got wisdom?

Introduction

Got wisdom? It’s found in …

I. The Predestined Revelation of Jesus Christ (vv. 6-9)

A. Wisdom

From 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:5, Paul spent a great deal of time dismantling human wisdom and the Corinthians’ fascination with it. But Paul still preaches wisdom, only it’s God’s wisdom.

Wisdom means understanding and knowledge.

Specifically, the knowledge and understanding of Christ crucified and what it accomplished.

B. Mature

Maturity does not mean there were some Christians who had received special or higher spiritual truths. It also is not used here to describe how long someone has been a Christian.

The word maturity can mean “perfect and complete” or, as it is used here, it can mean “with full initiation into.”

In other words, in Paul’s mind, the mature are those who have trusted in Jesus Christ, have repented of their sins, have been born-again and radically transformed from the inside out, and have received the Holy Spirit.

The message of wisdom Paul speaks is not for a select few. The message Paul speaks is for any person, at any time, anywhere, who has been immersed in the Holy Spirit and become a child of God.

I thought every person was a child of God? Well let’s talk about that.

John 1:11–13 NASB95

11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Every single person, no matter their country of origin, no matter the color of their skin, no matter how they choose to live, is made in the image of God.

But only those who believe in Jesus’ name are given the right to become children of God.

In my Greek class in college we had to do a Greek word study. We were tasked with taking any Greek word we wanted to and breaking it apart to understand exactly what it meant. I was preaching through the book of James where one of the most debated verses declares “faith without works is dead.”

Faith is predicated on belief, so I chose to do my word study on the Greek word pisteuo, the word for believe. What does it mean to believe in the name of Jesus?

Turns out that believing is not passive, it’s active. In other words, the child of God is anyone who trusts fully that Jesus Christ is who He claims to be, that Jesus died for your sins, and because of that trust, the way you live (your lifestyle, actions, and choices) testify that you have been made a new creation in Christ Jesus.

There is no other condition. God isn’t holding out on you.

Being mature doesn’t mean those who have attended church for a long period of time, or those who have their life altogether, or those who have read through the Bible a certain number of times.

The mature that Paul speaks of is anyone who confesses Jesus Christ as Lord of their life and trusts in Him to save them from their sins.

C. Of this Age

Paul was not speaking wisdom that anyone or anything had come up with on their own.

this age does not mean just the 1st century, it means any period of time here on this earth.

D. Mystery

Mystery does not mean secret knowledge.

It means something that wasn’t revealed has now been revealed and made known.

And this wisdom was predestined before the ages to our glory.

The revelation of Jesus Christ was appointed, or decreed, or decided before the ages.

How was Jesus Christ revealed?

Revelation of Jesus

His Word

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture testifies concerning Jesus.

When we studied the book of Genesis, we saw God as Creator.

When we studied the book of Ruth, we saw God as Redeemer.

In the book of Exodus, God is Deliverer.

The Word of God predicted everything that would be fulfilled in the Person of Jesus Christ.

His Person

John begins his gospel declaring the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

The Greek word there is logos, which the Greeks would have thought of us a higher wisdom or understanding.

Just like today, there are those who look around and see evidence of an order and design in creation. This is what we would call general revelation, the idea that Someone must have created this world we live in.

Romans 1:20 NASB95

20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

But salvation is found in Jesus Christ alone. Anyone can look around and see evidence of a Creator, a Higher Power.

If a person has no knowledge of Jesus Christ, but believes there must be a God who created this world, I believe the Holy Spirit works in miraculous ways to reveal that God is the Person of Jesus Christ.

The Word which was predicted from the beginning, was revealed in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Every other religion in the world teaches humanity how to get to God, how to achieve a god-like status.

Christianity teaches humanity how God lowered Himself to our standing.

Jesus Christ is truly God, and being born through a virgin, that God became flesh.

Not only did He lower Himself, but He died so that His rebellious creation might live.

His Work

The incarnation is crucial to Christianity.

Being born of a virgin, Jesus was truly a man, but a man with no sin nature.

Only a human being could pay the price for sin, but only God could endure the price that had to be paid.

Jesus willingly went to the cross to die in our place for our sin, and in doing so, created a way for us to be declared righteous in God’s sight by His blood.

Before Jesus was revealed through His Word, His Person, and His Work, it was a mystery.

Luke 24:45–49 NASB95

45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 “You are witnesses of these things. 49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The wisdom of God was present in the Scriptures, that the Messiah would suffer, die, and rise again on the third day for the forgiveness of sins.

However, God had to open the minds of the disciples to see this mystery which had been hidden since before the ages began.

It’s why we can now look back at the Old Testament and see prophecies concerning the Messiah that were fulfilled in Jesus, because the Holy Spirit has revealed all these things to us.

Now, just think about the significance of the fact that this was prepared or predestined beforehand.

Before God created the world, He knew that His creation would rebel against Him, He had already determined to make a way through His Son, Jesus Christ, and yet God still chose to go through with His plan.

