Spirit Jesus

“For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; 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 of the world, 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” - 1 Corinthians i-26-29

The Apostle Paul had been led to make the confession that Christ Jesus was despised both by Jew and Gentile. He confessed that this was no cause of stumbling to him; for what others counted foolishness he believed to be wisdom, and rejoined that the foolishness of God was wiser than men, and the weakness of God stronger than men. Lest, however, any of the Corinthian Church should be stumbled by the fact that Christ was despised, the apostle goes on to show that it was the general way of God’s proceeding, to select means which men despised, in order that by accomplishing His purpose through them, He might have all the glory; and He refers them for proof of this to the one instance of their own election and calling: “Ye see your calling, brethren,” saith he, “not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called; ” but you, the poor, illiterate, the despised — you have been called — still for the same reason — that God may be all in all, and that no flesh may glory in His presence.

It is clear to everyone who will observe either Scripture or fact, that God never intended to make His gospel fashionable; that the very last thing that was ever in His thoughts was to select the elite of mankind, and gather dignity for His truth from the gaudy trappings of rank and station. On the contrary, God has thrown down the gauntlet against all the pride of manhood; he hath dashed mire into the face of all human excellency; and with the battle-axe of his strength, He has dashed the escutcheon of man’s glory in twain. “Overturn! overturn! overturn!” seems to be the very motto of the Lord of Hosts, and shall be so “until He shall come whose right it is to reign , and He will give it him,” for His is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

There is no doctrine more truly humbling than the doctrine of election; and it was for this reason that the Apostle Paul refers to it, — that the disciples at Corinth might be quite content to follow the humble and despised cross-bearing Savior, because the election of grace consists of the humble and despised, who therefore cannot be ashamed to follow One who, like themselves, was despised and rejected of men.

Coming, then at once to our text, we observe in it very clearly, first, the Elector; secondly a strange election; then, the elected; and when we have considered all these a little, we shall pause over the reasons which God has given for His election — that “no flesh should glory in His presence.”

Christian Classics Collection
http://www.3rdpartynet-christian-classics.com/