We all Need Spiritual Truth, Whether We Believe it or not

I Corinthians 2:1-16;3:1-11

Introduction:

The Holy Spirit, is the Spirit of Truth, it enables an understanding within us, so that we can begin to comprehend and appreciate things beyond the physical world we see, know, and understand( believe).. I’m glad that God did not allow the Holy Spirit to be optional , but rather a mandatory part of our baptism. So we could know what we needed to navigate through this world. To ensure that we hear and comprehend what we need to do. One thing that we can never say is I should have taken that Holy Spirit package rather than believing it was not needed. Saying to ourselves had I done that I truly would be a better person today. In the gospel of John, John Shares with us What Jesus tells his disciple about the spirit of truth.

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come (John 16:13).

Even the Spirit of Truth only knows what He hears. It may seem difficult for us to even imagine. These men had been with Jesus from the beginning. Spent countless hours walking together; spending nights in who-knows-where type of places.

They watched in awe as he performed miracle after miracle, healing after healing. They knew he was special. Eventually, they also knew he was the Messiah. The Chosen One. The Son of God.

They also watched as he challenged — no, confronted is more like it — the religious leaders of the day. He stood up to them. Defied them. And those he challenged didn’t like it.

His disciples knew it was a dangerous game and they feared for him — and for themselves. They feared the worst, and the worst came to pass. What would they do then? What would happen next? What did the future hold? Jesus knew what He came to on this earth He knew that all would not agree and men would reject him to the point of death.

More than once he told them that he was going to be leaving them soon. Knowing their doubts and fears, as he always does, Jesus reassured them he would not leave them alone. He would leave them with an advocate. A counselor (John 14:25-27).

And he gave them an inkling into who the Advocate is and what he would do:

When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father — the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father — he will testify about me. And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning (John 15:26-27).

Why Is the Spirit of Truth Significant?

The Bible is so much more than just words written on a page. It is more than what the words seem to mean in whatever language or translation version we happen to be reading.

It is far more than a list of do’s and don’ts, rules and regulations, or rites and rituals. Yet so many of us have failed at some point to move to the next level of understanding. A level that should direct our steps, paths or whatever you want to call finding ourselves back to the bible and “The Spirit of Truth”

Often, the disciples themselves did not understand the teachings found in Jesus’ words. They asked him why he taught in parables (Matthew 13:11-13).

But despite their lack of understanding, Jesus did not leave them without a hope to eventually understand the spiritual intent of Jesus’ words (John 14:16-21; 16:12-15).

“I have more to say to you, more than you can now bear.” Jesus knew the disciples would be unable to understand the spiritual meaning, the spiritual truth, of His words at that moment.

The Holy Spirit was with them, but not yet in them (John 14:17) — thus, they were hearing the words but were not yet able to grasp a full understanding.

It would not be until they received the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, after Christ’s death and resurrection (Acts 2:4) that they would have the power to begin to understand the Truth of who Christ is, and the true spiritual meaning of his teachings.

And boy, how it changed them. So just think about this, the men who walked with Jesus from the beginning could not comprehend all that He had in store, Questions What makes us believe that we can do this without the spirit of truth?

So where does that leave us? In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul referred to these two levels of understanding: mind vs. heart; human understanding vs. spiritual understanding; born of the flesh vs. taught by the Spirit of God. 1 Corinthians 2:7–13 (NKJV)

its not a coincident that the Apostle Paul had been given the task to speak about the human wisdom vs. Spiritual Wisdom. If we stop and go back to Acts chapters 8 & 9, we know the story of Saul who became Paul. A man who persecuted the church and believed heavily in the Roman government and teachings that he was brought up on. The story of Paul is a story of redemption in Jesus Christ and a testimony that no one is beyond the saving grace of the Lord. However, to gain the full measure of the man, we must examine his dark side and what he symbolized before becoming “the Apostle of Grace.” Paul’s early life was marked by religious zeal, brutal violence, and the relentless persecution of the early church. He was of Benjamite lineage and Hebrew ancestry (Philippians 3:5–6). His parents were Pharisees—fervent Jewish nationalists who adhered strictly to the Law of Moses—who sought to protect their children from “contamination” from the Gentiles. Anything Greek would have been despised in Saul’s household, yet he could speak Greek and passable Latin. His household would have spoken Aramaic, a derivative of Hebrew, which was the official language of Judea. Saul’s family were Roman citizens but viewed Jerusalem as a truly sacred and holy city (Acts 22:22-29). Before we came to Christ we hd some beliefs that where not scriptural and we need to get them correct and to ensure your baptism is based off the true teaching of Jesus Christ and not man made traditions that where past down by ancestors. So look Here in 2 Corinthians as How the apostle speaks

No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him — these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words .

