A Call To Holiness
A Series through 1 Corinthians
Part 5 – The Wisdom from Above (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)
I. Introduction
Every animal on earth has a set of correspondences with the environment around it, and some of those correspondences far exceed ours. Humans can perceive only 30 percent of the sun’s light and 1/70th of the spectrum of electromagnetic energy. Many animals exceed our abilities. Bats detect insects by sonar; pigeons navigate by magnetic fields; bloodhounds perceive a world of smell unavailable to us.
Perhaps some of the spiritual or “unseen” world requires an inbuilt set of correspondences activated only through some sort of spiritual quickening. John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the
Now, as is our custom, let’s take a minute to remind ourselves of the context of the passage at hand. Last week we looked at the significant insignificance of believers. We saw that there was nothing about us that attracted God to us. Nothing, that is, except for our futile, weak, insignificant and foolish nature. God chooses those kind of people so that the cross of Christ may not be emptied of its power (1:17) and so that our faith might not rest in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (2:5).
So with that in mind, let’s read the passage for this morning:
1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. (7) But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. (8) None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (9) But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"-- (10) these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (11) For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. (12) Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (13) And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. (14) The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (15) The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. (16) "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
II. True Wisdom is not earthly wisdom (2:6-9)
1 Corinthians 2:6-9 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. (7) But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. (8) None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. (9) But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--
Keep in mind that Paul was still addressing the issue of division in the church—specifically division over teachers. He continued on in his argument as to why it is futile to follow men. He previously made the following points:
No teacher was crucified for you
You were not baptized in the name of a teacher
You did not hear a message of eloquent wisdom
You heard a message of foolishness (to those who are perishing)
You are foolish, weak and insignificant; therefore, you would not have understood a message of wisdom.
But now Paul says that they are imparting wisdom. This should raise some questions in your mind. What does he mean? Is he bipolar? Does he have amnesia? Can’t he remember that he just said he didn’t impart eloquent wisdom? What’s wrong with this guy?
I hope you’re asking yourselves those questions. If you are that means that you have been paying attention (and that’s always good)! This definitely is a question that needs to be answered. My job is to answer it! J
1 Corinthians 2:6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away.
There are a couple of things that we need to notice. First, is the shift in pronouns from “I” (2:1-5; and really the entirety of the letter to this point) to “we” (2:6-13). This is very important. Again, we should have more questions. Who is “we”? It seems highly unlikely that Paul would be referring to the Corinthians. They are the ones whom he is trying to convince not to follow human wisdom. He could be referring to the other apostles. It’s quite likely that he is speaking generally about others who preach the gospel. I would tend to lean to the fact that he is talking about Apollos, Peter, and himself. Contextually, that is the issue that he is addressing, so I believe that’s who Paul is talking about here. Second, we need to notice that Paul said that it was to the mature that they imparted wisdom. We have to ask ourselves who the mature are. Again, we can say with much certainty that it was not the Corinthians, because at the start of Chapter 3 Paul will say that he could not address the Corinthians as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh. So, we know that he is not talking about the Corinthians, but we don’t know exactly who he is talking about.
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.
It is a secret and hidden wisdom of God. This might lead us to believe that there is no way that we can understand it; especially since it is followed up with the declaration that God decreed before the ages! We don’t stand a chance!
1 Corinthians 2:8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Paul is piling on! He is saying that not even the wisest people of their age (the rulers) understood the secret and hidden wisdom of God. And it was because of their lack of understanding that they crucified the Lord!
Now this is interesting. If you have been tracking with us for the last 5 weeks you should know that the foolishness of God is the gospel. That gospel is a stumbling block to the Jews and folly to the Gentiles. Why? Remember that is was Christ crucified that was a stumbling block.
So, Paul is saying that if the rulers of that age understood the wisdom of God they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord. Yet, he has told us already that it is that very crucifixion that is the power of God unto salvation. God works through the foolishness and misunderstandings of men to accomplish His good and perfect purpose.
The crucifixion is the single greatest act in the history of the world, and the single most mind boggling one all at the same time!
1 Corinthians 2:9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"--
John MacArthur made a great point in his commentary on 1 Corinthians. He said the following:
“That…quotation is often memorized. But it is also frequently misapplied. Paul is not referring to the wonders of heaven, but to the wisdom God has prepared for believers. His point is that the natural eyes, ears, and hearts men cannot know or comprehend His wisdom. It is prepared only for those who love Him.
