APRIL 23, 2024
“But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things…and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” (I Corinthians 1:27-29)
Paul had just declared that Christ was despised by both Jews and Gentiles. His Gospel was offensive to the traditional Jews, and it was foolishness to the sophisticated Greeks. But, this was no cause of stumbling for him, for what others counted as foolish or unworthy, he knew to be wisdom, and rejoiced because that which is foolishness to those that perish is to believers “the power and wisdom of God;”and also “Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” (Vs. 25) Lest this should be a cause of stumbling to any of the Corinthians, he goes on to show that it is the general way with God to select means which men despise, so “that no flesh should glory in His presence.”
In order to prove this, he asked them to consider their own calling, and they would see that “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.” (Vs. 26) He did not exclude all of the worldly-wise and powerful, and we are thankful that some of the mighty and noble of every generation have believed on Christ. It was Queen Victoria who remarked that she was saved by the letter “M,” noting that the Apostle said, “Not many,” but he did not say “Not any,” of the nobility are called.
It should be clear to all who are familiar with Scripture that it was never God’s intention to make the Gospel fashionable, so as to gather dignity for it by selecting the world’s elite to proclaim it; to gain for it recognition by choosing men of rank and station to embrace it. How it must grieve the Lord when celebrity endorsements are used to make His Gospel more appealing to the masses. When God calls one from a life of fame and fortune it is not to better promote the Gospel, it is to manifest His grace in them.
There is no doctrine so humbling as the doctrine of election. Paul here emphasizes God’s choice and call so that the disciples at Corinth might be quite content to be followers of the humble and despised cross-bearing Savior. Everything about the choosing and calling of sinners ought to humble us. First, consider the Elector. Who is it that made the choice? This is a legitimate question to ask, in light of how the message of grace is often presented. Some are saved, and some are not, and the reason involves “choice,” but whose choice affected the difference? Our text answers this question, not once, but three times: “God hath chosen the foolish things… God hath chosen the weak things…things which are despised hath God chosen….” Men go to hell because of their choices, but if any shall go to heaven, it is because “God hath chosen.” It is true that all of the saved must and do choose Christ, but God’s own choice is the cause. Our Lord said it plainly, “Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you…” (John 15:16) “I have chosen you out of the world.” (John 15:19) This is a very humbling truth, but it is also most blessed.
God is the Elector, but what about the election? It seems to be a strange choice. To the natural human mind, the strangeness concerns those who are not chosen. (The worldly-wise, mighty, noble, etc.) Who they are runs directly contrary to human reason. The choice is very gracious, and it is also most encouraging. For those who cannot boast of pedigree, wealth, or superior intellect, or any of the things that serve to qualify people for high office, this is encouraging. You may be one of low degree, but our Lord welcomes such into His Church. The only disqualification is unbelief. To the jailor, Paul said,“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” It does not matter how foolish, weak, base, despised, or what a nothing, you might think yourself to be, none of these things are barriers to free and sovereign grace. God’s election is unconditional, and grace is free. “Being justified freely (without a cause) by his grace…” (Rom. 3:24)
What is the reason for God’s strange choices? We are told the immediate reason (Vs. 27, 28), and then the ultimate reason (Vs. 29). First, God would use foolish and weak vessels to confound the wise and the mighty; and things that are considered “nothings” to bring to naught things that were considered “somethings.” Second, the ultimate reason for God’s strange choices: “That no flesh should glory in his presence.” We can be sure that this is the chief reason why Christ’s doctrine was so hated by both Jews and Greeks; it allowed for not glorying in man. But, this is the reason why unworthy sinners like us find this Gospel so delightful.
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