First Corinthians 1 Part 8 Not Many Wise Or Powerful Will Come To Faith In Christ

Paul taught us about the wisdom of man in contrast to the true wisdom that comes from God. 

Men will create plans and concoct various schemes to achieve their end, but it is God's wisdom that will always prevail.

Not many wise or powerful people will bow the knee to Jesus Christ. 

1 Corinthians 1:26  For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 

Not many people of distinguished rank and character were called to be Christians. As the apostles and teachers were poor and less valued in the sight of the world, so were many who responded to the gospel.   

Few of the wise, and mighty, and noble, embraced the doctrine of the cross. The first Christians, both among Jews and Greeks, were as Paul wrote.  They were weak, foolish, and base.  

Common, everyday people more readily heard the gospel, repented of sin and embraced Jesus Christ for salvation.

God has chosen the foolishness of gospel preaching to save the lost. 

1 Corinthians 1:27  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; 

God chose men whom the world thought were crude and illiterate, to overturn philosophic systems of thought of the greatest of the Greek philosophers. 

The power of the gospel of Christ overturned their belief systems as it was preached by men weak and without secular power or authority.

It was the power of the gospel that exposed the scribes and Pharisees wickedness of elevating their traditions over the authority of inspired scripture. 

These same unlearned apostles were used of God to spread the gospel of Christ crucified all over the land of Judea. 

The power of the gospel was shown when God's Spirit converted thousands of souls to repentant faith in Christ. They were ready to lay down their lives for the truth.

Simple, humble things bring the counsels of the wicked to nothing.

1 Corinthians 1:28-29  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: 29) That no flesh should glory in his presence. 

God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and to beat down the pride and vanity of men.  

Men of little learning confounded the most learned by gospel preaching. Seemingly weak things of the world were used to defeat the oppressive influence of idolatry. 

These simple vessels are the means used by God to undo the foolish schemes of men.

Zephaniah 3:12  I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD. 

Zephaniah prophesied of these things. God's plan was to leave a remnant of afflicted and poor people, in a spiritual sense. 

Those who are underprivileged and oppressed are the very ones who will receive the gospel with glad hearts. 

God will take care of the poor and afflicted. 

Matthew 5:3-5  Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4)  Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5)  Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 

The prophet's expressions connect with the beatitudes taught by the Lord Jesus Christ,

The poor in spirit are blessed because they receive the kingdom of heaven. 

Those who mourn shall be comforted. Those who are meek and lowly, shall inherit the earth. 

Those who are merciful will receive mercy. Those who are reviled or persecuted will receive a great reward from the heavenly Father.

The hidden mysteries of God are revealed to humble and lowly ones. 

Luke 10:21-22  In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. 22)  All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. 

During His earthly ministry, Jesus thanks His Father for the hidden mysteries of God that the wise and powerful did not see or know about. 

He praised His Father because the glorious gospel was revealed to simple, common people. 

Isaiah 2:11  The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day.

Mankind as a whole is overrun with high minded, haughty people who exalt sin and debase God. 

They demand the right to kill babies in a mother's womb and promote sexual perversion. They defy God to do anything about it.

There is only one reason why Divine judgment does not fall swiftly upon the entire world. 

God is still not willing that anyone should perish. He wants all men to be saved by gospel preaching (See 1 Timothy 2:1-6; 2 Peter 3:9). 

Jesus Christ is our righteousness, sanctification for the believer.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31  But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.  31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. 

Even the good which we possess is granted to us by God, for it is by and through the Father that Christ Jesus comes with all the blessings of the Gospel.

Jesus Christ is made wisdom for us because He is the author of Divine wisdom which far excels the wisdom of the philosophers and scribes.  

Jesus Christ is our righteousness and justification, bringing to us that remission of sins which the law could not give, (See Galatians 2:21; 3:21).

Through faith in Jesus' blood, we are declared justified and clothed in Christ's righteousness (See Romans 5:1-11).

Glory in all that the LORD has done for us.

Ephesians 4:20-24  But ye have not so learned Christ; 21)  If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22)  That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24)  And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 

Jesus Christ has become our sanctification working in us a true and eternal holiness, wrought in us by the Holy Spirit.

Through the power of the gospel of Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin (See Romans 6). 

The power of God helps us put off our old man and the old, sinful ways of life (See 2 Corinthians 5:17).

The Lord will renew our minds and help us "put on" our new man in Christ, which is created in righteousness and holiness.

Many professing Christians claim that you can be saved and live as you please. 

The whole of scripture testifies that this is not true.

God governed the patriarchs, and Israel. He tells Christians to teach all nations to obey Christ's commands (Matthew 18:18-20).

1 Corinthians 7:8-11  I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I. 9)  But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn. 10)  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11)  But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 

2 Peter 3:1-2  This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance: 2)  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 

Jesus gave additional commands and instructions through His apostles (See also Acts 8:26). 

We glory in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Author and Finisher of our salvation.

Jeremiah 9:23-24  Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24)  But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.

Because God is the Fountain of all good, neither wisdom, nor might, nor riches, nor prosperity can come but from or through Him. 

Nothing is more rational than that the Source of all our blessings should be acknowledged by those who know Him. 

Riches cannot deliver in the day of death and our feeble strength cannot prevail against Him. 

Wisdom used by the wise as a shield against believing the truth of the gospel is foolishness. 

These things are so true and relevant for all generations. I was one of those who used worldly wisdom to deny the reality of God, and I was a fool for doing so.

It was the power of the gospel of Christ that broke through the stony recesses of my heart to bring me to repentant faith in Jesus Christ.

I hope that you have heard the gospel and turned to Christ for salvation.

May the Psalmists words encourage us to glorify God with our body and soul and spirit which are His. We are bought with the price of Christ's blood (See 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). 

Bob

Psalm 44:8  In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah. 

Psalm 105:1-4  O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. 2  Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. 3  Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD. 4  Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.