“Neither externally nor internally, objectively nor subjectively, can man discover God. His external searching is empirical, experimental—represented by seeing and hearing. God’s truth is not observable by the eye or the ear, no matter how many sophisticated instruments we may use” (pg. 61).
III. True Wisdom is Divinely Revealed (2:10-16)
Not only is it impossible for man to understand the wisdom of God on his own, it is also unnecessary. God has given His Holy Spirit to reveal the undiscoverable wisdom of God. It is precisely because of the Holy Spirit that we understand the “foolishness of God” (namely the gospel [1:25]). There are three main ways that God uses the Holy Spirit to help mankind discover the wisdom of God—revelation, inspiration and illumination.
Revelation
1 Corinthians 2:10-11 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. (11) For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
These things, the things that no eye has seen, the things that no ear has heard, these are the things that God has revealed to us through the Spirit. And let’s look at the wonderful truths this passage tells us about this Spirit.
First of all it is the Spirit of God (vs. 11). This is not some random spirit, but the Spirit of God! You don’t need to call Ghostbusters!
Second, this Spirit searches EVERYTHING. When is the last time that you did something and thought nobody saw you? The Spirit searches everything; even the “secret” actions of men, believers and non-believers alike. The Spirit also searches the depths of God! That is an amazing statement to me! The Spirit, the very instrument that God is using to reveal His unseen, unheard glories, knows the depths of God! God is not sending some second class revealer, He is sending a Top Secret Agent with all the security clearance in the universe!
Third, the Spirit comprehends the thoughts of God. So, the Spirit doesn’t just search the depths of God, but He comprehends them as well! Who better to reveal to us the unimaginable wisdom that God has in store for us than the very Spirit who understands God’s thoughts!
Inspiration
1 Corinthians 2:12-13 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (13) And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
Again, listen to John MacArthur’s words:
“His [God’s] truth cannot be discovered by man; it can only be received. In order to be received something must first be offered. God’s truth can be received because it is freely given. The Spirit who is from God, not the spirit of the world (that is, human wisdom) has brought God’s Word—which comprises the things freely given to us by God” (pg. 62-62)
The only chance that we have of learning the truths about God is if they are revealed to us by God and that revelation comes through the Holy Spirit. Again, we must remember our context and what Paul means when he says “we.” He is, I believe, talking about Apollos, Peter, and himself. In this case they are the ones who were inspired. The writers of Scripture were surely inspired, for the Scriptures themselves tell us they were. So, contextually Paul seems to be referring to the Apostles, and to the writers of Scripture.
However, I do not believe that they are the only ones to have ever been inspired. That same Holy Spirit is at work in our lives and indwells our hearts. Surely we are inspired by Him as well. I would argue that anytime you make a proper decision it is because you are inspired by the Holy Spirit and anytime you make an improper decision it is because you are not submitting to His inspiration!
Illumination
1 Corinthians 2:14-16 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. (15) The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. (16) "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
This is probably the function of the Holy Spirit that I am most thankful for. That is, if I have to pick one. The idea of illumination is simply amazing. This is our only hope for understanding the Bible. We have to have the things that are spiritually discerned illuminated for us by the Spirit!
The natural man is not able to understand this. There are secular scholars who know that Bible as well, if not better, than many Christian scholars do. Yet, they don’t really understand it. They know the content and they are able to pontificate on their interpretation of it, but they have absolutely no clue what it actually means. They are not able to understand things like the virgin birth, healing the lame, restoring sight to the blind or raising the dead. They try to find natural ways to explain those things away, or they chalk them up to allegory and try to interpret their real meaning. They will never understand their true meaning or understand that they literally happened as long as they keep trying to use human wisdom to discern spiritual things.
But, when the Holy Spirit comes upon you He gives you the illumination you need to discern the spiritual things. He gives you the wisdom to judge all things (meaning all “truths” not that we are judges of others, necessarily). But we ourselves are not able to be judged by anyone secular. They do not understand the mind of the Lord. They are unable to instruct us in the ways of God. BUT how often we let them! We listen to secular psychology, secular scientific methods, secular medical remedies without judging them with the wisdom and discernment that the Holy Spirit has given us. Don’t make that mistake! You have been given the mind of Christ! Use it!
IV. Conclusion
