This choosing does not depend on how good you are, how smart you are, how strong you are, how fine you look, or how hard you work.29 It depends on Christ, and being “in Him.” People chosen in this way often do not look attractive to the world.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong… so that no human being might boast in the presence of God (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
The rich and the proud usually feel little need for God.30 The poor and weak are more likely to depend on God – to have faith. “Has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith…?” (James 2:5). Jesus assures us that only the poor in spirit – the child-like and humble – enter His kingdom.31 These are the people God chooses, the people open to His message.32
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14).
God calls “through our Gospel,” the message delivered by the apostles concerning Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.33 Early Christians spread that Gospel so rapidly that by A.D. 62 Paul can report, “The Gospel… has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven” (Colossians 1:23).34 Why do they work so urgently? God sends the Good News to every sinner in every nation because He loves and seeks to rescue every sinner.35 He “desires all people to be saved” (1 Timothy 2:3-4).
29. Romans 11:5-6 cf. Ephesians 2:8-9
30. Luke 18:25; 1 Timothy 6:9-10,17; Deuteronomy 8:11-14; 32:15
34. Paul continued his missionary travels, so Colossians 1:23 must refer to the church’s amazing progress in fulfilling Mark 16:15. The Gospel was spreading so rapidly that the task was, as we might say, “as good as done.”
35. Research subject – God wants to save all: Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 15:1-24; 24:47; John 1:29; 3:16; Acts 1:8; 3:25; 2 Corinthians 5:19; Galatians 3:8; Colossians 1:6,23; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:10; Hebrews 2:9; 1 John 2:2; Revelation 5:9; 7:9; Genesis 12:3; 18:18; 22:18; Psalm 67:2; 76:9; 98:2-3; Isaiah 2:2-4; 9:7; 11:9; 25:6; 53:6; 56:7; Daniel 2:35; 7:13-14; Micah 5:4; Malachi 1:11
Picture: Just as prophesied (Isaiah 2:3; Luke 24:47; Acts 1:8), the new message, the Gospel, was first fully proclaimed in Jerusalem, then spread rapidly to bear fruit “all over the world” (Colossians 1:6).