Chosen For Glory

Paul’s begins this letter to the Corinthians with a call to the holy, the sanctified in Christ Jesus (1:1–3) and expresses his thanks for the strengths they exhibit (vv. 4–9). But the apostle quickly turns to the first of a series of serious problems that keeps the church from reaching its spiritual potential. The Corinthian fellowship is torn by factions, each arguing the superiority of one Christian leader over another (vv. 10–12). Paul cries out in this letter, “Is Christ divided?” and then begins to lay a foundation for dealing with clicks and division. The Gospel itself is by any human standards “foolishness.” But human standards themselves are “foolishness” in view of a divine wisdom which turns man’s values upside down. We believers must hold to the central reality of our faith, Christ, for He alone is the source of all our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. And if we boast in anything or anyone, the only one worth boasting about is Jesus!

I. The Calling vv. 26

“Why, look at your own ranks, my brothers,” is Moffatt’s rendering (MNT, p. 19). A glance at their own church would prove Paul’s point, for there were not many of the wise and mighty among them. Roman social class was based on birth (“nobility”) rather than on wealth; but by either criterion, most of the Corinthian Christians derived from the lower ranks of society, which made up the vast majority of ancient society. Paul’s guarded language here “not many” suggests that some, were of higher status, no doubt including the owners of the homes in which the churches met.

a. Some Wise are Called (Dr. E. K. Bailey, Dr. Henry Mitchel, Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Dr. A. Lewis Patterson, Dr. James Massey, Dr. Gardner C. Taylor, Dr. Manuel L. Scott & Dr. Caesar Clark)

b. Some Mighty are Called (Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rev. Billy Graham, Bishop Desmond Tutu and President Nelson Mandela)

c. Some Noble are Called (Apostles Peter or Paul or Bishop Apollos)

Paul says look around and you will see some but not many - not many Wise (of high degree), not many Mighty (of high authority), not many Noble (of high status). The Corinthians had a tendency to be “puffed up” with pride (1 Cor. 4:6, 18–19; 5:2). But the Gospel of God’s grace leaves no room for conceit. God is not impressed with our looks, our social position, our achievements, our natural heritage, or our financial status.

Paul reminded them that God called them, not because of what they were, but in spite of what they were! The church was composed primarily of ordinary people who were terrible sinners that God called out of darkness into His marvelous light! Before we became us, we were them; and we did not become us by our wisdom or our might or our birthright!

II. The Chosen vv. 27-29

We were chosen! The famous dying remark of John Allen of the Salvation Army, “I deserve to be damned; I deserve to be in hell; but God interfered!” Three times in this short passage Paul says, “God has chosen.”

a. He chose the Foolish (simple or common) to shame the Wise

b. He chose the Weak (no command / authority) to shame the Mighty

c. He chose the Base (no status or family name) to bring down the Noble

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” vv. 25 Paul reminded the Corinthians of why God called them (vv. 27–29). God chose the foolish, the weak, the base (“low born”), and the despised to show the proud world their need and His grace. The lost world admires birth (we are attracted shows like keeping up with the certain family name), social status (we are attracted shows like Access Hollywood), financial success (we are attracted to the owners of companies flying off into space), power (we are attracted to them with swagger and who flaunt their influence), and recognition (we are attracted to those who walk on red carpets). But none of that can give eternal life. The message and miracle of God’s grace in Jesus Christ utterly confounds (“puts to shame”) the high and mighty of this world. The wise of this world cannot understand how God changes sinners into saints, and the mighty of this world are helpless to duplicate the miracle of His Mercy! God’s “foolishness” confounds the wise; God’s “weakness” confounds the mighty! The annals of church history are filled with the accounts of great sinners whose lives were transformed by the power of the Gospel. We have seen delinquent teenagers become successful students to the amazement of the school district. We have seen marriages restored and homes reclaimed, much to the amazement of the courts. And why does God reveal the foolishness and the weakness of this present world system, even with its philosophy and religion? “That no flesh should glory in His presence” vv. 29. Salvation must be wholly of grace; otherwise, God cannot get the glory. It is this truth that Paul wanted to get across to the Corinthians, because they were guilty of glorying in men. If we glory in men, even godly men like Peter and Paul and Apollos, we are robbing God of the glory that He alone deserves.