2:5-16: True Wisdom

Call to Worship

Psalm 104:1–4 ESV

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. 3 He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; 4 he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.

Prayer of Adoration

Heavenly Father, We come before You in awe and wonder, marveling at Your perfect wisdom. You, O Lord, are the source of all understanding. Before the foundations of the world, You decreed salvation through Christ, and Your plans have never failed, never faltered, never been thwarted. Your thoughts are higher than ours, and Your ways are past finding out (Isaiah 55:8–9).

Lord Jesus, we praise You that in You, the hidden wisdom of God has been revealed. What the rulers of this age could not understand, what human pride could not grasp, You have made known to those who love You. The cross, once foolishness to the world, is the power and wisdom of God for salvation (1 Corinthians 1:24). We worship You for the mind of Christ, freely given to those who are Yours by the Spirit.

Holy Spirit, we adore You for searching the depths of God and illuminating our hearts. You teach us what no human wisdom can uncover. You guide us into all truth, giving us discernment to see the glory of Christ in the gospel, in suffering, and in daily life. Your work in us humbles, strengthens, and renews us.

Lord, we lift Your wisdom high. It is eternal, it is perfect, and it brings glory to Your name. May our lives reflect this wisdom, and may our hearts delight in the beauty of Your revealed plan. To You be all honor, all praise, and all glory forever and ever.

Amen.

Pastoral Prayer

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with grateful hearts, recognizing Your goodness in every detail of our lives. Thank You for the rain You have sent after we asked for it—reminding us that You are the Giver of life, the One who waters the earth and brings growth, both in creation and in our hearts. Thank you for your grace and for answering our prayers.

Lord, we lift up our church family to You. We are thankful for each member, for their faith, their gifts, and their willingness to serve one another. Strengthen us in love, unity, and perseverance, that we may shine Your light in our community. May we help one another become more like Christ.

We also pray, Father, that You would continue to bring new members to our fellowship. Draw people who are seeking truth, who are hungry for the gospel, and who will join us in walking with Christ. May our church be a place where hearts are transformed, lives are renewed, and where brothers and sisters are found.

Lord, as we prepare to hear Your Word today, we pray for Your Spirit to move in power. Open our hearts and minds to the wisdom of the cross, the wisdom You have hidden from the proud and revealed to those who love You. Let us not come with self-reliance or cleverness, but with humility, recognizing our need for You. Teach us through Your Word, illuminate our understanding, and shape our lives according to the mind of Christ.

We give You all glory for the work You are doing among us. May every word spoken, every song sung, every prayer lifted, magnify Your name and draw us nearer to Your heart. And Father, we ask that You use this time to plant seeds of Your eternal wisdom in us—seeds that will grow, bear fruit, and remain steadfast.

We pray all of this in the name of Jesus Christ,

Amen.

Sermon

Scripture Reading

1 Corinthians 2:6–16 ESV

6 Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. 7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. 8 None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. 14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Intro

I don’t know how my phone really works. I push buttons, swipe screens, and somehow it connects me to the world. I don’t know how Wi-Fi actually travels through the air, or how my car really runs, or how plants turn sunlight into food. The truth is, most of us go through life pretending we know more than we do.

And it’s not just the small stuff. Scientists say we’ve mapped the entire surface of Mars, but only a fraction of our own oceans. The deep sea is full of mysteries—creatures no one has ever seen, landscapes no one has ever touched. The world itself is far bigger and more complex than we realize.

But the truth goes deeper still. We don’t know the mind of God. His ways, His wisdom, His plans—these are beyond our understanding.

And yet, in Christ, we are invited into that wisdom. God reveals what we could never discover on our own. His Spirit gives us the mind of Christ.

Paul is about to show the Corinthians—and us—how this works. That God’s wisdom is hidden by the Father from before time itself, revealed by the Holy Spirit of God, and discerned by those who belong to Jesus Christ.

That’s exactly what Paul is about to show us. In chapter 1, he reminded us that the gospel is the wisdom and power of God and that we are only unified in Christ Alone.

In chapter 2:1–5, he explained why he preached with weakness, so our faith would rest not in human skill but in God’s power.

He wanted their faith rooted in God. He pulled back all the flash, all the impressive wisdom, so that the gospel of Jesus Christ could shine through.

The gospel is not a show to be entertained and moved by; it is the message of good news that is only understood through the Spirit’s work in our lives.

And he showed them that the very evidence of the Spirit’s power was in their own conversion from their sinful ways to faith in Christ.