So, as we get into chapter 2, we know that there were at least four factions of groups that were devised under prominent Christian leaders. Paul, Apollos, Cephas, and Peter, even one under Christ. Paul did not even side with that group, because he knew that all of the divisions were causing dissension in that church. Paul uses three rhetorical questions each expecting a negative response, to show the absurdity of the Corinthian division. 1. Is Christ divided? 2. Was Paul crucified for you? 3.Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? Paul pointed out that in the act of baptism, a person identifies himself or herself with Christ,. Baptism does not align the believer with any human leader, or with any faction of Christianity, but with the Lord himself, the Corinthians who prides themselves on their wisdom and understanding, had misconstrued this truth. They had identified themselves with the men who had performed the baptisms rather than with Jesus himself.

We might be tempted to write off this problem, attributing it to those silly immature Corinthians, if it were not for the fact that the tendency to exalt dynamic leaders is still prevalent today. Witty, engaging, Christian speakers and vibrant, charismatic, spiritual leaders. Still have the power to mesmerized and motivate believers today. And there is nothing inherently wrong with such power. The danger comes when the speaker or leader becomes the focus of attention and not the message.

Christian speakers and leaders are merely vessels to whom God‘s word is communicated. Exalting them instead of the message they proclaim is a misunderstanding of their purpose. Put simply, it’s the message, not the messenger. As believers today, we must guard ourselves against identifying too closely with human leaders or placing too much emphasis on them. Our loyalty and identification belong only to Jesus Christ and his message. I’m just a messenger here to deliver a word from the Lord.

Corinth was well known for debate and the center for travel and commerce. Various doctrines and philosophies would evidently end up in Corinth. There were so many ideas floating around that the Corinthians had become connoisseurs of debate. How do you preach the gospel to a city full of logic and debate? Hmm does that sound familiar lets look at Verse 1, when it came to you I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom, as I proclaim to the testimony about God for I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Paul didn't show up in Corinth as a philosopher or salesman when he came to Corinth, he made the decision to simply preach the simple message of the cross. The gospel of the crucified messiah would be his sole focus and passion. Instead, he gave the testimony of God, which had not been explained before, but which was being revealed by the Holy Spirit verses, 10–14 the focal point of Paul’s preaching was Jesus Christ.

Verse 3, I came to you and weakness with great fear and trembling my message and my preaching, we’re not with Wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the spirits power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but in God's power. Paul’s message was not based on overwhelming listeners with powerful appearance, or with persuasive presentation or even with wise words. Paul didn’t have a lot of self confidence when he spoke. Instead, he spoke with fear and trembling, and that was a great source his strength was his very weakness. Where, as the Corinthians gloried in their strength, their wealth, and their gifts, Christ was glorified in his humility and death. Paul wanted to model Christ’s, humility by presenting “his weakness”. Then the strength of the gospels message could be clearly seen. He wanted to be counted among those whole relied on God’s strength. Rather than using the rhetoric on the day to win converts, he gave a straight forward message.

In II Corinthians 12 Paul tells his readers “for when I am weak, then I am strong”.In his weakness Paul was strong because he relied on the power of God, Last week we said that a church is a body of believers who function for the greater good of the congregations

Paul renounces the traditional rhetorical tools why? RHETORIC was The art of composing an oral or written presentation by using style, argumentation, and arrangement of language to persuade an audience to a particular inclination.

Because he knew that the Greeks and the Jews in Corinth would not respond to the gospel without the power of the Holy Spirit, working on them. Paul didn’t give up entirely the use of rhetoric and Acts 17 we see him use rhetoric in a speech in Athens, he used rhetorical arguments before kings and rulers, but he didn’t rely on them to win people to Christ. As Christians its our job to share the good news. its the Holy Spirit’s job to demonstrate his power on to salvation. Why”

Verse 5, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God‘s power. Preaching centered on human wisdom and personality can be entertaining and get to your emotions, but if its not speaking the truth about the wisdom of the spirit, then it is not the kingdom of God. When churches rely on these tools, their drawing people to a circus of smoke and mirrors. What we draw them in with is what we draw them to. If we use entertainment and gimmicks we must continue to use entertainment and gimmicks to keep them. Paul’s message was full of wisdom just not the world’s wisdom.

Verse 6, we do, however speak a message of Wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or the rulers of this age who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God‘s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden, and that God destined for our glory before time began. Paul knew that the wisdom of God cannot be recognized by men, apart from the work of the Holy Spirit. Paul calls it a mystery hidden in ages past but revealed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This mystery was God‘s plan of salvation through the crucified Messiah, now salvation for the entire world. Among those who are mature: After having heard, eloquent addresses by men, like Apollos, the Corinthians may have viewed Pauls message as elementary or unpolished. Paul assured the Corinthians that he was in parting wisdom instruction that mature Christians would appreciate.

