Two Types of Wisdom...

Man’s Wisdom Vs. God’s Wisdom

But I want to help!!!!

God doesn’t need our help, in fact when it comes to the purpose of the church in sharing the gospel it’s pretty simple...

Look at… 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

1 Corinthians 2:1–2 KJV 1900

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Problem/Solution Scenario

Problem: The Corinthian believers were mixing human wisdom with the gospel in order to “help” it makes sense

Solution: The gospel is not based on man’s wisdom, but on God’s superior wisdom

The Gospel needs no help.

This chapter is Paul’s explanation for why human wisdom cannot explain or comprehend the simplicity of the gospel message

I. The Gospel is the Power of God v. 1-5

What is the Gospel?

Gospel = good news

Technical definition = the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for the sins of mankind. All that is necessary for forgiveness is faith.

Simple definition = “Good news” (gospel) is “God loves you, and Jesus died for you.”

Paul was a very intelligent man, but when he came to Corinth he came only with the simplistic message of the cross

He determined to know NOTHING except “Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

Read 1 Cor. 2:3

1 Corinthians 2:3 KJV 1900

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

Compare this with 2 Tim. 1:7

2 Timothy 1:7 KJV 1900

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Explanation = verse 3 refers to physical weakness, not spiritual weakness. He was not afraid to proclaim the gospel, no matter what happened to him.

1 Corinthians 2:4–5 KJV 1900

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

These verses show us that he trusted in nothing but the power of God to save through the preaching of the simple gospel message. Romans 1:16

Romans 1:16 KJV 1900

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

Paul came to Corinth after a discouraging experience in Athens. He met some Greek philosophers and had few converts

Paul never gave up though! He came to Corinth determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified!

II. The Gospel is the Plan of God v. 6-9

The message of the gospel is both simple, and yet profound. Warren Wiersbe says that:

“...the message of the gospel is simple enough for an illiterate pagan understand, believe, and be saved. But it is also so profound that the most brilliant theologian cannot fathom its depths.”

Verse 6 begins a comparison of the wisdom of God to the wisdom of the world.

We who are saved are “perfect” that is mature, in that we have spiritual knowledge...

Man’s wisdom cannot grasp a free salvation

Verse 7 mentions a “mystery” = not a big secret we must keep from others, rather it is a divine truth that was hidden from the OT but is revealed in the NT

Ex.: Paul tells us that the salvation of the Gentiles was always God’s plan

Also, the church is not seen int eh OT. Someone has rightly said, “The Old is the New concealed, the New is the Old revealed.”

Question:

Who are the princes of this world who wouldn’t have crucified Christ? v.8

Answer:

The Jewish leaders - that falsely accused him and led Him to Pilate

Pilate - who gave the order to crucify Him against his better judgment

Satan - for sure, he thought he could just kill Jesus and win the victory

Look at verse 1 Cor. 2:9

1 Corinthians 2:9 KJV 1900

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Even though the gospel is simple enough for a child to understand, the love and plan of God is so deep that no one can full explain it!

Good news! We don’t have to explain it! You don’t have to full understand it to be saved, you simply must believe!

III. The Gospel is Presented by the Spirit of God v. 10-16

Verse 11 – we cannot know the things of God, just like I cannot know what is on your heart or mind – but the Spirit of God knows and can and He will teach us!

Verse 10 – Because the Spirit searcheth the deep things of God, and knows the things of God, we can rejoice because He will teach us those things!

Verse 12 – The Holy Spirit indwells each of us, why? So that we know the things of God that are FREELY given to us!

Verse 13 – The Holy Spirit is our teacher (John 14:26). He teaches us things that man's wisdom can't even imagine! How? By comparing Spiritual things with Spiritual.

EX.: This is how we can look at the Tabernacle in the OT and see the plan of Salvation laid out perfectly.

Remember 1 Corinthians 1:18 ?

1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV 1900

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

This is explained by 1 Corinthians 2:14

1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV 1900

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

Natural man = unsaved person

What a blessed privilege to have the indwelling Spirit of God!

We do not deserve this, but God grants this to us anyway

Why?

1 Corinthians 2:15 KJV 1900

But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.

The Spirit’s presence gives us discernment, which is why we can judge all things

It is because of the Spirit that no man can judge us

By the way, the word judge means to evaluate or scrutinize us. The unsaved have no spiritual understanding, that is why they stare in wonder and “poke fun” at us.

Look lastly at 1 Cor 2:16

1 Corinthians 2:16 KJV 1900

For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

No man has ever fully understood the mind of the LORD, yet those of us who are saved have the mind of Christ!

We’re not perfect, but we have the ability to see things His way.

What does this mean to us?

The Corinthians had placed their focus on man's wisdom.

This led to division within the church

If we are to take away just one truth from this chapter it is this: Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified.