Jesus explained this in Mark 4 in the parable of the sower. In this parable many received the seed of God’s word and rejoiced for a season. They had a Christian testimony indistinguishable from a true believer. This is what Jesus meant by “many are called and few are chosen”. Many come under the call of the gospel, under the scattering of the seed. The “fishing nets” drag in many, but then God sorts them out. (Matt 13:46).
Those who are born of God receive the word so that it transforms the whole heart. It is not a shallow work that will disappear in time of trial. This is what the new birth is, not froth and bubble, not demonstration or even gifts of the Spirit that are commonly seen outwardly.
And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word and receive it and bring forth fruit, some thirty fold, some sixty and some an hundred. (Mark 4:20).
As a son we need to pay attention to this exhortation and ensure that God has done a work in our heart to this extent. We are not to attend to these things lightly, but diligently, to ensure that we are sons, not by presuming we are, but by checking to see whether the Lord has done this genuine work within us. Examine the fruit (1 John 2:3). “Faith without works (fruit) is dead, being alone.” (James 2:17).
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