1 Corinthians 2
-Paul through the Spirit’s wisdom instructs with this idea
that God’s folly is superior to the wisest wisdom of man as he continues his
message to the Corinthians in chapter 2. He gives testimony that he personally
did not come to them with lofty speech or human wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:1).
Paul could have come to them with high theological speech and superior
intellect for he was certainly trained by the best in Judaism (Acts 22:3, Philippians
3:4-8). But instead, he decided to preach only Jesus Christ and Him crucified
because this is the simple truth of God’s love toward sinful mankind.
*Application* The point should be clear. We share Christ out our own weakness,
fear, and trembling, not with human, plausible words of wisdom. Our message
rests in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power by and of God alone.
-To the mature, Paul says, we can impart (impart is a key
word here in this section) wisdom. This is not the wisdom of the natural age in
which we live, which is doomed to pass away, but in the wisdom from God that is
secret and hidden from the worldly wise (1 Corinthians 2:6-7). If worldly
rulers understood this wisdom of God they would never have killed the Lord
Jesus on the tree (1 Corinthians 2:8). These are things that can only be
revealed by the Spirit, who searches everything, even the depths of God (1
Corinthians 2:10). The Spirit is the One who comprehends what God is doing and
manifests it to our heart when we humbly receive it by His authority and power
(1 Corinthians 2:11-13). Therefore, it is only from the Holy Spirit that the
spiritual people (humble, broken, and contrite, Psalm 51:17, Isaiah 57:15; 66:2)
can receive and interpret spiritual truth (1 Corinthians 2:13). The natural, depraved
person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God for they make no rational
sense to them and are foolishness (folly). They are not able to understand because
they are spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14). On the other hand, the spiritual
people are able to understand and even judge (appraise, assess) all things without
fear of being judged by anyone since they have the mind of Christ instructed by
the Lord Himself (1 Corinthians 2:15-16). *Application* It should become apparent
to us the freedom which is in Christ Jesus and His simple gospel. It opens up the
mysteries of God through His Spirit being poured out upon us in fullness and grace.
Dear Christian believer, stop trying to figure everything out and rest on the mighty
power of God and His understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6). We can actually have the mind
of Christ. That thought should blow us away that His wisdom can dwell in us!
Verses to Memorize- 1
Corinthians 2: 1-2, 16
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