What is the meaning of 1 Corinthians 1:28? He chose God’s initiative is front-and-center. He does the choosing. • Ephesians 1:4 reminds us, “For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence.” • Jesus confirms this in John 15:16: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you.” • Deuteronomy 7:7 shows that His choice is rooted in love, not in our merit. The verse opens with a comforting truth: Our standing with God rests on His deliberate, gracious action. the lowly things of the world The “lowly” are the unnoticed, the ordinary, the powerless. • Luke 1:52 says, “He has brought down rulers from their thrones, but has exalted the humble.” • James 2:5 asks, “Has not God chosen the poor of the world to be rich in faith…?” • Psalm 138:6 notes that the Lord “attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.” By highlighting the lowly, the Spirit assures believers who feel small that they are precisely the kinds of people God delights to use. and the despised things These are the people and situations society scorns. • Isaiah 53:3 shows our Savior was “despised and rejected by men,” identifying fully with the outcast. • Acts 4:11 calls Jesus “the stone you builders rejected,” yet He became the cornerstone. • Matthew 5:11-12 promises blessing to those reviled for righteousness’ sake. God’s pattern of elevating the despised underscores that earthly approval is never the yardstick of heavenly value. and the things that are not This phrase sweeps in what seems nonexistent or insignificant. • Romans 4:17 speaks of God “who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they are.” • 1 Corinthians 2:9 reminds us that God’s plans surpass human imagination. • 1 Samuel 2:8 depicts Him raising the poor from the dust “to seat them with princes.” The Lord delights to create reality where there was none, proving that nothing is too small or too far-gone for His purpose. to nullify the things that are Here’s the purpose clause: God overturns worldly systems to display His supremacy. • 1 Corinthians 1:19: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise.” • Luke 1:51-52 shows Him scattering the proud and dethroning the mighty. • 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 highlights weapons “with divine power to demolish strongholds.” • Revelation 17:14 celebrates the ultimate victory: “the Lamb will triumph… because He is Lord of lords.” By choosing the least likely, God neutralizes human boasting and showcases His own glory. summary 1 Corinthians 1:28 reveals a consistent, comforting pattern: God purposefully selects the humble, the overlooked, and even the “non-existent” to topple the presumed powers of this age. In doing so He magnifies His grace, silences human pride, and reassures every believer that no circumstance or status can hinder His plan. |
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