Bible Study - Living - Wise - 1 Corinthians 2:1-16 - July 22, 2012 (Revised)

Bible Study – Living – Wise – July 22, 2012

This is lesson four (4) in our series entitled “Living Beyond Ourselves.”

Our scripture is 1 Corinthians 2:1-16.

I have added a revision in our first scripture dealing with verse 5. The revision will appear in bold type.

I believe most people desire to be wise. What is wisdom? There are at least two kinds of wisdom (1) The wisdom the world has to offer (2) The wisdom that comes from GOD via the Holy Spirit. When we make decisions that work out well for us or someone else, we say those decisions were wise. From a Spiritual point of view, wisdom is knowledge applied to GOD’S plan. Christians are to study and to learn. They can apply their knowledge as the world dictates or as the Holy Spirit leads them. Christians can think outside of the box because they have the indwelling Holy Spirit Who allows them to have GOD’S perspective.

Just because a person becomes a Christian, he/she does not park his/her brain or common sense, they still have wisdom but as Christians, they have the added wisdom from GOD. Walking in the Spirit allows the Holy Spirit to work through Christians to live beyond their natural or worldly wisdom.

The Apostle Paul had been to Corinth during his second missionary journey (Acts 18:1-18). This letter to the Christians in Corinth was written to them by Paul from Ephesus during his third missionary journey (Acts 19:1-20). While he was in Ephesus he had heard about problems in Corinth. About that same time, Christians from the church in Corinth visited Paul in Ephesus seeking his advice regarding these problems. Paul penned this letter to the Christians in Corinth in an effort to settle these matters.

The Corinthian church had been beguiled by those who were clever and eloquent in speech. These eloquent speakers were using worldly wisdom to capture the attention of the Christians in Corinth. Thankfully, there were Christians that knew the truth and saw what was happening and came to Paul for advice.

Our three (3) sections of scripture address three (3) main points beginning with:

-         Human Wisdom

-         God’s Wisdom

-         Discerning the Difference

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:1-8: (Human Wisdom)

Paul’s Proclamation

1 When I came to you, •brothers, announcing the testimonya Other mss read mystery of God to you, I did not come with brillianceb 1Tm 2:2 of speechc Col 4:6 or wisdom.
2 For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.d 1Co 1:23-24; Gl 6:14
3 I came to you in weakness,e 2Co 11:30 in fear,f Rv 11:11 and in much trembling.g Php 2:12
4 My speechh Mt 12:37 and my proclamation were not with persuasivei Php 1:25 words of wisdomj Other mss read human wisdom but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit,
5 so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.k Mk 5:30; Lk 1:35; 6:19; Ac 19:11; 2Co 13:4; 2Tm 1:7; Rv 11:17

Spiritual Wisdom

6 However, we do speak a wisdom among the mature,l Mt 5:48 but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulersm Lk 12:58 of this age, who are coming to nothing.n Heb 2:14
7 On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a •mystery, a wisdom God predestinedo Eph 1:5 before the ages for our glory.p Lk 24:26; 1Pt 5:1,4
8 None of the rulers of this age knew this wisdom, for if they had known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.q Ps 24:7

Notice that Paul began his letter by referring to them as brothers. The gospel is GOD’S testimony of HIS love to the world. John 3:16-17 captures the heart of GOD and CHRIST’S love for all who will accept HIM as their Savior:

John 3:16-17:

16 “For God loved the world •in this way: He gave His •One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth that when he first came to them that he did not come trying to “wow” them with eloquent speech. He came in humility and did not draw attention to himself. His sole purpose and focus was centered on the message of salvation through CHRIST and CHRIST crucified and resurrected.

Since Paul had been in Corinth, the Christians there had been duped into believing that eloquent words outweighed the true message and power of the gospel. The simplicity of the Gospel of CHRIST does not have to be embellished with the wisdom of the world by eloquent speakers displaying how smart and clever they were.

Paul’s desire was for them to go back to the message of CHRIST crucified because it along with the resurrection is the very heart of salvation. CHRIST paid the debt for sin by giving HIS life for sin. The message of CHRIST leads to salvation whereas eloquent words have no power to save a person but the shed blood of CHRIST is the power for salvation to all who believe in HIM. Eloquent words may sound good for the moment and appeal to the human emotions but they soon fade. True salvation through the power of GOD will produce Spiritual growth and maturity in the Christian as the Holy Spirit enlightens, teaches and leads him/her.

It is easy to try to make Christianity into a philosophical discussion through eloquent speech. True Christianity is CHRIST in you. CHRIST died for all who will believe in HIM. HE was resurrected from the dead by GOD as proof that HE is the true Son of GOD. HE had the credentials GOD required to pay the sin debt. Those who ask CHRIST to forgive them for their sins experience the rebirth of their spirit and receive all the benefits of being GOD’S child. This includes the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in their lives. Salvation is simple but hard for so many to take that step of faith. Place your life in HIS hands and experience the abundant eternal life.  

