This is/can be a hard message to hear. But we need to submit to the God of the Bible and this is what He is telling us. I tried to follow closely so these notes are mostly Carter's word on this text in the Bible.
1 Corinthians 1:18; 22-24
18For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
We can know by this, that when we tell others about the Cross and Christ's sacrifice that the person we are talking to is either perishing, or being saved. It is their response to this message that shows us their heart and if it is with God or without.
Why are some people perishing and some being saved? God has called them and that is why some responded.
22For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
Something important that Matt articulated about this message:
"That when we come into contact with things that we don't understand; that we don't like. In that moment we need to realize and we need to come to terms with the fact, that we cannot worship a God of our own creation. We cannot worship a God of our own creation. We cannot worship God based on our feelings. We cannot worship God based on who we feel He should be. We can't worship God based on who we think He ought to be or that He should behave how we want Him to behave. If we do that, then we are idol worshipers. Do you understand me? If we have somehow decided 'God, no you have to fit in my box that I've created.' That is idol worship. We have to come to a place as a church and individuals, that church, we worship the God of this book (the Bible). And sometimes the God of this book is not gonna fit in our box. Sometimes the God of this book that we read and we study and it's right there on the page, is not gonna be behaving like we feel He ought to behave. But it's right there. And church, when that happens, like it happened to me this week. Then I want you to understand that in that moment, it's appropriate to trust, and it's appropriate to submit, and it's appropriate to rest our minds and to rest our hearts in His sovereignty and in His love for us."
22For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom;
23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness,
24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
The calling of God is always effectual. This is different from me calling you. When God calls a persons heart, it will always produce what it requests. When God calls, it happens. We see that in the beginning of time, when God calls there is a response-before the Earth, before the Heavens, when there was nothing, when there was only a void, when God spoke into the darkness saying, "Let there be light".And Paul, in these verses in Corinthians, explains that that is how we were saved by God. By Him, choosing us. That is how we heard the message... He spoke into the nothingness of our soul and called.
Proof behind this:
Romans 8:28-30
28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;
30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
and...John 1:12-13
12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,
13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
You were not saved because you were born into the right family, or by the will of the flesh or man... BUT OF GOD. You believed in God, because of God.and...
Ephesians 2:8-9:
8For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Get your eyes off of man, it is through Christ's power that we are saved. God did it all. He foreknew you, predestined you, and called you by name and you heard the message of the Cross and because you were of the called you couldn't help but respond. When you heard it the message of the Cross was the greatest thing you ever heard and that produced in you the power of God and that produced in you faith, and you spoke His name and thus you were saved. That is why you are saved.When Job questions God, (when God allows Satan to have his way with Job in torturing him) God responds in 2 chapters. Job 38-39
Here's a glimpse:
1Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said,
2"Who is this that darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
3"Now gird up your loins like a man,
And I will ask you, and you instruct Me!
4"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding,
5Who set its measurements? Since you know.
Or who stretched the line on it?
6"On what were its bases sunk?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7When the morning stars sang together
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
8"Or who enclosed the sea with doors
When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb;
9When I made a cloud its garment
And thick darkness its swaddling band,
10And I placed boundaries on it
And set a bolt and doors,
11And I said, 'Thus far you shall come, but no farther;
And here shall your proud waves stop'?
So then God questions Job and he sees clearly, the right response...
Job 40
1Then the LORD said to Job,
2"Will the faultfinder contend with the Almighty?
Let him who reproves God answer it."
3Then Job answered the LORD and said,
4"Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5"Once I have spoken, and I will not answer;
Even twice, and I will add nothing more."
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