'Choosing' refers to accepting anyone coming within the boundaries that God established. For instance, God set the boundary of salvation and lets anyone who enters into this boundary receive salvation. Thus, anyone can reach salvation who accepts Jesus Christ, receives forgiveness of sins and is given the Holy Spirit as a gift.
However, some people may misunderstand. They argue God separated those who are saved from those who are not in the first place as if He were a dictator. Some of them claim that once people accept the Lord, God will forcefully lead them to salvation although they do not live according to the Word. Yet, Jesus clearly said in Matthew 7:21, "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter."
God wants true children with whom He can share love forever. That is why He gave all mankind freewill and sent Jesus Christ to this earth. In our freewill, we can come into the boundary of salvation through faith.
As Romans 10:9 reads, "That if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." However, if one does not enter within the boundary of salvation, or if he/she again goes outside of the boundary by committing sins and does not turn back, he or she cannot receive salvation.
What is 'setting apart' by God? God knows everything and foreknew what would happen before time began, and predestined to accomplish the providence of human cultivation. For this, He called certain people He predestined and guided their whole lives. They were 'set apart' by God. Abraham, the forefather of faith and Moses the leader of Exodus were set apart by God. God knew who would be born at a certain point in human cultivation and even knew his or her heart. So, He set apart those people He predestined and had them fulfill great duties. He closely intervened into their conception, births, and every moment of their lives. They underwent trials under the guidance of God and fulfilled God-given duties faithfully.
Romans 1:1 says, "Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God." Apostle Paul suffered from many unbearable hardships as the apostle for the Gentiles. He was set apart for the gospel of the Lord because His heart was brave, bold, and unchanging. He also had to fulfill the duty of recording many books of the New Testament, so God allowed him to learn the Word of God thoroughly from early childhood and to study under Gamaliel so that he could become a capable vessel for the duty.
John the Baptist was also set apart by God to prepare the way of Jesus. God cared for him from his conception and throughout every step of his life. From his early childhood God had John live a different life from the lives of others. John lived alone in the wilderness distancing himself from the world. He had a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey.
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