Wise
1 Corinthians 2:1-16
The key word in our lesson is “wisdom” and the key verse is verse 18: “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
We have access to all kinds of knowledge through the Internet, smartphones, iPads and the like, but we are not any wiser. It is good to have access to information, but nothing can take the place of having godly wisdom. In this lesson, we will discover that man’s wisdom is nothing compared to God’s wisdom. Our focal passage of Scripture deals with human wisdom, God’s wisdom, and discerning the difference.
1) Human wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:1-6). Paul acknowledged that he did not speak with the wisdom of this world but with the power of God. Faith is not based on human wisdom, but on the wisdom and power of God. Paul wanted to teach the Corinthians more about Christ and the cross, but because of their immaturity he was not able to do so. It seems that the word “mature” in verse 6 refers to all Christians. If a person is a believer, he or she has the Holy Spirit and should be growing in the knowledge and understanding of spiritual matters. The Holy Spirit gives us the wisdom we need to understand spiritual matters.
One of the best ways to grow spiritually is to put oneself in a position to hear God’s wisdom through prayer, studying God’s Word, and hearing His Word proclaimed.
2) God’s wisdom (1 Corinthians 2:7-11). The Scripture reveals that no one can fathom the mind of God, but His Spirit reveals the mind of God to us. Jonathan McLeod said, “The wisdom of the cross is God’s secret wisdom.” The New King James Version says, “The wisdom of God is a mystery.” The term “mystery” refers to something that was once hidden by God but is now revealed. But isn’t it true that the Bible often claims that the cross was predicted in the Old Testament? How could it have been both predicted and hidden? For believers to understand the things of God, they must have the Spirit of God dwelling in them.
3) Discerning the difference (1 Corinthians 2:12-16). When the Holy Spirit comes into a new believer’s life, that believer will begin to understand the things of God. Followers of Christ have a new nature and a hunger to know more of the Father and His will for their lives. The Holy Spirit helps the believer to see God’s perspective as opposed to the perspective of human wisdom.
I encourage you to seek God’s wisdom in the context of a relationship with Him. Allow the Holy Spirit to control your life. You will grow spiritually when you spend time in His Word, in prayer, and in being faithful to His church. Remember to depend on the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom to understand Scripture and to live the Christian life.
Dinkins– Lessons in the BSL series for the summer quarter are being written by David Dinkins, pastor of First Baptist Church, Kingstree, and former director of missions.