Now, in 2:6–16, Paul shows us the depth of that wisdom. It has always existed—hidden and eternal. It is revealed by the Spirit. And it is discerned only by those who belong to Christ.

So as we enter this passage, we start here—with humility: “I don’t know.” On our own, we are blind. But in Christ, God opens our eyes. By His Spirit, He reveals His wisdom to His people. And that wisdom is what saves us.

I. God’s Wisdom Hidden

Paul writes in verses 6–7: “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory.”

Paul has been dismantling worldly wisdom—eloquence, rhetoric, cleverness. But here’s the surprise: he doesn’t throw wisdom away. He says there is a wisdom worth having. It’s just not the kind the Corinthians craved—or the kind we chase.

This wisdom is hidden. You won’t stumble onto it by accident. The rulers of this age—the philosophers, governors, priests—missed it entirely. They crucified the Lord of glory because they could not see it. That’s how blind human wisdom is.

But while their wisdom fades, God’s wisdom is eternal. Paul says it was “decreed before the ages for our glory.” Before the first star lit the heavens, before the oceans roared, God had already planned salvation through Christ. The cross was not a reaction. It was not an afterthought. It was the plan from all eternity.

This echoes what Scripture tells us elsewhere: God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4–5), and Christ is the Lamb whose people were known from before the beginning of the world (Revelation 13:8). God’s wisdom is eternal, hidden, and planned long before humanity could understand it.

So, do you see the point here? The Gospel has always been God’s plan. He has always known who will follow His Son, Jesus the Christ, into life eternal. Christ crucified has always been the wise plan of our Creator and Father.

So, when Paul says that God’s wisdom is “hidden,” he means that it was not obvious to anyone outside God’s plan. The rulers of the world, human authorities, and philosophers could never discover it on their own. It was a mystery, invisible until God revealed it in Christ. And now, through the cross and the Spirit, that wisdom is opened to His people.

Paul drives the point home with Scripture: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9).

That verse isn’t only about heaven—it’s about the gospel itself. No one could imagine God’s plan of salvation. Human sight, sound, or imagination could never reach it. It has to be given.

And now, through Christ, God is revealing this wisdom. The eternal plan has entered history. The Word became flesh (John 1:14), the cross happened, the Spirit was poured out, and the hidden wisdom is now available to those who belong to Christ. This is why Paul can say later in 1 Corinthians 2:12–13:

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God, which we speak… combining spiritual truths with spiritual words.”

In other words: this wisdom has always existed. It was God’s eternal plan. But it cannot be understood apart from the Spirit. It is not a human discovery.

And who receives it? “Those who love Him.”

And when we receive it by faith, we are participating in something that has been unfolding since before creation itself—a wisdom so profound that it shows God’s glory, not our cleverness.

That’s the contrast Paul is drawing.

The world struts its cleverness for a little while,

but God’s eternal plan, decreed before the ages, is the wisdom that saves.

II. God’s Wisdom Revealed (10-13)

Paul continues in verse 10 saying: “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”

So what are we seeing here?

God’s wisdom is hidden from the world, but it is not hidden from God’s people. Why? Because God Himself reveals it.

His Spirit searches the depths of God. Think about that.

The Spirit plumbs the infinite mind of God, the eternal plan decreed before the ages, and then He makes it known to us.

Who better to teach us wisdom than God Himself?

The rulers of this age are blind, but the church of Jesus Christ sees—not because we are clever, but because we are indwelt by the very Spirit of God.

Paul illustrates it in verse 11: “For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

You can’t read my mind. You might guess what I’m thinking. You might look at my expression and try to figure it out. But the only one who truly knows my thoughts is me. And Paul says it’s the same with God. No one can penetrate the mind of God—except God’s Spirit. And that Spirit has been given to us through the New Covenant bought with the blood of Christ!

And verse 12 gives us the contrast that is underlying the whole argument of this passage.

Verse 12: “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”

The Corinthians were tempted to run after the spirit of the age—flashy rhetoric, clever philosophies, the applause of men. Paul says: you haven’t received that spirit. You’ve received the Spirit of God.

And the Spirit’s purpose? To open your eyes so you can understand God’s gifts, most importantly the gift of the Gospel—the good news. What was hidden is now revealed. And it is not learned through human wisdom, but through the revealing of the Spirit of God.

So, friends, there will always be things in life and in Scripture that we do not fully understand.