We say the greatest demonstration of God’s love was Jesus’ death on the cross, which is absolutely true. But when you recognize that the cross was Plan A for salvation, not Plan B or C or Z, the fullness of that love takes on a whole new meaning.

E. Rulers of this Age

This term is debated to mean two things:

Some think this term refers to human rulers, or humans in general, who do not have the Spirit. Paul says if humanity would have realized who Jesus was, they would not have crucified Him.

But the wisdom of God was only completed through humanity’s ignorance, for by Jesus’ crucifixion, you and I can stand holy, righteous, and blameless in His sight by His shed blood.

Some think this term refers to demonic powers and forces.

I think both can be true simultaneously.

In John 12:31, Jesus refers to satan as:

John 12:31 (NASB95)

31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.

In 2 Corinthians 4:4 and Ephesians 2:2, Paul refers to satan as:

2 Corinthians 4:4 (NASB95)

4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Ephesians 2:2 (NASB95)

2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Jesus Christ is still King of kings and Lord of lords, but He has allowed satan, the adversary, to operate in this world.

Certainly the rulers of this age could refer to the spiritual forces of darkness, but they were not ignorant of who Jesus was. They knew Jesus Christ was God in the flesh. They knew they were killing God in the flesh.

However, it is possible to say the spiritual forces of darkness were ignorant of what would result from a crucified Christ. In other words, the evil they sought was used to accomplish the ultimate good: salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

In the movie Nefarious, Dr. James Martin is an atheist psychologist who is called to evaluate the sanity of an inmate named Edward awaiting the electric chair.

James learns that who he is talking to is actually a demon, Nefarious, possessing Edward’s body, but of course as an atheist, James doesn’t believe in such things.

There’s a particular monologue in the movie I find very interesting.

Nefarious says that they [satan and his demonic forces] have given an invitation to mankind, an invitation to “reject the idea of sin completely so they are free to reach their full potential.”

James says, “And your Enemy [God] would allow that?”

“Oh yes,” says Nefarious. “Because He has to. He gave man freewill because He wanted His creation’s love. But if man isn’t free the love has no value, does it? So in His needy, selfish, pathetic way, well He doomed Himself from the start.”

“But if He’s God,” says James, “Shouldn’t He have known that?”

“Yes, that’s why He had to cheat. My master designed every tool imaginable to destroy every facet of the Enemy’s creation. We failed because of the Carpenter. He was the thorn in our side, our greatest threat. We thought if we could eliminate Him the world would be ours, forever…we had no idea of the consequences. The cross was our greatest mistake.”

“And we thought we lost, James. Until my master realized that man still wants to be his own god, and to serve no one but himself. Whereas the Carpenter demands, as the price for His suffering routine, that you fall on your knees and you worship Him.”

Had humanity truly understood who Jesus was, they would never have crucified Him. Had the demonic forces realized what would be accomplished through Christ’s death, they would never have crucified Him.

F. All of This is for You

This is why Paul closes here by combining two portions of Scripture from the Old Testament. They come out of Isaiah 64:4 and Isaiah 65:17.

Essentially what Paul says is, “What no eye has ever seen, what no ear has ever heard, what has not entered the heart of man, all that God prepared in advance for those who love Him.”

The cross may have been the spiritual forces of darkness’ greatest mistake, but God had already determined what would happen long before the world began, and so their greatest mistake is our greatest triumph, prepared in advance for our glory because Jesus loves you.

Got wisdom? It’s found through …

II. The Advocate, Helper, and Teacher Who Dwells Within You (vv. 10-13)

A. Prepared and Revealed

God prepared something that no one could imagine or understand or come up with on their own.

When we hear this Scripture, our minds immediately go to heaven.

But Paul says God has revealed, past tense, this mystery now through the Spirit.

Yes, this will ultimately culminate in a new heavens and new earth where God will wipe away all sin, and suffering, and death, and tears from your eyes. But is also available to us presently.

Consider what Jesus says in Mark 1:15.

Mark 1:15 NASB95

15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

The kingdom of heaven is at hand. That phrase, is at hand, is in the perfect tense, meaning it has already been completed once and for all.

B. The Holy Spirit

Through the Holy Spirit, you have already received everything that God has prepared for you. Through the Holy Spirit, you can encounter the kingdom of God now. Through the Holy Spirit, you can encounter the fullness of God now.

We don’t have to wait. God prepared all of this in advance and has already given it to us.

How do we receive what God has prepared though?

We receive it through what the Holy Spirit reveals.

In verse 11, Paul uses an analogy. Only a man knows what he is thinking. You know you better than anyone around you. Other people could guess what you are thinking, but the only way they truly know is when you reveal it to them.

Paul declares it is the same way with God. Like can only know like. So Paul says humanity could guess what God was thinking, they could venture suggestions about His wisdom, but they could only truly know if it was revealed to them by Him.

As a Christian, the fullness of God indwells you presently through the Holy Spirit.