Verse 8, None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified, the Lord of glory however as it is written with, no, I has seen with no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God is prepared for those who love him These are the things God has revealed to us by his spirit

Rulers of this age; In some passages Paul use the word rulers to refer to spiritual beings. (Ephesians 6:12, Colossians. 2:15) here he refers to earthly rulers, the Roman and Jewish leaders who presided over Jesus crucifixion. If these rulers had been among the wise, they would have worshiped the Lord, instead of crucifying him. Had the enemies of God known the victory of the cross it would’ve joined together to orchestrate the death of Jesus,

Verse 10 continues the spirit searches all things even the deep things of God, for who knows a persons thoughts except there own spirit within them. In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God, except the spirit of God what we have received is not the spirit of the world but the spirit who is from God so that we may understand what God has freely given us

You don’t know me is a pretty old cliché by now, but it is true. I can guess what a person is thinking, but the better I know the person the more accurate I can be. The only person I can truly know is myself, unless someone chooses to reveal themselves to me and the same is true for God. We can’t know the mind of God unless he chooses to reveal himself to us and that is what the Holy Spirit does in our lives? We can know the mind of God because he’s given us His Spirit. Every believer has the spirit of God dwelling in them, and can understand the truth of the gospel of Jesus and that is great news. The spirit of God is active in every believer, teaching us, guiding us, revealing himself to us. But the same cannot be said for those who don’t believe.

Verse 13” The Holy Spirit teaches: Paul emphasized that the intellectuals of this world could not teach the knowledge he was given to the Corinthian believers. Note that the spirit did not simply dictate words to Paul, and the other apostles, he taught them. The apostles relayed it with their own vocabulary and style what they had learned from the spirit. Comparing spiritual things with spiritual, these words are difficult to translate and interpret. The Greek term translate it comparing may also mean “to combine”, or to interpret “ the two references to spiritual, may mean, interpreting spiritual truth to spiritual persons or else, combining spiritual truth with spiritual words. The latter seems better. In other words, the phrase teaches that the spiritual truth of God are combined with the spiritual vocabulary at the apostles ( see 2 peter 1:20, 21: , 2 Timothy 3:16.)

5785 It is extraordinary how things fall off from a man like autumn leaves once he comes to the place where there is no rule but that of the personal domination of the Holy Spirit.

Oswald Chambers

Verse 14 the person without the spirit does not accept the things that come from the spirit of God, but Considered Them foolishness, and cannot understand them, because they are discerned only through the spirit. The person who does not have the spirit of God walks through life without the guidance of God. They have their conscience to guide them, but lets face it our consciences can be altered and so flat out easily ignored. The word receive her means “ to welcome” The person without the spirit lives life only in the natural world. The natural world is where we live eat, sleep, work play. We all live in the natural world, but the believer also lives in the spiritual world. God isn’t displeased with our eating work or play. But His wisdom should guide us, even in how we interact with the material world. That is why it’s wonderful, that Paul end this chapter, reminding us that we have a mind of Christ,

The saints prove their conversion by their perseverance, and that perseverance comes from a continual supply of divine grace to their souls. The Candle, Volume 27, Sermon #1594 - Matthew 5:15, 16

Charles Spurgeon

1 Corinthians 3:5–11 NKJV

Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

Apollos and Paul were given their ministries by Christ (Eph. 4:11). They were the means, not the cause, whereby the Corinthians believed (cf. 1 Cor. 2:4–5). I planted Paul uses an agricultural metaphor to explain that different leaders have different roles in the growth of the church. Paul was responsible for founding the Corinthian church (2 Cor 10:14). Since these ministries are interdependent, each one is important. watered Refers to the instruction of the church community (Acts 18:27–28).

(3:6). Therefore God alone should get the credit (v. 7). As servants, Paul and Apollos were not competing against each other but were complementing each other’s ministries (v. 8). Their purpose was to bring the church to maturity, to Christlikeness (Eph. 4:12–13). In accord with their faithfulness to that task would come their reward (cf. 1 Cor. 4:2–5). For though a minister served the church he was basically responsible to God. Paul and Apollos were fellow workers who belonged to God and worked for Him in His field, the church (3:9).God was causing it to grow Identifies God as the source of maturity in the faith. Paul directs the Corinthian believers to God, the source of life and unity. In doing so, he casts himself and Apollos as servants of God. God alone produced results. God made the seed grow. That Source is the Spirit of Truth

3:8 are one Paul and Apollos share a unity of purpose in their work among the Corinthians (1 Cor 1:10). reward God will reward Paul and Apollos for strengthening the faith of the church community. Their reward may include sharing in the joy of their master or receiving praise from God (Matt 25:21; 1 Cor 4:5).

3:9 field Represents the people of God, among whom His servants labor (compare 2 Cor 10:13–16). The church community also displays the Holy Spirit’s power to give life and bring growth (1 Cor 3:16). God’s building Presents a unified picture of the church community. In vv. 16–17, Paul describes the Corinthian believers as the temple of God.

3:10 the grace of God given to me Refers to God enabling the Apostle Paul to plant new churches, especially the one in Corinth. Master builder Refers to the person who directs a construction project.

3:11 a foundation Figuratively refers to Jesus Christ (2:2; 3:11), who is essential to the stability of the church community. How he is building upon it Refers to instruction for the believers’ growth in being Christlike (see Acts 18:27–28).