Spiritual truths may sometimes confuse or challenge us. If that’s where you are—if you feel incapable of grasping God’s wisdom—you’re not alone. Because none of us can understand it apart from the Spirit.

In fact, all people, all Christians, from the youngest to the oldest should have a lot that they don’t understand about God because He is so much greater than us.

But here’s the good news: we are not left to our own devices. The Spirit has been given to us. He teaches, guides, and illuminates. He opens our minds to the eternal wisdom of God that was hidden from the rulers of this age but is freely revealed to those who belong to Christ.

Even if your faith is young, even if you’re still learning to trust, this is the promise: the Spirit of God works in you. He will bring understanding to your heart as you cling to Christ. This is not a reward for cleverness, it is a gift of grace.

And that sets up the next section (verses 14–16), where Paul explains how the Spirit enables us to discern God’s wisdom—to see what the world cannot see and to live in the mind of Christ.

III. God’s Wisdom Discerned (14-16)

Paul ends this section by sharpening the contrast even more. If God’s wisdom is secret and hidden, how then is it discerned? Who can truly grasp it? He says in verse 14:

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Here’s the hard truth: apart from the Spirit, you cannot understand the wisdom of God in the cross. You can be brilliant, educated, religious, and still miss it entirely. You could attend church your whole life and never see it.

This wisdom is not something you climb up to. It is not a prize for cleverness. It is a gift God brings down to you.

None of us can boast in our understanding because this wisdom is not of our doing. God has revealed it.

The “natural person”—that is, the person in Adam, unchanged by grace—doesn’t accept the things of God. They see the cross and call it foolish. They hear of grace and shrug.

Because human wisdom cannot penetrate this truth. Only the Spirit brings discernment.

Then verse 15:

“The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.”

This is not pride—it’s a gift. By the Spirit, we have access to God’s wisdom. We can see the glory of the cross. We can interpret suffering through God’s hand. We can discern the world with Christ’s perspective. The Spirit illumines our minds, softens our hearts, and gives us discernment.

This verse is meant to humble us, not make us arrogant.

It has been a gift to us, not anything we have done.

And Paul lands in verse 16:

“For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Think about that. Isaiah asked the rhetorical question: Who can know the Lord’s mind? Who can give Him counsel?

The implied answer is “No one.” But Paul says—astonishingly—“we have the mind of Christ.” Not because we’re clever, but because the Spirit has united us to Christ. His wisdom is now our wisdom. His mind is now shaping our minds.

Church, this is both humbling and hopeful.

Humbling, because it means left to ourselves we would never get it. We would always call God’s wisdom foolish.

But hopeful, because the Spirit truly does give discernment. He really does make us wise. He really does give us the mind of Christ.

So let me press this on you: If you are in Christ, then you no longer live as the “natural person.”

You are spiritual. You have the Spirit.

You are not left stumbling in the dark, misled by the wisdom of the world.

You have the mind of Christ. And that should change everything.

That changes how you read your Bible.

That changes how you interpret the world.

That changes how you endure suffering.

That changes how you make decisions.

You are not left to your own devices—you have God’s wisdom at work in you.

If you are struggling through understanding the things of Christ, then ask the Spirit of God to bring light to your mind so that you may understand the wisdom of God.

We are promised that the one who comes humbly to God’s door time after time, seeking His wisdom, will not be turned away empty handed.

So let’s not be content with the world’s wisdom, shallow wisdom, half-truths, and self-help slogans. Let us lean into the Spirit’s wisdom—the wisdom of Christ crucified and risen—and live as people who truly have the mind of Christ.

Conclusion

Paul has spent the first two chapters dismantling the Corinthians’ obsession with flashy rhetoric and worldly wisdom. And he’s been showing us that God’s wisdom is entirely different.

It is a wisdom hidden—not obvious, not something you can stumble into by intellect or power.

It is a wisdom revealed—given to us by the Spirit, earned by the blood of the cross.

not discovered or earned by us.

And it is a wisdom discerned—grasped only by those whom the Spirit has made alive, who now have the mind of Christ.

That means two things for us this morning.

First, it means we must stop trying to impress the world with our own wisdom, our own cleverness, our own strength, our relevance. That was Corinth’s problem, and it is ours too. We are tempted to measure success by numbers, polish, performance.

We are tempted to downplay the cross because it looks too weak, too foolish.

But Paul won’t let us. He says the wisdom of God is Christ crucified. That’s the only wisdom that saves. Everything else is sand.