Paul purposefully did not try to “wow” them with words because empty, vain words are temporary and meaningless. Whereas, when Paul spoke to them, the power of GOD, through the words spoken in the power of the Holy Spirit, resulted in salvation and changed lives. Paul wanted all who heard him to see CHRIST in him and not make him into some super hero. He came to them in weakness so the CHRIST would be seen and not him.

It was the power of GOD at work in them and not eloquent words that caused a stir in their hearts. Eloquent words fade and a person energized by eloquent words needs more eloquent words to be energized again and again, where as the indwelling Holy Spirit energizes 24/7.

Evidence of the work of the Spirit was manifested by the changed lives of the Corinthians. Paul was trying to wake them up from their Spiritual compromise to focus on the power of GOD and not on human persuasion. Christians often need a Spiritual wakeup call. In fact, America needs a Spiritual revival and guess where it needs to begin? LORD let it begin in me!!!

Verse 5 is a powerful message to Christians today. Is your faith in CHRIST based upon what you have discovered about CHRIST or are you riding on someone else’s faith in CHRIST? It is vital that each Christian build his/her personal relationship with CHRIST and allow the Holy Spirit to lead them to all truth. When that is done, their walk with CHRIST is genuine. This not to say that Christians are not to read or discuss Spiritual matters with fellow Spirit-filled Christians. All Christians are growing and maturing in CHRIST and we can learn and be challenged by fellow mature Christians. The key is that where we are Spiritually is based upon our personal knowledge of CHRIST as reaveled by the Holy Spirit resulting from our walk with HIM.

GOD’S desire is for HIS children to wear their own Spiritual clothes and not hand-me-downs. Christians are nurtured by fellow Christians but there comes a time when they must stand on their own through their relationship with CHRIST. What is truth based upon their relationship with CHRIST as they have walked with HIM?  This is does not diminish the contribution of fellow Christians in our lives but it places their feet upon the solid rock of CHRIST.

Paul acknowledged that in their mist there were some mature Christians. The word used for “mature” means “perfect.” The Spiritually mature could be fed the meat of the word, whereas there was a group who were still babes in CHRIST and needed the milk of the word. This implied that those carried away by the eloquent speakers were immature, babes in CHRIST. And those coming to Paul to get advice were mature Christians because they had Spiritual discernment.

Our flesh nature responds to the charismatic, educated, dynamic, often flamboyant, clever speakers that bedazzle us. We yield to the emotion of the moment and we want more. It acts like a drug. Those in spiritual settings can say wonderful words but are they truth or just sound good. That is why Christians must know the truth by studying the Bible and building their own relationship with CHRIST in order to spot those twisting the truth for their own purposes. Christians must listen and obey the Holy Spirit. Discernment is a gift of the Spirit. When you sense that something may be wrong in a spiritual setting, pay attention to what you are feeling because something is likely wrong.

There is wisdom among Spirit-filled Christians. The “rulers of this age” can refer to those that rule as in government positions or it can refer to the hierarchy in the evil spirit world. I believe Paul was referring to the government rulers. If they had known that crucifying CHRIST was exactly GOD’S plan, they would have never sentenced HIM to death via the cross. But that is the absolute beauty of GOD, HIS plans and HIS wisdom. Paul was correct - if they had known it they would have never done it. But GOD’S plan was for CHRIST to give HIS life to pay the sin debt for all who will believe upon HIM as their Savior. Don’t you love it when a plan comes together? It cost JESUS HIS life but in HIM giving HIS life, all who believe in HIM receive salvation, eternal life, rebirth in the spirit, citizenship in heaven, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, gifts of the Spirit and much more that eye has not seen, ear has not heard and the mind has not conceived.   

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:9-11: (GOD’S Wisdom)

9 But as it is written:
What eye did not see and ear did not hear, and what never entered the human mind—God prepared this for those who love Him.r Isa 52:15; 64:4; Lk 10:27; 1Jn 4:20s Isa 52:15; 64:4

10 Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, for the Spirit searches everything,t Ps 17:3; Jn 14:26 even the depths of God.u Rm 8:39; 11:33; Eph 3:18
11 For who among men knows the thoughtsv Or things of a man except the spiritw Rm 1:9 of the man that is in him? In the same way, no one knowsx 1Jn 4:8 the thoughtsy Or things of God except the Spirit of God.

In verse 9, Paul referred to a passage but there is no word for word passage in our Bible. Some Bible scholars think that he may have quoted from scripture that since has been lost. Isaiah 52:15 - so He will sprinkle many nations. Kings will shut their mouths because of Him, for they will see what had not been told them, and they will understand what they had not heard. In Isaiah 64:4 - From ancient times no one has heard, no one has listened, no eye has seen any God except You, who acts on behalf of the one who waits for Him.g – These two (2) verses come close to capturing the essence of Paul’s quote in verse 9.

