must have the same strong faith as those with a heavenly destiny. They must meet the same requirements of love and devotion as any who are called and chosen by God.

Bottom Line

God never forces anyone to accept salvation by having faith in Jesus. People are honored by God to choose for themselves. See Joshua 24:15 for the invitation.