Scripture Readings
- Psalm 25
- 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Introduction
My dear fellow believers,
There is a simplicity in the Gospel of Christ. One does not need to be a philosopher or wise to tease the elements of it out before it become believable. Paul was not interested in miraculous signs like the Jews demanded. He was not into the wisdom of the Greeks. His mission was just plainly “to preach Christ crucified” (1Cor. 1:23).
“For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” (1 Cor.1:21)
Those whom Gad called through the Gospel believed. They were not wise according to worldly standards. They were not powerful, or of noble birth.
“But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;” (1 Corinthians 1:26–27, ESV)
Paul’s did to present the Gospel with rhetoic excellence like the philosophers. He just proclaimed the message of Christ in plainly. His message was not in plausible words of wisdom, “but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4, ESV). This means the folk who heard and believed Paul’s message “did not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:5)
God was the one who opened their hearts. In a sense then, Paul refer to them as people who were mature – their hearts were receptive.
“None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” (1 Corinthians 2:8)
God’s Gospel was revealed by the Holy Spirit. Those who preach the Gospel are only instruments in God’s hand. Just n the next chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul makes the point clear,
“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building.” (1 Corinthians 3:5–9, ESV)
So, we must conclude the not all people understand the Gospel. Christ told the disciples,
“When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13–15, ESV)
The Spirit reveals Christ’s Gospel. Christ said to Nicodemus, “Jesus answered him,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”” (John 3:3, ESV) Unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” (John 3:5)
So, the Holy gives the new birth, He prepares our hearts to receive the Word, He opens our eyes to see the Kingdom of God and to worship the King of the Kingdom.
Paul continues,
“For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:10, ESV)
No one knows the thoughts of the Father. “But the Spirit of the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” (1 Corinthians 2:12, ESV)
Both the preacher and the listener need the enlightenment of the Spirit to understand the grace of God in Jesus Christ. Paul writes,
“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.” (1 Corinthians 2:12, ESV)
The testimony of the Spirit excels human wisdom. No wise preacher, not scholar or philosopher can do the work of the Spirit. Even if Christian scientists explain the wonderful intricacies of cells, DNA so that we may see the wonderous work of our Creator, we will not be able to receive the grace of God if the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the salvation He procured for those whom God called t be His children is not proclaimed. Miracles and wonders do produce faith. It might only stir some inclination to believe. Theological professors can’t do the work of God’s Spirit. The Spirit uses the preaching of the Word, but eloquently delivered sermons don’t convict sinners. Beautifully drafted poems and the books of much respected authors might be edifying and may help us on our walk in the Lord. But ultimately and finally, it remains the work of the Holy Spirit. He unlocks our hearts to believe.
To illustrate this truth, we take the conversation between Christ and the teachers of the law as an example. They claimed to be children of Abraham, to which Jesus answered,
“I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.” (John 8:36–37, NIV)
Christ continues,
“Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say.” (John 8:43, NIV)
Christ concludes in no uncertain terms,
“Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” (John 8:47, NIV)
The Spirit of God opens our eyes to see. He focusses us on the salvation in Jesus Christ.
See, in the end, sinners are saved when the Spirit of God take them to the cross of Christ where He convicts them of “sin and righteousness and judgment.” (John 16:8–11, ESV)
Sin is unbelief in Jesus Christ. The Spirit convicts us of righteousness only available in Christ – so self-righteousness is unacceptable before the Father. Only the perfect righteousness of Christ is. The Spirit convicts the of the glorious truth that God’s judgement on the ruler of this world is comprehensively accomplished because of Christ. So, the Spirit of God shows me my hopeless state of sin and its consequences. Then He directs me to the faultless righteousness of Christ. He places security in my heart that there is no condemnation for those who are Christ Jesus because Satan is comprehensively defeated; he has no power over me anymore – Christ has forgiven me and declared me righteous in His blood.
When the sinner bows before God and prays for forgiveness, once again the Spirit stands ready to help.
“The Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.” (Romans 8:26–27, NIV)
What is the conclusion?
Without the Holy Spirit, we are unable to understand and accept the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
“The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:6–8, NIV)
Without the Holy Spirit, grace of God in Jesus Christ will remain foolishness.
The Holy Spirit explains the mind of Christ for us to understand the Gospel and believe it.
Within the framework of Divine Election, then, Triune God is at work.he Father elects; the Son saves; and the Holy Spirit gives new life.
Let us pray and give thanks to our God for a complete, stainless, and steadfast salvation.
Naracoorte Presbyterian Church 