But God Has Chosen

2-1-26

Hoonah-Hadley

1 Corinthians 1:18-31

Psalm 15

1 Corinthians 1:27-28

But God Has Chosen

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.” When God’s word says He is a comforter, it is true. When God’s word says He is merciful, it is true. When God’s word says He forgives, it is true. When God’s word says His grace is sufficient, it is true. God’s word confirms God’s word, from Genesis to Revelation and all points in between. For more information on that you can go to S.O.S website YouTube and listen to Alex’s sermon from 1-18-26 called “The Safest Place”. God’s word is just that, it is His word, tried, tested and true since before the foundation of the world until everlasting to everlasting. That is, it always was and always will be. Matt. 24:35 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.” John 1:1-17 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth…but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” So, when God’s word says “He has chosen the foolish things…the weak things…the base things…the things which are despised God has chosen”, you can take it to the bank, you can trust Him, for He alone is worthy. His words not only comfort us, they also give us hope.

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God choses the foolish things, be a fool for Christ’s sake. Isaiah 29:14 “Therefore, behold, I will again do a marvelous work among this people, a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish…the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.” First things first, God will destroy, He will put an end to human wisdom. God never intended to make the gospel fashionable, nor a fashion show. If this is a message for anyone this morning, it’s a message for the layman, the blue-collar folks, the simple folks, the humble, innocent, well meaning, yeah, even the foolish, weak, base and despised, “the things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are.” As always, God’s word is a vast, deep ocean without end, impossible to contain or harness in a lifetime let alone on a Sunday morning, but, if we could put our lesson in its simplicity with a few words, we might call it the doctrine of election. When God says a thing, we are inclined to sit up and give ear. When He repeats Himself, our head begins to shake up and down in agreement. When He uses a term 3 times in a couple verses, we rise from our apathy and indifference and are compelled to answer the battle cry. In verses 27 and 28 He repeats the phrase, “God has chosen”, “God has chosen”, “God has chosen” 3 times. Chosen is derived from the root meaning of choice, selection or elect. The Hebrew word is “bachir” referring to a person or group of people God Himself has singled out for a special purpose. We might pause for a moment and give ourselves time to consider God’s purpose in choosing us, electing us. Why us, why now and does our life show forth that election, has God done well in selecting us? Christ himself fits in here well, He was humble, despised and rejected. Has anyone here ever been humbled, despised or rejected? Thus, our election, that we might follow the humble, despised, cross bearing Savior.

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Vs. 18 “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” Herein two opposing responses to the gospel message, and as it is, two different results. As in Psalm 1, Matt. 7:13-14, and so on, there is no middle ground. Isaiah 6:9 “And He said, ‘Go and tell this people: Keep on hearing but do not understand; Keep on seeing but do not perceive. Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.’” Luke 2:34 “Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, ‘Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many…” Romans 9:10-13 “…that the purpose of God according to election might stand…As it is written, ‘Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.’” (Malachi 1:2-3) 2 Corinthians 2:14-16 “…thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and…the other the aroma of life leading to life.” No middle ground, period. Some are saved, others are not, how is this? Some simply will not repent, believe and turn to God. Therefore they perish willfully by their own acts and deeds. How is it that other’s are saved, whose will is it that has made them to differ? Our daily verse answers the question 3x’s, “God has chosen”, “God has chosen”, “God has chosen.” Any grace we have obtained in life is a gift of God’s election. Romans 9:15-18 “I will have mercy on whomever I will…and I will have compassion on whomever I will…Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.” The Lord’s will determines the matter. He sees not as man sees.

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Among others, He chose Abraham, Joseph, Moses and David, He chose the ruddy. God’s will is the great determining force. Spurgeon: “The position of God is king, and the position of man is criminal. It is better to leave the matter in God’s hands.” He is able, we are not. He is just, He is love, He is a savior, the Savior. God choses His children as the builder choses the stones. Psalm 118:22 “…the stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone, the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes.” Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift from God.” Strange choice He has made, the foolish, weak, base, despised things. Not even worthy to be given a name but deemed “things”. Base is having or resulting in low moral standards. Inferior in quality or value. Inferior substances…valueless. God takes the “things” that are inferior, valueless, strange choice He makes. His way is not our way, it is higher, better. Our natural bent is away from God. We are prone to wander, given to iniquity, determined to feed the flesh, yet saved by grace? The final decision is God’s, He has chosen! Do you remember on the elementary school playground when teams were chosen? Even as children we picked sides and they were almost always the best looking, the best athletes, the smartest kids, I mean you want to win the kickball game, right, the spelling bee? God wins the game alright, with the weak, despised, foolish ones. We select those who are best because they are most deserving, God selects those who are worse because they are least deserving. God’s selection is an act of grace, mercy, not merit, money or makeup. Remember the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16? Why the strange choice? “To confound the wise.” For the wise to confound the simple is easy, for the simple to confound the wise is the work of God. Why? “That no flesh should glory in His presence.” Amen!