1Corinthians. 1:26 "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called"

In order to understand what the apostle means here, or anywhere else as to that, it must be realized that he is addressing the Lord's church. He is not directing his teachings to the world at large but to the Lord's true disciples. "For ye see your calling, brethren..." "Now I beseech you, brethren…"(I Cor. 1:10). "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant…" (I Cor. 10:1). "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel…" etc. (I Cor. 15:1). "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God…" (I Cor. 15:50). "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast…" (I Cor. 15:58). "I beseech you, brethren"…(I Cor. 16:15).

In these and in numerous other references Paul addresses the brethren just in this one book. Go through all the epistles and see to whom they are written. They simply cannot be applied to those who do not qualify as brethren. Now, the apostle appeals to the brethren's own experience and observation. He tells them that they can see by looking at their own situation as a body of believers that God does not call many of those who are viewed by the world as wise, mighty and noble. In other words as they considered the background of each individual member of the church it would be plain to see that there were very few among them who had come among them from the "upper crust" so to speak. They were made up primarily of the poorer and more common class. The apostle does not say there are none of the notable or so-called elite class called from nature to grace, but he does assert very clearly that God does not call many of that class of people.

This is totally contrary to popular religion's claim that God calls everybody and that it is left to them how they respond. We find Peter, on the day of Pentecost, saying to the brethren, "The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call" (Acts 2:39). This clearly shows that God does not call everybody. The promise, whatever that entails, whether it be eternal salvation, the remission of sins, or the special outpouring of the Holy Spirit during that apostolic period, it applies only to those that the Lord calls. In other words, it applies only to God's elect. No man can make it apply to anyone else without willfully wresting the Scriptures.