Text: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Title: Ditch the Life Jacket, Date/Place: NRBC, 8/1/2010, AM
A. Opening illustration: Family Circus on Tues of the little boy walking into the ocean with dad in front of him walking backwards into the ocean; telling him not to go out “so far,” us unwilling to wade past out knees at Old Orchard Beach in July,
B. Background to passage: Division in the church over wisdom and teachers. Last three paragraphs were undermining the division by destroying the reverence that the church had for worldly wisdom and accolades by explaining that the world will see us, our message, and Paul as foolish. But our faith is not supposed to be in wisdom of the world, or in men. At the end of all this, Paul goes back and clarifies, stating that it is not wisdom the he is against (note that the wisdom of God has already been identified as Christ, the gospel, His saving work, vv. 24-30), just wisdom of the world. Therefore Paul explains to them why his teaching has been what’s its been, and explain that there is a place for the wisdom of God in the church.
C. Main thought: The wisdom of God is revealed to those who are mature in their faith.
A. The Hidden Wisdom (v. 6-9)
1. “The hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory.” That is a mouthful. Paul says, if you want to find wisdom, it is not in that stuff that you are all puffed up about (remember they are boasting in spiritual matters). The wisdom of God has been a hidden mystery for ages, God only reveling it to those He chose, and those who love Him. Paul and I are going to deal more thoroughly with carnal Christianity in a few weeks. The wording here indicates something that has been revealed over time, and also the context dictates something that would be permanent, and stand through time. the word mystery means something that has been hidden. So that at the “fullness of time” God would send forth His Son to be born of a woman and save mankind. Christ is this hidden wisdom (we will talk about that in a couple f weeks). And all this is done for OUR glory…puzzling. Probably in the sense that our redemption will ultimately result in our glorification and life with Him.
2. Argumentation
3. Illustration: There’s a Methodist minister named J. Gordon Melton who has an interesting hobby. He collects lists of church denominations in the United States…there are a few "peculiar" groups in his list such as: • "The Church of the Mystery of Universal Wisdom". They believe they can communicate with aliens and they seek guidance from flying saucers.
4. You can be involved in “spiritual” things (vs. natural) and not be “spiritual” (led by the Spirit). If you understand the wisdom of God (Christ and His saving work), know that you didn’t come up with it on your own. Thank God for it. To attain the wisdom and mystery of God, dwell upon the cross. God sovereignly chooses the time, place, and means for revealing. By the way, this doesn’t remove our responsibility to pursue it, nor the normal means for attaining, such as bible study, prayer, and the preached word. Note that there are three groups of people here: the mature, the immature, and the natural, and sometimes it is hard to tell the difference between the two, even as we evaluate ourselves, which is a cause for alarm, but normal. Here it is clear that God only reveals it to believers. But it is also clear that some believers can’t get the wisdom of God because of their immaturity (which they are culpable for, because the Spirit dwells in them (if they are really saved). Which group are you in? All of us would say “the mature,” but what would God say about you? Ask Him.
B. The Revealer (v. 10-12)
1. We get a couple of theological truths from this passage about the Holy Spirit. Remember that the wisdom of God is revealed in Christ and His work, which the Spirit was very much a part of. But also we must understand God the trinity to understand Christ or His work in Christ. First, we see the minister of the Holy Spirit toward us: the revealer and teacher. Paul says that the Spirit searches the deep things of God. He is encouraging them to pursue the wisdom of God in depth, rather than simply at the surface. And so we see that the Holy Spirit is the key, which resides in us. He is the illuminator. And His subject is “the things that have been freely given to us by God.” Second, we see the deity of the Holy Spirit. Paul uses the illustration of only a man’s spirit truly knowing the man. And that explicitly states that the Spirit is a part of God, for He searches and reveals the deep things of God. Therefore the Spirit is part of God; same substance, different person. Finally, we see the inspiration ministry of the Spirit. Paul implies and teaches that the Spirit is revealing God through the writings of the apostles. Some would dispute this, but there is scriptural evidence. And the main way that the Spirit has revealed God and His work is through the bible. Thus, the doctrine of the inspiration of Scripture is also implied/taught. This is a crucial doctrine, and it’s importance to all the rest of our faith is foundational.
