Being Wise About the Good News

1 Corinthians 2:1–16 NLT

1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. 6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. 12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us. 13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. 14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:1-16

INTRODUCTION:

I- THE GOOD NEWS IS CENTERED IN THE DEATH OF CHRIST. (1 Corinthians 2:1–5)

1 Corinthians 2:1–5 NLT

1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. 5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

A- The believer must take the right approach to take with the Good News. (1 Corinthians 2:1-2)

1 Corinthians 2:1–2 NLT

1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. 2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.

2:1 Κἀγὼ ἐλθὼν πρὸς ὑμᾶς, ἀδελφοί, ἦλθον οὐ καθʼ ὑπεροχὴν λόγου ἢ σοφίας καταγγέλλων ὑμῖν τὸ μαρτύριον τοῦ θεοῦ.

2 οὐ γὰρ ἔκρινά τι εἰδέναι ἐν ὑμῖν εἰ μὴ Ἰησοῦν Χριστὸν καὶ τοῦτον ἐσταυρωμένον·

1- The approach of the believer seeks to glorify God, not self.

(1 Corinthians 1:31)

1 Corinthians 1:31 NLT

31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

2- The approach of the believer is to allow God’s power to be demonstrated. (1 Corinthians 2:1)

1 Corinthians 2:1 NLT

1 When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.

a- We are never to seek to impress the world with our eloquence or intelligence. To do so is to point them to the wrong person! (1 Corinthians 1:17)

1 Corinthians 1:17 NLT

17 For Christ didn’t send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News—and not with clever speech, for fear that the cross of Christ would lose its power.

3- The right approach is to point people to Christ and His sacrifice on the cross. (1 Corinthians 2:2)

1 Corinthians 2:2 NLT

2 For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.

a- It is the cross that changes everything for the believer.

(Galatians 6:14)

Galatians 6:14 NLT

14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world’s interest in me has also died.

B- The believer must exemplify the right attitude with the Good News. (1 Corinthians 2:3-4)

1 Corinthians 2:3–4 NLT

3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling. 4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.

3 κἀγὼ ἐν ἀσθενείᾳ καὶ ἐν φόβῳ καὶ ἐν τρόμῳ πολλῷ ἐγενόμην πρὸς ὑμᾶς,

4 καὶ ὁ λόγος μου καὶ τὸ κήρυγμά μου οὐκ ἐν πειθοῖ σοφίας ἀλλʼ ἐν ἀποδείξει πνεύματος καὶ δυνάμεως,

1- The believer must exemplify a recognition of personal inadequacy and humility toward God. (1 Corinthians 2:3)

1 Corinthians 2:3 NLT

3 I came to you in weakness—timid and trembling.

a- Our only qualification to do God’s work is God himself.

(2 Corinthians 3:5)

2 Corinthians 3:5 NLT

5 It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God.

2- The believer must focus on presenting the simple gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. (1 Corinthians 2:4)

1 Corinthians 2:4 NLT

4 And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit.

a- Note that this is the way the Lord intended us to function.

(Acts 1:8)

Acts 1:8 NLT

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

C- The believer must pursue the right aim with the Good News. (1 Corinthians 2:5)

1 Corinthians 2:5 NLT

5 I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God.

5 ἵνα ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν μὴ ᾖ ἐν σοφίᾳ ἀνθρώπων ἀλλʼ ἐν δυνάμει θεοῦ.

1- The believer is to focus on helping others to trust in God’s power, rather than human wisdom.

a- Which is better- human wisdom or God’s power?

(1) This is a no-brainer!

II- THE GOOD NEWS IS CENTRAL TO GOD’S ETERNAL PLAN. (1 Corinthians 2:6-9)

1 Corinthians 2:6–9 NLT

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. 8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. 9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

A- The plan is God’s - not man’s! (1 Corinthians 2:6-7)

1 Corinthians 2:6–7 NLT

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. 7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.

6 Σοφίαν δὲ λαλοῦμεν ἐν τοῖς τελείοις, σοφίαν δὲ οὐ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου οὐδὲ τῶν ἀρχόντων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου τῶν καταργουμένων·

7 ἀλλὰ λαλοῦμεν θεοῦ σοφίαν ἐν μυστηρίῳ, τὴν ἀποκεκρυμμένην, ἣν προώρισεν ὁ θεὸς πρὸ τῶν αἰώνων εἰς δόξαν ἡμῶν·

1- Mature believers are to focus upon the wisdom of God, not the wisdom of this world. (1 Corinthians 2:6)

1 Corinthians 2:6 NLT

6 Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten.

2- The plan that is in focus is God’s plan. (1 Corinthians 2:7)

1 Corinthians 2:7 NLT

7 No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began.

a- The Good News plan was a hidden plan before the advent of Christ.

μυστηρίῳ, τὴν ἀποκεκρυμμένην = mystery that was previously hidden, by presently made known.

This mystery that was hidden is the good news that God is redeeming Jews and Gentiles and making of the two, one new people.

(Ephesians 2:14-18)

Ephesians 2:14–18 NLT

14 For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. 15 He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. 16 Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. 17 He brought this Good News of peace to you Gentiles who were far away from him, and peace to the Jews who were near. 18 Now all of us can come to the Father through the same Holy Spirit because of what Christ has done for us.

b- The Good News plan was always the plan.

Note:

(Genesis 3:15)

Genesis 3:15 NLT

15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will strike your head, and you will strike his heel.”

(Isaiah 7:14)

Isaiah 7:14 NLT

14 All right then, the Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’).

(Isaiah 53:6)

Isaiah 53:6 NLT

6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.

