Beloved, I am glad to share with you today the theme from 1 Co 2:3, 4 and following. Indeed, we know that in the world, a gift of orator and “persuasive words of wisdom” can be enough to ensure the triumph of almost any cause. But to communicate faith, God does not have the use of these human capacities or the skills of propaganda. Paul, despite his education, his culture or his eloquence, the cross of Christ that he announced means precisely the end of all that man prides himself on.
But far from losing anything, the believer has received both the invisible things “freely given by God, and the means to discern and appropriate them, that is, the Holy Spirit, the only agent god employs to transmit his thoughts(1 Co 2:12). What can a piece of music without an instrument be used to interpret it, or a disc without the device that allows you to listen to it? But also what would be the effect of the most beautiful concert on an audience composed of completely deaf people? Likewise the language of the Spirit is unintelligible to the “natural man”. On the other hand, “he who is spiritual” can receive “spiritual things by spiritual means” (1 Co 2:13-15).
Here we come to a third character of the Christian. The first was to be done with all that the most favored man could be in the flesh; the second, to have in Christ, on behalf of God, a life, a new nature, with all the perfections that this nature implies. The third is to possess the power of this life, the Holy Spirit, who can probe all things, even the deep things of God.
But before dealing with this subject, the apostle mentions something that he had not considered useful to announce to the Corinthians when he had been among them, because he had only desired to know then Christ, and again Christ crucified. Indeed, for the Christian there is something other than the cross of Christ: a secret, a mystery, hidden from the centuries in God, a wisdom that only those who have finished with their ancient state can understand, and that he calls “perfect”, or men made. And this wisdom, he liked to speak to those who had arrived, by the judgment of themselves, at a spiritual state capable of understanding it. This secret had always been hidden in God; for, wonderfully, from eternity God had decreed to introduce man into glory.
For in order to accomplish his purposes for man, to be able to introduce him into glory, what has God done? The fallen man was entirely separated, by sin, from the glory of God. He therefore had to be delivered from the yoke of sin; not only of his sins, but of his sinful nature. That is why God’s wisdom had found a way to carry out his secret thoughts, to put an end on the one hand with the old man, with his old nature, and on the other hand, to introduce before Him a new man, having His own nature and capable of understanding him. To finish off the old man, Jesus had to die. This is where the first part of God’s wisdom was shown. Now that this is accomplished, we understand why God had to sacrifice His own Son. His love rests on us, to the same unlimited extent that he rests on Christ. There is, of course, enough to prostrate us before Him, when we think that He loves us, without any difference, with the same love of which He loves His own Son! Such perfection entitles us to the glory of God! This was the wisdom that the apostle announced.
Notice that this word “perfect” is often misinterpreted. For many souls think that a perfect man is a man so free from sin that he no longer sins here on earth; but God never tells us that. According to him, a perfect man is a “made man”, who understood more than the forgiveness of his sins, a truth grasped by every little child in the faith, and which the Corinthians had received from their conversion. The man made knows that God, after having executed on him, sinner, a final judgment on the cross, introduced him into His presence as a new man in Christ, united with Christ, so as to be seen only in Him.
For if the leaders of this century had known that God’s purpose in giving his Son was to acquire this glorious place for man, they would certainly not have crucified the Lord with glory, but they were absolutely ignorant of what we now know as Christians. These things, entirely new, were not even revealed in the Old Testament; for the latter makes us know glories concerning the earth, and reveals to us nothing of God’s counsel as to heaven. The latter are the wisdom of God in mystery. That is why it is very interesting to compare the passage of the prophet Isaiah with the quote made here. Isaiah said, “Never have we learned or heard, and never has the eye seen but another god than you do such things for those who trust in him.” (Es. 64.4); the apostle adds to this passage: “But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit; for the Spirit probes all things, even the profound things of God.” Thus no one had seen in the Old Testament the things that God had prepared for his own; Only God knew them; but it pleased him, in the present time, to make us known, heard, seen and probed by his Spirit the secret designs of his heart.
This brings us back to the third of the characters of the Christian, contained in this introduction to the epistle to the Corinthians. For if God has communicated to us his nature and the life of Christ, he has communicated to us at the same time the power of this life, the Holy Spirit, by whom we now know the hidden purposes, the deep mysteries of God. And if we feel the need to respond to those who attack the word of God, and seek to lower it to the level of a work tainted with human weakness, it will be enough for us to take this passage to confuse them; for it responds victoriously to all the objections of men, inspired by Satan, against the word of God.
Indeed, here we find that the Spirit of God revealed these things, and made them known to the heart and mind of the apostle, and that the words expressed or written by him were themselves taught by the Spirit. Then they contained nothing that proceeded from human teaching or human wisdom. For there was a considerable difference between the inspired apostle and the prophets of the Old Testament. The latter could speak by the Spirit without knowing the value of what they announced, but the things that the inspired men of the New Testament said were part of their own spiritual intelligence through the Spirit. This whole heart is open to us, but in order to be able to enjoy it freely, our walk must not stand in the way of it, and must glorify the One who has called us to his own kingdom and glory.
The following verses have been compiled for your edification and grouped together for your better understanding.
