Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
“26 For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
28 and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are,
29 so that no man may boast before God.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29.
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“God has chosen”. Predestination or “Unconditional Election” (the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of salvation), whatever you want to call it, “God has chosen”.
And, “God has chosen” is not just an obscure New Testament provision. For example, we read Deuteronomy 7:7: “The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples,”
We read about “God has chosen” throughout the Old Testament.
Genesis 18:19
“For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
“For I have chosen him, so that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing righteousness and justice, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken about him.”
Deuteronomy 7:6
“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
Deuteronomy 14:2
“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”
Deuteronomy 18:5
“For the LORD your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the LORD forever.”
“For the LORD your God has chosen him and his sons from all your tribes, to stand and serve in the name of the LORD forever.”
1 Chronicles 16:13
“O seed of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!”
“O seed of Israel His servant, Sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!”
2 Chronicles 6:6
“but I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’”
“but I have chosen Jerusalem that My name might be there, and I have chosen David to be over My people Israel.’”
Psalm 33:12
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”
“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.”
Psalm 89:3
“I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant,”
“I have made a covenant with My chosen; I have sworn to David My servant,”
Psalm 105:6
“O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!”
“O seed of Abraham, His servant, O sons of Jacob, His chosen ones!”
Psalm 105:26
“He sent Moses His servant, And Aaron, whom He had chosen.”
“He sent Moses His servant, And Aaron, whom He had chosen.”
Psalm 105:43
“And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout.”
“And He brought forth His people with joy, His chosen ones with a joyful shout.”
Psalm 106:5
“That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance.”
“That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance.”
Psalm 132:13
“For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation.”
“For the LORD has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation.”
Psalm 135:4
“For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own possession.”
“For the LORD has chosen Jacob for Himself, Israel for His own possession.”
Isaiah 41:8
“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,”
“But you, Israel, My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, Descendant of Abraham My friend,”
Isaiah 41:9
“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.”
“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, And called from its remotest parts And said to you, ‘You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.”
Isaiah 42:1
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.”
“Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations.”
Isaiah 44:1
“But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen:”
“But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, And Israel, whom I have chosen:”
Isaiah 44:2
“Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.”
“Thus says the LORD who made you And formed you from the womb, who will help you, ‘Do not fear, O Jacob My servant; And you Jeshurun whom I have chosen.”
Isaiah 45:4
“For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me.”
“For the sake of Jacob My servant, And Israel My chosen one, I have also called you by your name; I have given you a title of honor Though you have not known Me.”
Isaiah 49:7
“Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One, To the despised One, To the One abhorred by the nation, To the Servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, Princes will also bow down, Because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”
“Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel and its Holy One, To the despised One, To the One abhorred by the nation, To the Servant of rulers, “Kings will see and arise, Princes will also bow down, Because of the LORD who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel who has chosen You.”
Isaiah 65:9
“I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, And an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones shall inherit it, And My servants will dwell there.”
“I will bring forth offspring from Jacob, And an heir of My mountains from Judah; Even My chosen ones shall inherit it, And My servants will dwell there.”
Amos 3:2
“You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
“You only have I chosen among all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
Haggai 2:23
“‘On that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’” declares the LORD of hosts.”
“‘On that day,’ declares the LORD of hosts, ‘I will take you, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, My servant,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you,’” declares the LORD of hosts.”
We also read about “God has chosen” throughout the New Testament.
Matthew 12:18
“BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.”
“BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN; MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED; I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM, AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES.”
Matthew 22:14
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
“For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Luke 9:35
“Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”
“Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”
Luke 12:32
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”
John 15:16
“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
Acts 9:15
“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;”
“But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;”
Romans 9:11
“for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,”
“for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,”
Romans 11:5
“In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”
“In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.”
Romans 11:7
“What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;”
“What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened;”
Colossians 3:12
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”
“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”
1 Thessalonians 1:4
“knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;”
“knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;”
2 Thessalonians 2:13
“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.”
2 Timothy 2:10
“For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”
“For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.”
Titus 1:1
“Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,”
“Paul, a bond-servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the faith of those chosen of God and the knowledge of the truth which is according to godliness,”
James 2:5
“Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
“Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”
1 Peter 1:1
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen”
“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen”
1 Peter 2:4
“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,”
“And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God,”
1 Peter 2:6
“For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
“For this is contained in Scripture: “BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A CHOICE STONE, A PRECIOUS CORNER stone, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”
1 Peter 2:9
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
Revelation 17:14
“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
“These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
In conclusion, it is abundantly clear that “God has chosen” throughout Scripture.
Why then do we resist and bristle against Predestination or “Unconditional Election” (the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of salvation)?
Why do we hide or obscure or minimize this principle that “God has chosen”?
“God has chosen” is the sole basis of salvation: “so that no man may boast before God.”
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 