“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.”
–1 Corinthians 2:6-16
We have been examining the wisdom of God, and how one can actually take on the mind of Christ. Our text has been 1 Corinthians 2:6-26 throughout this series. We have considered the truths contained in this passage of Scripture concerning God’s wisdom.
First, God’s wisdom is revealed only to His children. Verse 12 states, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.” God has freely given wisdom to those who believe and are His true children.
Second, the wisdom of God comes by the indwelling Holy Spirit. It is by way of the Spirit that God’s wisdom is imparted to those who truly believe. This also explains why those without the Spirit, those who aren’t God’s children, do not accept the wisdom of God. Verse 14 states, “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God,” namely, His wisdom.
Now, let’s consider the third truth: God’s wisdom is the product of the Spirit plus the Word. “This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (Verse 13).
True wisdom does not come from mankind. True wisdom comes from God, and it is contained in the Word of God, the Bible. And so, when you read the Bible, you are delving into the mind of God. However, you need the Spirit to help you understand His Word. Jesus taught this truth in John 14:26: “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” The Book of Common Prayer includes this statement, “All the Word of God is given by the Spirit of God, so each word must be interpreted to us by that same Spirit.”
Do you want to know the mind of God? Do you want to see things from God’s perspective? Do you want to understand the mysteries of life, such as: Why am I here? What is my purpose? Where is this world headed? Is there really life after death? What does God want me to do in certain situations? How can I know God’s will for my life? Well, when you open up your heart to God, by believing in His Son, Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes in and indwells you. Then, as you begin to read the Bible, the Spirit of God will take the Word of God, and transform your whole way of thinking.
You will begin to look at everything with an eternal perspective. You will gradually come to understand God’s plan for your life. Your desires change. You become less interested in the things of this world. You will see everything through the eyes of God, and your heart will become more like God’s compassionate heart about the condition of the world. You can discern truth from error. You will grow in wisdom!
Paul hints as this change in mindset in 2 Corinthians 5:16 which states, “So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view.” Our whole world view changes, and we begin to see things from an otherworldly perspective.
Paul adds to this change in mindset in his letter to Rome. He writes in Romans 12:1-2 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Here’s the truth: If you want to know God’s good, pleasing and perfect will for your life and for this world, then, allow God to renew your mind. God will accomplish this in you if you trust Him and allow His Spirit to teach you His Word.
Next to Jesus, the Bible is the greatest gift God has given to the world. It contains His mind, His thoughts, His wisdom and His heart. Believers should spend hours each week immersed in this wonderful gift. But, know this; we need the Spirit to truly understand God’s Word. D.L. Moody said, “The Bible without the Holy Spirit is a sun-dial by moonlight.”
The Bible is the one book in the world that can truly transform a heathen into a saint. The reason the Bible is banned in some countries is because of its transformative power. And so, be forewarned: Do not read the Bible if you are unprepared for your mind and heart to be changed. John R. W. Stott, the great English theologian and author who recently passed away, said this about the Bible: “If we come to Scripture with our minds made up, expecting to hear from it only an echo of our own thoughts and never the thunderclap of God’s, then indeed he will not speak to us and we shall only be confirmed in our own prejudices. We must allow the Word of God to confront us, to disturb our security, to undermine our complacency and to overthrow our patterns of thought and behavior.”
Let me end with this question: Do you desire knowledge or wisdom? There is a vast difference between the two. Understand that there are many scholars in the world who have great knowledge. They know a lot of facts about a lot of different subjects. But, most of them lack wisdom. Wisdom comes only from God. Wisdom is knowing what God would do in a given situation. A wise man understands the mind and heart of God. Without wisdom, one is left to one’s own understanding, and cannot know right from wrong. Wisdom comes through the study of God’s Word under the guidance of the indwelling Holy Spirit. And, his wisdom is only imparted to His children who spend time in His Word. Amen!
