The Called Out Ones

In the bible the word for church is ekklēsia, which comes from the word "ek" and the word "kaleo." Those words put together mean "call out of" or "called out from." Interesting words the Lord uses for the church don't you think? We are "called out from" the masses of humanity to be His, but the story doesn't stop there.

Among the "called out" ones, there is a sub-group that is "called out" amongst the "called out ones." That is, among the church, or ek-klesia, there is a smaller group....a few....that are called out. I believe another word for this group is The Bride of Christ. Where has this been said? Let's find out.

A perpetual question I raise with the Lord is WHY Lord? Why will only a few be saved (Matt 7:13-28)? I'm not sure that what you are reading here is an answer to that question, but it is part of the "how" it has worked itself out through the ages. The Lord destroyed Israel over and over and over again, each time saving a remnanat..a few. We read in Matt, Mark and Luke that a few will find there way through the small gate that leads to life.

The "church" may be counted as many, just as Israel blanketed the land when they left Egypt, but how many out of the massive throng that left Egypt entered the promised land? Two.

When we read the book of Revelation we see words like these:

To the Church in Sardis

1“To the angela of the church in Sardis write:

These are the words of him who holds the seven spiritsb of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God. 3Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; obey it, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.

4Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. 6He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Out of the entire church in Sardis, few had not soiled their clothes, meaning few were found worthy to walk with Jesus dressed in white, for they are worthy...

Worthiness? Yep, an important word also found here:

Luke 21:34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

The church is called out of the world, and out of the church. Apparently few are accounted worthy of salvation, the rapture etc. Make of this what you will, but we ignore these things at our own peril. The Lord gave me these thoughts as I was sitting in an airplane flying at 36,000 feet flying coast to coast today.

Grace and peace