Paul was making the point that Spiritual things must be Spiritually discerned. When a Christian commits his/her life to CHRIST it is just the beginning of a wonderful journey. As the Christian develops his/her relationship with CHRIST and obediently serves HIM, unthinkable experiences will evolve such that the only explanation is the power of GOD at work. Such revelations continue as we journey toward heaven. Once we enter heaven, I believe it will blow our minds as to the things that GOD has prepared for those who love HIM. It will be things that the earthly eyes have never seen, earthly ears have never heard and things which the earthly mind has never conceived, even in its broadest imagination. I believe that verse 9 also applies to a Christian’s new life in CHRIST because the Holy Spirit reveals truth and understanding to him/her that exceeds any worldly wisdom.

Paul continued in verse 10 to reveal that GOD has revealed these things to our born-again Spirit. You might say, “Well, HE hasn’t revealed anything to me.” Look around you and behold the majesty of HIS handiwork. Earth from the nano-scopic to the universe is magnificent. Consider the magnificent body you live in and how it was wonderfully made. But what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM are beyond anything humans can conceive. Spirit-filled Christians can get glimpses through their heart, as revealed by the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the means by which GOD reveals HIS mind to Christians. Just think as a Christian, you can know the mind of GOD. It is through the indwelling Holy Spirit that GOD reveals HIS mind to Christians. Only GOD can know the thoughts of GOD.

It seems that Paul anticipated some skeptics asking, “How does a person know all of this secret stuff.” Paul focused on the spirit within every person. Humans are made up of body, soul and spirit. Every person has a spirit and no one knows the true spirit of that person, like that person. If a person is not a Christian, then it is impossible for him/her to know what is in the mind of GOD because he/she does not have the Spirit of GOD in him/her. Just as no person can know what is in the spirit or mind of another person.

Since Christians have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them, they have direct and constant access to GOD’S revelation of truth, discernment, enlightenment, revelation and the list goes on. That is why GOD can lead and guide them according to HIS plan, purpose and will. Christians need to pray and ask GOD through the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them to truth and to understand that truth as they apply it to their lives.

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 2:12-16: (Discerning the Difference)

12 Now we have not received the spirit of the •world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.
13 We also speak these things, not in wordsz Mt 12:37 taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people.a Or things with spiritual words
14 But the unbelieverb Or unspiritual; lit natural does not welcome what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluatedc Or judged, or discerned spiritually.
15 The spiritual person, however, can evaluated Or judge, or discern everything, yet he himself cannot be evaluatede Or judged, or discerned by anyone.
16 For who has known the Lord’s mind, that he may instruct Him?f Isa 40:13g Isa 40:13
But we have the mind of Christ.h

Paul had arrived to the point of his message to the Christians in Corinth, discerning the difference between the wisdom of man versus the wisdom of GOD.

Paul continued by saying, because Christians have the Spirit of GOD in them and not the spirit of the world, they understand what GOD has done for them and given to them. There is a clear distinction between the things coming from the spirit of the world and the things that come from the Spirit of GOD. These Spiritual things cannot be understood or comprehended by those who have the spirit of the world in them. But when a Spirit-filled Christian explains Spiritual matters to those who have the Spirit of GOD, they get it because the Holy Spirit reveals truth to them.

It is impossible for the non-believer to welcome the truth that GOD reveals because they do not have the Holy Spirit within to give them understanding and enlightenment. 

The Spiritual person evaluates Spiritual truth because he/she has the indwelling Holy Spirit. Spirit-filled Christians cannot be understood by the non-Christian world because Spiritual matters are Spiritually discerned.

Spirit-filled Christians are the only ones who have the mind of CHRIST. It is vital that Christians to discern the difference between GOD’S wisdom and the wisdom of the world. That is why Christians need to be filled by GOD’S Spirit each day to maintain their relationship and focus on HIS leadership. It is easy for the wisdom of the world to slip into a Christian’s life and he/she begins to lean unto his/her understanding. Christians must allow the Holy Spirit to maintain control of their lives in order for GOD to lead them in the direction HE desires for them. If Christians yield control to their natural mind-set, they will surely end up in the wrong place. Still Christians but serving the things of the world.

Proverbs 3:5-6:

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,g Ps 37:3,5and do not rely on your own understanding;h Jr 9:23
6 think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.i Lit will make your paths straight  j

Paul used Isaiah 40:13 as a proof text in verse 16 – Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, or who gave Him His counsel?

Christians have the mind of CHRIST and therefore they can comprehend the wisdom of GOD and make sound judgments according to the will and plan of GOD. GOD leads guides and directs the lives of HIS children when they yield their wills to HIM.

Do you trust GOD enough to allow HIM to control your life? Look back at Proverbs 3-5-6. Blessings!!!