What Does It Mean That “Many Are Called, But Few Are Chosen”?

Q: I’ve been a Christian for a while, but there is still one verse that plagues me. What is the meaning of 'many are called, but few are chosen'?

A: The most basic understanding of that is that God calls more people than are actually elect. Now, how do we know who the elect are? The only way we genuinely know who the elect are is that they put their faith in Jesus Christ. They trust in Him, rely on Him, and cling to the person and work of Jesus Christ, especially what He did at the cross and in the glorious resurrection.

That's how we know who the elect are. You could say, 'Many are called, but few believe,' because I don't think there are elect people who don't believe, and I don't think there are people who truly do believe who aren't elect. So, while the terms don't mean exactly the same thing, they deal with the same group of people. Many are called, but few believe. Many are called, but few are chosen, or are elected—those who believe.

That's just the most simple, basic way to understand that. I want to admit that there are layers and depths and angles to look at this in different ways, especially if one wants to bring in their particular system of theology, but that's basically it: many are called, but few believe; many are called, but few are chosen or elected—those who believe.