B- The plan is hidden from the unsaved world. (1 Corinthians 2:8)

1 Corinthians 2:8 NLT

8 But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.

8 ἣν οὐδεὶς τῶν ἀρχόντων τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου ἔγνωκεν, εἰ γὰρ ἔγνωσαν, οὐκ ἂν τὸν κύριον τῆς δόξης ἐσταύρωσαν·

1- God hid his plan from the world in order to bring it to pass.

a- The crucifixion of Jesus was necessary for redemption to occur.

(Hebrews 9:22)

Hebrews 9:22 NLT

22 In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness.

b- The “rulers of this world” refers to the spiritual beings behind the physical rulers.

(Eph. 6: 11-12)

Ephesians 6:11–12 NLT

11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

C- The plan is a present reality for the believer. (1 Corinthians 2:9)

1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

9 ἀλλὰ καθὼς γέγραπται· Ἃ ὀφθαλμὸς οὐκ εἶδεν καὶ οὖς οὐκ ἤκουσεν καὶ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου οὐκ ἀνέβη, ὅσα ἡτοίμασεν ὁ θεὸς τοῖς ἀγαπῶσιν αὐτόν.

1- Paul is expressing the fact that human language is incapable of communicating what God has prepared for believers.

a- The descriptions written in scripture can’t completely convey what awaits us.

(1) Example of the difference between seeing a wowing sunset or panoramic mountain view and seeing a picture or hearing a description of them. Words can’t convey, nor can photos picture the actual beauty.

III- THE GOOD NEWS IS REVEALED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH GOD’S WORD. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)

A- The Holy Spirit reveals the heart of God to the believer. (1 Corinthians 2:10-11)

1 Corinthians 2:10–11 NLT

10 But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets. 11 No one can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit.

10 ἡμῖν γὰρ ἀπεκάλυψεν ὁ θεὸς διὰ τοῦ πνεύματος, τὸ γὰρ πνεῦμα πάντα ἐραυνᾷ, καὶ τὰ βάθη τοῦ θεοῦ.

11 τίς γὰρ οἶδεν ἀνθρώπων τὰ τοῦ ἀνθρώπου εἰ μὴ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τὸ ἐν αὐτῷ; οὕτως καὶ τὰ τοῦ θεοῦ οὐδεὶς ἔγνωκεν εἰ μὴ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ θεοῦ.

1- What is unfathomable to the human mind and incommunicable in human language is revealed by the Holy Spirit.

a- He is the one who opens the will of God to the believer.

(John 16:7-15)

John 16:7–15 NLT

7 But in fact, it is best for you that I go away, because if I don’t, the Advocate won’t come. If I do go away, then I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world of its sin, and of God’s righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world’s sin is that it refuses to believe in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the ruler of this world has already been judged. 12 “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by telling you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine; this is why I said, ‘The Spirit will tell you whatever he receives from me.’

B- The Holy Spirit reveals the presence of God in the life of the believer. (1 Corinthians 2:12)

1 Corinthians 2:12 NLT

12 And we have received God’s Spirit (not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely given us.

12 ἡμεῖς δὲ οὐ τὸ πνεῦμα τοῦ κόσμου ἐλάβομεν ἀλλὰ τὸ πνεῦμα τὸ ἐκ τοῦ θεοῦ, ἵνα εἰδῶμεν τὰ ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ χαρισθέντα ἡμῖν·

1- The Holy Spirit lives in the believer and seals him.

(John 14:16-17)

John 14:16–17 NLT

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. 17 He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.

(Ephesians 1:13-14)

Ephesians 1:13–14 NLT

13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

2- The Holy Spirit assures our spirit that we belong to God.

(Romans 8:16)

Romans 8:16 NLT

16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children.

C- The Holy Spirit reveals the instructions God has for the believer. (1 Corinthians 2:13)

1 Corinthians 2:13 NLT

13 When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.

13 ἃ καὶ λαλοῦμεν οὐκ ἐν διδακτοῖς ἀνθρωπίνης σοφίας λόγοις, ἀλλʼ ἐν διδακτοῖς πνεύματος, πνευματικοῖς πνευματικὰ συγκρίνοντες.

1- The Holy Spirit communicates spiritual things with believers in spiritual terms.

(John 14:26)

John 14:26 NLT

26 But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.

2- Paul emphasizes that He does not use human wisdom, but divine unction to communicate God’s instructions for believers.

D- The Holy Spirit reveals the pathway for maturing the believer. (1 Corinthians 2:14-16)

1 Corinthians 2:14–16 NLT

14 But people who aren’t spiritual can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what the Spirit means. 15 Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they themselves cannot be evaluated by others. 16 For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.

14 Ψυχικὸς δὲ ἄνθρωπος οὐ δέχεται τὰ τοῦ πνεύματος τοῦ θεοῦ, μωρία γὰρ αὐτῷ ἐστίν, καὶ οὐ δύναται γνῶναι, ὅτι πνευματικῶς ἀνακρίνεται·

15 ὁ δὲ πνευματικὸς ἀνακρίνει τὰ πάντα, αὐτὸς δὲ ὑπʼ οὐδενὸς ἀνακρίνεται.

16 τίς γὰρ ἔγνω νοῦν κυρίου, ὃς συμβιβάσει αὐτόν; ἡμεῖς δὲ νοῦν Χριστοῦ ἔχομεν.

1- People who do not operate in the Spirit (Lost or Carnal believer) are unable to receive the Spirit’s instructions.

2- Christians who are living under the Spirit’s control see things as they truly are and make accurate judgments about all things.

3- The world has no way to accurately understand or judge spiritual believers.

4- Believers who are walking in the spirit can understand the Lord’s thoughts because we have the mind of Christ.

CONCLUSION: