1Corinthians 2:10-16 REMEMBER THE WORK OF GOD God has graciously given to those who believe in Him and know Him the wonderful truth of the Gospel. The
Father elects those who will believe in Christ by choosing us before the foundation of the world. He included us in the divine plan of the ages. We know the Son of God has come, and by the sacrifice of Himself has demonstrated God's love to us: He died for our sins according to the scriptures, was buried, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. The work of the Holy Spirit in the Gospel is to convict us of "sin, righteousness and judgment to come." By the Spirit of God using the truth of the Word of God, we are born again by the Spirit.
The "deep things" have been revealed to us by the Spirit. They would include who God is, the nature of God, and the plan of God to give salvation based on the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This legally and justly makes it possible for God to "look on Him, and pardon me" because the wages of sin have been paid for by death - the death of the Perfect Substitute. Now the Lord Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead for our justification. Legal satisfaction has been made. By nature, men don't know this, and more than that, it seems foolish to them. "But God has revealed it to us by His Spirit."
The personality of every person is unique, and we don't really know what goes on inside another person. We may perceive certain things by outward expressions, but really, the spirit of each person is hidden from other people. In the same way, it is only divine Persons who know the things of God. However, something totally remarkable and beyond our greatest expectations has happened! The Holy Spirit, "who searcheth all things" and knows all the "deep things," reveals to us the "things which God hath prepared for them that love Him!" God wants us to know now the blessings that, in grace, He has prepared ahead for us. God unfolds those plans to us by His Spirit. He has made this possible by the Spirit of God becoming the Divine Resident who dwells in us since we have been saved by God's grace. This is so different from the spirit of this age or world. The spirit of the world focuses only on self and self-interest. It places man as the independent ruler of his own life and destiny. How often do we hear, "You can do it if you put your mind to it." "You can be whatever you want to be." But it is the Spirit of God who dwells in us who teaches us. He makes plain the blessings of God's grace that meet our need, not our independent choices, and the consequences that follow.
The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the authority to communicate the word of God to us. What the apostles were taught by the Spirit, they communicated to the Corinthians and to "all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours." From the Holy Spirit, through the apostles, we have received the spiritual truths God intends for us. These are given in written words, not just inspired thoughts. The inspiration of the scriptures has come to us now in the Bible to communicate its truth to others. When we speak the word of God, we are passing on what was verbally inspired by the Holy Spirit to "holy men of old," including the apostles. We are now able to communicate spiritual truths with spiritual words. These are not vague ideas we make up to suit the people.
There is now a desire among many people to hear only things that make them feel good about themselves and about God. They only want to hear about the love of God, not the righteousness, justice, or the wrath of God. They want them to hear about the goodness of men and women, not the facts and consequences of sin. We cannot fashion our communication of truth to others on what appeals to the "spirit of the world (age)." It is our responsibility, the same as it was to the apostles, to communicate spiritual things using spiritual words. Stick to what the Bible says!
The Corinthian believers had gotten taken up with the gifts of the Spirit and had overlooked God's counsel. By misusing what was good, they fell into the trap of overemphasizing what they liked and made them feel spiritual. Satan took advantage of them, and they were not communicating "spiritual things with spiritual words," and it was creating chaos and division in the assembly. We must read the Bible carefully and meditate on it so we understand both the interpretation and how to apply it to the present situation. A clear understanding of Bible doctrine is a safeguard for us personally and can bless others when it is passed on. We can learn from the way the Lord Jesus taught as we read through the Gospels and follow His practices.
Even the most intelligent but unsaved man cannot receive what the Holy Spirit teaches the new believer. Professors, doctors, and theologians are in darkness when it comes to spiritual truth if they do not have the Holy Spirit, which is received at the time one is born again. On the other hand, new believers grow in grace and knowledge as they begin their life of faith. We are able to see under the facade of this age and know what is really important - what is really true. The growing Christian can discern what others cannot. The Holy Spirit matures us as we grow, and when we maintain our commitment to communicate spiritual things with spiritual words, we ourselves are ministered to by the very words we pass on.
In this way, we are able to enjoy the things Christ enjoys and understand God's plans and the reasons behind what happens. We are not perfect and will make mistakes, so we do not take the place of God in others' lives. But by thinking as God thinks, and valuing what God values, we are able to communicate God's truth to others in ways and words they can grasp. It enables us to be relevant to those who hear the Gospel message. It is a danger to us if we start emphasizing one work of the Godhead above another. By keeping a balance in spiritual things, we are able to communicate the work of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit as they unfold the wisdom of God and the deep things of God.
With graceful words and compassion, we pass on what we learn from God Thoughts that from the Spirit are fashioned, are understood when we preach the Word The darkness of unbelievers can't be helped, they are who they are by nature Things we have experienced not just felt, go way beyond this worldly culture.
The Holy Spirit first revealed what previously was hidden to us Those things our nature concealed are now real when the Savior we trust The Father in heaven had a plan that was carried out when Christ was here When found in fashion as a man, Christ brought God's purposes near.
Then the Spirit came here to indwell those who, in Christ, put their faith His enlightenment enables us to tell others of God's redeeming grace By His indwelling power, we are able to communicate in words The urgency of the present hour, that sinners will from sin be willing to turn.
The Spirit searches all things that happen, from Him there is nothing hid From Him, conviction of sin brings a burden from which we want to be rid Each heart by the searching Spirit is opened to spiritual truth By facing sin, we bear it, and the Word expresses its worth.
Maturing in the truth takes some time; we have to make a choice What do I want from this life of mine? Am I willing to obey God's voice? When I do, God in mercy unveils my mind to receive what He teaches Knowing the mind of Christ entails the power of the Word, my heart reaches.
"Father, I do not want to be casual about the things of God. May the truths I read and write about be truly felt truth, not just the results of my study. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."