So that we may know the things freely given to us by God.

You have all of Him in you, but do you experience all of Him?

So many of us live our lives independent of the One who is living in us.

A lot of Christians believe that Jesus Christ has the power to forgive sins, to set them in right standing before the Father, and to place them in His presence for all eternity. They believe Jesus has the power to solve that problem, but when it comes to the other problems or questions or concerns we face in this life, we search out other answers.

C. Spiritual Thoughts and Spiritual Words

We all have questions, but we often seek the answers in all the wrong places

Marriage

The world would say find someone who makes you happy, or someone who you find attractive, take them for some sexual test rides and see if you’re compatible.

The Word of God doesn’t declare to you in black and white the name of the person you should marry. But it does show us the qualities we should look for in a spouse.

Proverbs 31:30 NASB95

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

1 Timothy 3:1–7 NASB95

1 It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the office of overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Occupation

The world would say find a job or don’t find a job. Just experience life. A man can do everything a woman can do, and a woman can do everything a man can do. It doesn’t really matter.

But we learn in God’s Word that men are created to work and provide for their families. Woman are created to be workers at home, in their household.

This doesn’t mean men and woman can’t operate outside of these areas, but it means a man’s primary occupational calling is to provide for his family, and a woman’s primary occupational calling is to care for her family.

Finances

The world would say what you earn is yours and no one else’s.

The Word of God declares everything is first and foremost God’s, we are simply called to be good stewards and to give generously from what He has given us.

The world says if your struggling financially, take from others, seek handouts from the government to supplement your lifestyle.

The Word of God declares we should give generously even when we lack, trusting that God will provide.

Marriage Problems

The world would say if you spouse offends you, hurts you, begins to be less appealing to you, leave them and find someone else.

The Word of God says marriage is a covenant, not just between one man and one woman, but between that couple and God, and what God has joined together let no man separate. Which means, when you have problems in your marriage, and you will, deal with it! Learn how to fix it, and when you study Scripture, you’ll often find that the best way to change your marriage is to change yourself. The desire of God is to redeem and reconcile every marriage relationship for His glory because a marriage is a tangible expression of the love God has for His people.

When you start going to the Word of God with questions, you will always find answers.

Don’t believe me?

I dare you to try it. Take whatever question you have, go to God’s Word and ask Him what He has to say about it.

Just be careful, because I promise you will receive an answer, it just may not be what you want to hear. Or that answer may seem contrary to everything that seems correct.

Got wisdom? It’s found by …

III. The One Who Believes, Receives, and Practices What the Spirit Teaches (vv. 14-16)

A. Stupid, Offensive, and Powerless

Paul says a natural man, meaning a person who doesn’t have the Holy Spirit, that man or woman can’t accept the wisdom of God because they think it’s stupid, or offensive, or powerless, and they can’t understand.

Just think about some of the accounts we read in Scripture:

The Ark and the Flood

Noah didn’t just wake up one morning and think to himself, “You know, I think a really good use of my time would be building a giant boat in the middle of dry ground.” No, God told him, “Noah, I want you to build an ark.” And the people thought he was nuts … until the flood came.

Abraham’s Descendant

God promised Abraham descendants that would number more than the sand on the sea shore, but Sarah was barren and over 100 years old. How does that make any sense. Sarah thought God was crazy. And when they finally had Isaac, God tested Abraham and told him to sacrifice his only son to him on an altar. The world would say, “Are you out of your mind?”

God’s Great Battle Plan

In order to conquer Jericho, the Israelites didn’t march in and wage warfare. Instead, God told them to march around the city seven times, blow their trumpets, and shout really loud. The world would say that’s a powerless act.

Leaving a Six-Figure Job

When we lived in Colorado, my dad had a six-figure salary. And God called him into the ministry, so he packed up our family, moved us to Kanas, and took a 2/3 cut in pay. Some of his friends thought he was insane, because the wisdom of God makes no sense to the world.

B. The Spirit-Filled Person

The Christian evaluates (appraises) everything in this world on the basis of what the Holy Spirit says.

In other words, the Christian lives out a biblical worldview. Which is why wisdom is found only by the one who believes, receives, and puts in to practice what the Spirit speaks to them.

There are plenty of people who believe facts about God, but it has no impact on their life.

There are plenty of Christians still think like unsaved people, who may believe in Jesus, who may even receive His Word, meaning they listen to it and read it, but they never put it into practice.

Then there are those Christians who believe in Jesus, who receive His instruction gladly, and practice what He commands because they know even if it goes against what they want, it’s ultimately for their good and the good of those around them.

As a Christian, the wisdom of God is available to you through the Word, Person, and Work, of Jesus Christ; the wisdom of God has been revealed to you by the fullness of God, the Holy Spirit, who dwells within you; and the wisdom of God has the ability to answer any question you have, to illuminate for you the way you are to live, and to radically transform you not only for your benefit, but so that those around you may see the God of the universe working in you.

Conclusion