2. John 17:3, 16:14-15,
3. Illustration: Bro Yun praying for a bible (2X), and people coming in the weirdest situations (in the night from three villages away to his house after dreams on both ends, and the prison guard). As well as his leading to walk right out of prison, “The way to approach this, it seems to me, is to remind ourselves that the Holy Spirit is a Person. The Holy Spirit is not just an influence. So many seem to talk about being filled with the Spirit as if the Holy Spirit were some kind of liquid. They talk about having an ‘empty vessel’, an empty jug, and having the Spirit poured in. That is entirely wrong because it forgets that the Holy Spirit is a Person. He is not a substance, not a liquid, and not a power like electricity. We all tend to fall into this error. We even tend to refer to the Holy Spirit as ‘it’, forgetting that the Holy Spirit is the third Person in the blessed Holy Trinity.” –Lloyd-Jones, Athanasian Creed
4. Don’t be content not to hear from God regularly. God has revealed Himself, not just so theologians can write books, but so you can know him. In part it is a personal revelation; God speaks to you, not just the leaders of the church, or super spiritual Christians. He has revealed Christ to us in salvation, but He didn’t stop there. I pray often that I would be able to hear clearly and regularly the voice of the Spirit in my life, and follow His leadings consistently. Don’t think that He only speaks on major decisions, or that He makes His will difficult to find. Cautions: putting words in God’s mouth, or inflicting pain on others under your own agenda. When was the last time you heard a clear word from God? Pray for illumination…when you study, pray, think, journal, fast, etc. Seek Him. Don’t be content with ignorance about the Spirit of God or about the Trinity. Also don’t be content with a surface explanation of both, nor with a thoughtless appeal to “mystery.” There is an element of mystery, especially in the trinity, but that is not an out for lack of study. It is a hard truth to understand and to explain, work at it. Defend His deity and personhood. Speak of Him as a Him, not an it. The bible is written by holy men inspired by the Holy Spirit, who were born by that Spirit protecting them from error, and giving us a sacred revelation of God which is without error and will not lead us astray. Stand on this! Much more info, don’t have time to share on all of these truths.
C. The Blind and Crippled (v. 13-16)
1. Three groups of people: the spiritually mature, saved but immature, and natural. All are broken due to sin in their lives, whether it is dominant, unrestrained sin, or residual sin. All at one point were blind. Now the mature see the kingdom and the wisdom of God well, the immature (going to spend some time on this group of people in a couple of weeks, ch. 3) can see, just not very well or clearly, and the natural (unsaved) can’t see at all. The bible is clear that spiritual truth is hidden from unbelievers, and they are without the ability (or the will) to attain it without divine aid. This is one of the reasons that there is disunity in the church: differing levels of spiritual maturity, as well as unbelievers among the congregation. The mature have to deal with the weak and immature, and confront those who could be immature or could be unbelievers (sometimes hard to tell) when they are doing things that would adversely affect the church.
2. 1 Thess 5:14, 1 John 5:20, Rom 8:7, Matt 16:17, 2 Cor 4:4-6,
3. Illustration: “…once was blind but now I see…” “…wouldn’t it be the most idiotic thing in the world if I would go all the way to Krakel to look for some Jew that doesn’t exist, or there may be a hundred Isaac son of Yaakob. I could waste a lifetime looking for a treasure that isn’t even there."
4. Again, if you know/have spiritual truth and wisdom, you have been given it. And remember that all your progression in your faith is a similar grace gift, not something that you have accomplished. The visible church is made up of various people and groups of people. Reformers make a big deal of visible/invisible distinction. We will always have among us those that are spiritually immature. They came into the kingdom and never really grew for any one of a number of reasons. Some of these people are irregular and apathetic to most of what goes on in the church. Some have personal agenda’s that go against the grain of God’s agenda for the church. And we will usually have unbelievers that slip through the cracks. They will usually do the same as the immature. Some will just sit, soak, and sour. Some will make headaches for everyone in the church. This is why they are so hard to tell apart: they act pretty much the same. But again, this is an opportunity to demonstrate to the world that various levels of spiritual maturity can generally get along. There may be times when the spiritual must discern things spiritually, and confront some unbelievers that reveal themselves as such, and some of the immature as well. But when that is done, do it face to face, and in love. But those that are mature (and those that are immature to an extent) have the mind of Christ, and can think and act like Him because of His supply.
A. Closing illustration:
B. Recap
C. Invitation to commitment
Additional Notes
• Is Christ Exalted, Magnified, Honored, and Glorified?
