The Parable of the Wedding Feast

I assume you are referring to Matt 22:1-14, and its parallel in Luke 14:16-24.

I don't se why it should be a problem. The parable is about the kingdom of God, and its teaching focusses on that, not election or effectual calling.

In the Matthean version, Jesus makes the point that even those who remain are chosen.

The Lukan version speaks to the spread of the people of God to include the Gentiles, something that is entirely of the grace of God.

 

Latreia, you make no sense at all,

What do you think either type of call is for if not a call to come to the kingdom of God. Those who are Totally Depraved cannot be of the Kingdom of God until they hear and respond to the call!

The kingdom of God is comprised of those who hear the call and come to Jesus!

 

What do you think either type of call is for if not a call to come to the kingdom of God. Those who are Totally Depraved cannot be of the Kingdom of God until they hear and respond to the call!

The kingdom of God is comprised of those who hear the call and come to Jesus!</font>[/QUOTE]Yelsew,

in simple terms, since the teaching is not about call or election, you shuld not read terms in the parable as if they referred to those concepts. For the purpose of making his point Jesus is using them quite imdependantly of your concerns.

He's making the point he wants to make.

Let Him do that and yo have a hop of understanding the Scriptures.

 

What do you think either type of call is for if not a call to come to the kingdom of God. Those who are Totally Depraved cannot be of the Kingdom of God until they hear and respond to the call!

The kingdom of God is comprised of those who hear the call and come to Jesus!

The error in this thought is to assume we are currently living in the Kingdom.

After the first resurrection, Christ will then establish the Kingdom, after a thousand years, then satan will be loosed and will go out to deceive the nations.

Those in the Kingdom who have not received salvation will then be deceived and will rise with satan against the Kingdom of Christ.

All those coming to Christ who have heard the effectual call will certainly be part of the rewards of the Kingdom; all others, who have not heard that call will not, but even after a thousand years of peace on the earth, ( a common goal of all mankind, so we hear claimed), there will remain those who will wish to destroy the Kingdom of God and His Christ sitting on the throne of David.

I believe Jesus told Nicodemus, 'except a man be born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God' Those who are not truly born (by hearing the effectual call of God) only cannot see the true Kingdom, He does not say they cannot live concurrently with this Kingdom. If they cannot see this Kingdom, then they are likely to be deceived by satan to rise against it.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas

 

Frogman,

I agree heartily with you eschatology but balk at the concept of two calls, one General and the other the Effectual Call.

 

That is fine with me Bro. Ray.

I believe the ability to believe is provided through the Grace of God, this is the effectual call.

I believe those who, (sticking to the question) do not attend the marriage supper do so as a result of not, not hearing the call, but that call being made effectual and thus providing a personal interest in their hearts and then thier lives.

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas

 

Frogman,

I think you believe like J.N. Darby. He believed in 'Unconditional Election' and the thousand year reign of Christ on the earth in the future.

Brother Ray

 

You will notice that the invitations that were turned down were to the Bride & grooms closest associates and "friends of the family"! Those who should have been the most eager to see the wedding take place! It was only after those invitations were turned down that the wedding feast was opened up to any who would like to come.

 

Bro. Ray,

I do not know much of Darby, but agree with your summation.

We should also note those closest associates who turned down the Bridegroom, those to whom He came and by whom He was rejected are not too different than John the Baptist, who stated he was but a friend of the Bridegroom. John 3.29 I believe.

Also note John 4 the discourse with the woman at the well, the Gospel of Grace, the Kingdom etc. all is rejected by Israel prior to the opening of it to the Gentile nations. I believe Israel rejected Grace in Ex. 19.

Romans 11 is also necessarily studied for perspective.

(I believe we are currently living under the Gospel of Grace and not the Gospel of the Kingdom, I believe the latter will be brought in by Israel after the rapture of the church, during the tribulation, and will be associated with the preaching of the two witnesses (whether these are individual, or national I do not know). I believe also that the everlasting Gospel (Rev. 14) is correlated to this. I also believe any who reject the Gospel of Grace do so, because they are not of the Father, and have not been given to Christ (John 17). I believe all who are of the Father have been bought and shall believe the Gospel in due time (an appointed season to harvest) II Tim. 1.6 And that none coming to Christ, thru the drawing of the Holy Spirit, sent forth from the Father will in any wise be cast out. (Gal. 4.6; John 6)

God Bless.
Bro. Dallas

 

Brother Dallas,

I believe the two witnesses are Elijah and Enoch. Both of these men avoided physical death and I believe all have to die first before finally entering Heaven, forevermore. 'It is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment.' This takes place during the Great Tribulation in Revelation 11:8.