Second, it means we must learn to actually live as people who have the mind of Christ. The Spirit has opened our eyes—so let’s not walk like we’re blind.

Let’s not trade away the wisdom of God for the empty slogans of the world.

When the world tells us strength is everything, we remember that God’s power is seen in weakness.

When the world tells us to chase comfort or power or wealth, we remember that Christ calls us to take up our cross.

When the world tells us to boast in ourselves, we remember that our only boast is in the Lord.

So the question is simple: Do you have the mind of Christ? Has the Spirit opened your eyes to see the wisdom of the cross?

And if you are here this morning and you

still find the gospel foolish,

if the cross still makes no sense to you,

if you don’t understand why we preach and teach and sing the Bible and the Gospel week after week,

that may be a sign that you’re still in the natural state.

You need the Spirit of God to open your eyes. Cry out to Him. Ask Him to give you the mind of Christ.

Because here’s the beauty of it: the Spirit never refuses the one who cries out in faith.

He delights to open blind eyes.

He delights to make foolish people wise.

He delights to give you the mind of Christ.

And if you turn in repentance, if you turn away from seeking your own wisdom and turn to the wisdom of Christ,

in faith that Jesus truly is the Son of God, crucified for your sin and raised to life to bring you to new life,

then you will be given the Spirit who brings God’s wisdom.

And if you’re here and you do see the beauty of the cross—then rejoice!

Live in it. Walk in it. Let the Spirit shape your mind, your values, your whole life around the wisdom of Christ. Because in Him, you already have what the world is desperately searching for. You have the mind of Christ, the Wisdom of God, through the revealing of the Holy Spirit.

So let’s leave here boasting not in ourselves, not in the world’s wisdom, but in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ—the hidden wisdom of God revealed to us, discerned by us, and lived out through us.

Let’s Pray

Confession and Repentance

Our Father in heaven,

We confess that far too often we chase after the wisdom of this world. We measure ourselves by strength, success, and appearances. We have boasted in ourselves instead of boasting in Christ. Forgive us, Lord, for looking to human wisdom and neglecting the wisdom of the cross.

We thank You that in Your eternal plan, before the foundation of the world, You chose to reveal the mystery of salvation through Jesus Christ. Thank You for giving us Your Spirit, who searches the deep things of God and opens our eyes to see what we never could have imagined—that Christ crucified is Your power and wisdom for our salvation.

Now, O Lord, help us to walk as people who truly have the mind of Christ. Let us not be tempted by the wisdom of the world, by its cleverness, its applause, its fleeting power. Let us not shrink from the cross, from suffering, or from humility. Let us boast only in Christ. Let our decisions, our speech, our actions, and our hearts be shaped by the Spirit, reflecting the wisdom You reveal.

And we pray for those here who still see the gospel as foolishness: open their eyes, Lord. Give them the Spirit. Let today be the day that they see Christ in His glory and come to faith.

We also pray for those who are struggling today—those who feel unsure of their faith, those who fear they do not understand, those whose hearts are heavy with doubt or shame. Spirit of God, open their eyes. Reveal to them the wisdom of Christ crucified. Teach them that it is not about cleverness or human strength, but about receiving Your grace and walking in Your Spirit. Let them know that You delight to give wisdom to those who humbly seek it.

We leave here boasting in nothing but the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to us, and we to the world.

In His strong and saving name we pray, Amen.

Scriptural Assurance

Hear and believe the good news: Though our sins are great and our failures many, God’s mercy is greater still. The One who searches the depths of the heart has seen your need and has acted on your behalf.

As Scripture declares:

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us.” (Ephesians 1:7–8)

Church, hear this truth as we lift our voices: the wisdom of God, hidden for ages, revealed through Christ, and discerned by His Spirit, is also the wisdom of His mercy. Where we have failed, where our pride and ignorance have led us astray, His mercy is more. Where we stumble, where our hearts grow weary, His mercy is more.

This is the same mercy that flows from the cross, the same mercy that forgives, restores, and makes us wise in Christ. Let this truth move us to gratitude and praise. Let us sing of a mercy that is deeper, higher, and wider than all our sin and doubt.

And now, let us respond in song: “His Mercy Is More.”

Benediction

May the Lord, who reveals His hidden wisdom through Christ and the Spirit, give you understanding and the mind of Christ. Walk in His truth, rejoice in His grace, and let His glory shine through your life. And may the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit go with you and remain with you always. Amen.