- The Doctrine of the Cross of Christ
Preached 1 Co 1:17 It was not to baptize that Christ sent me, it was to proclaim the gospel, and this without the wisdom of language, so that the cross of Christ would not be rendered vain.
-Source of glory Gal 6:14 As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to glorify myself with anything other than the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified for me, as I am for the world!
Reconciliation by means of the cross of Christ Eph 2:16 and to reconcile them, both into one body, with God through the cross, destroying enmity through it.
-The enemies of the cross of Christ Phil 3:18 For there are many who walk as enemies of the cross of Christ, I have often spoken to you about them, and I speak of them even now in tears.
-The peace obtained by means of the cross of Christ Col 1:20 he wanted by him to reconcile everything with himself, both that which is on earth and that which is in heaven, making peace through him, by the blood of his cross.
- Purpose of life
-The service of God Jos 24:15 And if you do not find it good to serve Jehovah, choose today who you want to serve, or the gods served by your fathers beyond the river, or the gods of the Amoreans in whose land you live. I and my house will serve the Lord.
Seek the kingdom of God Mt 6:33 Seek first the kingdom and righteousness of God; and all these things will be given to you on top.
-Doing the will of Father Jn 4:34 Jesus tells them: My food is to do the will of the one who sent me, and to do his work.
-Complete the task entrusted by God Jn 17:4 I have glorified you on earth, I have completed the work you have given me to do.
-To complete the race with joy Acts 20:24 But I do not make for myself any case of my life, as if it were precious to me, provided that I carry out my race with joy, and the ministry that I have received from the Lord Jesus, to proclaim the good news of God’s grace.
-To come to the likeness of Christ Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not think I have grasped it; but I do one thing: forgetting what is behind and carrying myself towards what is forward, 14 I run towards the goal, to win the prize of god’s heavenly vocation in Jesus Christ
- Jesus the Only Savior
-The gift of love Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.
He is the only one who holds the message of salvation Jn 6:68 Simon Peter replied to him: Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Rejecting It leads to death Jn 8:24 That is why I told you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe what I am, you will die in your sins.
-His name is the only one that can save us Acts 4:12 There is no salvation in any other; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we were to be saved.
-His death and sacrifice is the central theme of preaching 1 Co 2:2 For I have not had the thought to know among you anything other than Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ crucified.
All hope of eternal life is based on Him 1 Co 3:11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one that has been laid, namely Jesus Christ.
- Examples of Humility
-Jacob Gen 32:10 I am too small for all the graces and for all the faithfulness you have used to your servant; for I have passed this Jordan with my staff, and now I form two camps.
-King Saul 1 S 9:21 Saul answered, “Am I not Benjamite, of one of the smallest tribes of Israel?” and is my family not the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why, then, do you talk to me like this?
-King David 2 S 7:18 And King David went before the Lord, and said, Who am I, Lord Eternal, and what is my house, that you may have sent me where I am?
-King Solomon 1 Kings 3:7 Now, Eternal my God, you have made your servant reign instead of David, my father; and I am only a young man, I have no experience.
-John the Baptist Mt 3:14 But John opposed it, saying: It is I who need to be baptized by you, and you come to me!
-Centurion Mt 8:8 The centurer answered: Lord, I am not worthy that you enter under my roof; but say only one word, and my servant will be healed.
-The Canaanite woman Mt 15:27 Yes, Lord,” she said, “but little dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.
-Paul 1 Tim 1:15 It is a certain word and entirely worthy of being received, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the first.
From all the above, we note that the apostle teaches about important changes in the character of the Christian who has received both the invisible things “freely given by God”, and the means of discerning and appropriating them, that is, the Holy Spirit, the only agent that God employs to transmit his thoughts. The first was to have finished with all that the most favored man could be in the flesh; the second, to have in Christ, from God, a life, a new nature, with all the perfections that this nature implies. The third is to possess the power of this life, the Holy Spirit, who can probe all things, even the deep things of God. In connection with the fact that we have received the Holy Spirit, we again find here a fourth character of the Christian: “But we have the thought of Christ”, that is, “the intelligent faculty of Christ, with his thoughts. For possessing His life and His Spirit, we can understand like Him, think like Him, enjoy like Him, and we are made capable of having the same affections, the same desires, the same joy as Him. “What a joy to be a man, so that he can be saved.” Rather, we say, “What a joy to be a Christian,” to possess a nature capable of loving what God loves, a life that can participate in all the perfections of Christ, a power capable of entering into the enjoyment of all of God’s thoughts. May we be given to taste, not by intelligence, but by heart, those profound things of God that belong to those whom He brought to Him through the adorable work of His Son. Our prayers accompany you all there, in the name of Jesus.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite every person who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me the following prayer:
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I admit to having sinned against you and ask your forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as Lord and personal Savior. I recognize that you died on the cross of Calvary and rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me every day to the eternal life that you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal yourself to me and strengthen my heart and faith, so that your light may be shining in my life right now.
Thank you Lord Jesus for accepting me into your divine family, so that I may also contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby watering point to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
All adoration, power and glory are yours, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be happy to respond to any questions and comments you may have, before sharing with you tomorrow about “Paul who condemns jealousy, quarrels, and partisanship among the Corinthians.”
May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you abundantly.
David Feze, Servant of the Almighty God.