"Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but Speak and hold not they peace: for I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee To hurt thee: for I have much people in this city" (Acts 18:9-10).

If modern religionists were not so prejudiced against the truth, and in many cases blinded to the truth, they would be able to see that Paul was not sent to Corinth, or anywhere else, because God wanted him to make Him some children, but because there were already many of His children there. He obviously was sent to the people of God in that city, not to the other crowd to whom the gospel is foolishness.  The gospel is not sent to anyone for the purpose of regenerating them or to change goats into sheep, but rather to enlighten God's people who are in error, to convert them to the truth and to comfort, edify and instruct them so that they may be better equipped to serve God in spirit and in truth.

Our text shows clearly that not all the inhabitants of Corinth were God's people.  If they had been then there would have been no point whatsoever in the Lord telling Paul, "I have much people in this city."  If it were true, as modern religionists believe, that everybody is a child of God, then Paul would have automatically known that everybody in Corinth and every other city in the world were children of God, and God would not have said, "I have much people in this city."  It would have gone without saying.

God has a people "out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation," who have been redeemed by the blood of Christ (See Rev. 5:9).  These will all live with him in Glory by and by, whether they ever hear the gospel or not.  All that God the Father gave to Christ will come to Him, without the loss of a single one (See John 6:37-39).  God's people are known of Him, and this is a part of the seal that the very foundation of God bears—"the Lord knoweth them that are his" (II Tim. 2:19).  They are "out of" every kindred and language throughout the earth.  God at the first did visit the Gentiles to "take out of them" a people for His name (Acts 15:14). And He got everyone He went after. This is the way the God of the Bible works.  He is not the little weak, puny being that the religious world makes Him out to be.  He is omnipotent (Rev. 19:6).    ---October 2003, Elder Ralph Harris