Called and Chosen

From a letter written by the apostle Paul, 

with Sosthenes,

to believers in Corinth and everywhere:

For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 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? 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. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 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; 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: that no flesh should glory in his presence. But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.-1 Corinthians 1:17-31*** 

Paul (Saul) was an Israelite, and a Pharisee, and a Roman citizen from Tarsus in Cilicia in Asia Minor (Turkey). Paul was from the tribe of Benjamin, descended from Abraham (Abram the Hebrew) and Sarah (Sarai), Isaac and Rebekah, Jacob (Israel) and Rachel, and Jacob and Rachel's 2nd and last son Benjamin. Paul spent his scholarly years in Jerusalem, learning from Gamaliel, a widely respected Pharisee, teacher and interpreter of the laws that the Lord God gave Moses for the Israelites. Sometime after Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, was betrayed, arrested, crucified, buried in a tomb, resurrected, and returned to heaven, Paul began  persecuting and imprisoning Israelites who believed Jesus to be the Christ. Stephen was an Israelite and a believer. When Stephen was brought before the high court of the Israelites, the Sanhedrin, and recounted a brief history of the Israelites, and spoke of the Holy Ghost, and the actions of some Israelite ancestors, and the killing of Jesus, and said he was looking at heaven, and said he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Lord God, Stephen was stoned to death. Meanwhile, Paul guarded the garments of Stephen's assailants. When Paul was journeying to the synagogues in Damascus, Syria, to find, bind and take to Jerusalem any Israelite believers he found, Paul and those with him saw a light from heaven flash around them. Paul heard the voice of Jesus speaking to him, and Paul spoke to Jesus, and obeyed Jesus. In Damascus Paul was baptized. From thenceforward, Paul the apostle journeyed and wrote divinely inspired letters, helping Israelites and Gentiles, people not born into the Israelite tribes, learn the good news of Jesus the Christ and everlasting life.-Genesis 11:26-35:29, 1 Chronicles 1:1-34, 2:1-17, 3:1-24, 8:1-40, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts 1:1-26, 6:1-8:4, 9:1-31, 11:19-28:31, Romans, 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, 1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon

Reference Scriptures
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men: Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.-Isaiah 29:13-14

Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 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.-Jeremiah 9:23-24

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