Called
Intro
In this article I am going to show how it is those that dont see the preaching of the cross as foolishness who are the called and the elect and to all things shall work out for good to them.
(I Corinthians 1:18-29 [KJV])
[18] For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
[19] For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
[20] Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
[21] For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
[22] For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
[23] But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
[24] But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
[25] Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
[26] For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
[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;
[28] 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.
We see in [23] that the cross is foolishness or a stumblingblock to most people.
We see in [24] that to "them which are the called" the preaching of the cross is not foolishness.
We see in [26] again that "your calling" that it speaking about the called.
We see in [26] that not many wise men after the flesh are called.
We see that God uses the foolish things to confound the mighty [27].
We see that God chooses the things that are not to bring to nought things that are [28].
So basically we can say that the called ones are those that see that the preaching of the cross is not foolishness but rather the wisdom of God.
Now if we go to Romans 8 which contains this famous once saved always saved part of scripture with the one to one relationship between the called and the glorified.
(Romans 8:24-39 [KJV])
[24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?
[25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.
[26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
[27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
[29] For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
[30] Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
[31] What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
[32] He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
[33] Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth.
[34] Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
[35] Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
[36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
[37] Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
[38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
[39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We see that we are saved by hope [24].
We see that it is a hope that cannot be seen [25].
We see that the spirit helpeth our infimities [27].
We see that all things are going to work out for good to those that are the called [28].
We see that the called are also going to be glorified [30].
We see that God is for us [31].
We see that we are the sheep for the slaughter [36].
We see that nor death nor life nor things to come can separate us from the love of God [38-39].
So those that see that the preaching of the cross is not foolishness nor a stumbling block but rather "Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God" they are the called, they are the justified, they are those that will be glorified and they are those that all things will work out for good to and they are those that will not be separated from the love of God.