1 Corinthians 2:6-16, Called to Wisdom
Theological Proposition/Focus: God's wisdom transcends the wisdom of the world
Homiletical Proposition/Application: We need to seek wisdom not through much learning but through the guiding work of the Holy Spirit.
Contents
- 1 Introduction:
- 1.1 Image: Unimaginable knowledge, calculus is not the end of the road.
- 1.2 Need:
- 1.3 Subject:
- 1.4 Preview: When talking about wisdom there are three things that Christians need to realize, there is wisdom that transcends the worlds wisdom, some of this wisdom can be known, and we should prioritize this wisdom in our efforts to learn.
- 1.5 Text:.
- 1.6 Setting the Stage:
- 2 Body
- 2.1 Christians need to realize that there is a wisdom which transcends the wisdom of the world (6-8).
- 2.1.1 Paul begins this argument by first noting that the message of Scripture is wisdom for the mature, that is those who are saved.
- 2.1.2 Image: Have you ever explained something complicated about your job and other experts recognize the details but non-experts don't appreciate the details?
- 2.1.3 So what is this transcendent wisdom?
- 2.1.4 The wisdom of the world and those who prize that wisdom have an expiration date (6).
- 2.1.5 The wisdom of God is eternal (7).
- 2.1.5.1 We see the word mystery again, remember mystery often refers to something not previously revealed.
- 2.1.5.2 We see that God's wisdom has been hidden (perfect passive participle) i.e. it was hidden from those who reject God in this age.
- 2.1.5.3 We see that God's wisdom leads to our glory! We share in the glory of Christ
- 2.1.5.4 So all together we see that the wisdom of God was present in eternity past, brings glory to His people, and was previously hidden from the present age.
- 2.1.5.5 In context we see the wisdom of God is Salvation by grace through the crucifixion Christ!
- 2.1.6 The wisdom of God has not been understood by the rulers of the world (8).
- 2.1.7 MTR: Take a second and consider the knowledge you pursue, is it of eternal consequence?
- 2.2 Christians need to realize that the things of God can, at least in part, be known (9-11).
- 2.2.1 God has plans that transcend human understanding (9).
- 2.2.1.1 What is the coolest thing you know?
- 2.2.1.2 Before Christ, all of history looked forward to Christ "What no eye has seen what no ear has heard and what no human mind has conceived." partly quoting Isa 64:4
- 2.2.1.3 After Christ all of history looks back on Christ and forward to his second coming
- 2.2.2 God's plan is revealed through the Holy Spirit (10).
- 2.2.3 God is known by the Holy Spirit (who is Himself God) (11).
- 2.2.4 Image: What are you thinking about right now?
- 2.2.5 MTR: Take a second and evaluate your day-to-day life, does it reflect knowledge of a
- 2.2.1 God has plans that transcend human understanding (9).
- 2.3 Christians need to realize that there are certain truths that we should prioritize (12-16).
- 2.3.1 Christian truths come from the wisdom of God (12-13).
- 2.3.2 Christian truths appear to be foolish to the world (14).
- 2.3.3 Christian truths allow the Christian to view the world through the eyes of Christ (15-16).
- 2.3.4 Image: Perspective changes everything (maybe using some pictures)
- 2.3.5 MTR: Go get a vision screening, are you looking at the world through the right lenses?
- 2.1 Christians need to realize that there is a wisdom which transcends the wisdom of the world (6-8).
- 3 Conclusion:
Introduction:
Image: Unimaginable knowledge, calculus is not the end of the road.
One of my younger brother's friends, after finishing High School Calculus once made a statement. Wow! I don't really think there is any more math to be learned. I feel like I have now learned everything there is to know! My response, wow, you have a serious lack of imagination. Okay, I didn't actually say that but it is the truth. In every subject I have ever studied the more I learn the smaller percentage of the subject I think I know. There is so much knowledge, so much that can be learned. Ecclesiastes 12:12 states Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. There is so much to know!
Need:
Subject:
Preview: When talking about wisdom there are three things that Christians need to realize, there is wisdom that transcends the worlds wisdom, some of this wisdom can be known, and we should prioritize this wisdom in our efforts to learn.
Text:.
Setting the Stage:
We have seen that the Gospel is central, the great unifier and really forms the foundation. So, how do we build on this foundation. A key element is wisdom. Human wisdom is limited and fails us in so many ways but God's wisdom is different and here in his letter Paul begins to present God's wisdom.
Body
Christians need to realize that there is a wisdom which transcends the wisdom of the world (6-8).
In the beginning of chapter 2 the Apostle Paul had emphasized that he did not come to the Corinthians in displays of brilliance. The problem was that the people in Corinth had placed a high value on the world's wisdom and so in Paul emphasized that the world's wisdom was not to be valued. Here, Paul explains that it is not that God values ignorance but rather that God values knowledge that is beyond the knowledge of the world.
Paul begins this argument by first noting that the message of Scripture is wisdom for the mature, that is those who are saved.
Image: Have you ever explained something complicated about your job and other experts recognize the details but non-experts don't appreciate the details?
As people grow in maturity in an area they begin to recognize important key details that might be otherwise missed. Here the mature refers to those who have come to know Christ as their personal savior. Christians recognize the wisdom of what God has.
So what is this transcendent wisdom?
The wisdom of the world and those who prize that wisdom have an expiration date (6).
The wisdom that Paul has in mind is first not the wisdom of this age!
As in 1 Cor 1:18 this age has an expiration!
We must realize that so much of what we know, experience, has an expiration date. I personally find there to be a lot of irony in the number of movies depicting the end of the world. It is almost like we innately know that this age will eventually come to an end!
The rulers of this age profit the most from it, but unless they are saved, they will also come to nothing!
The wisdom of God is eternal (7).
In contrast to the present age, God's wisdom is eternal!
We see the word mystery again, remember mystery often refers to something not previously revealed.
God's wisdom is a mystery to this present age. Yes we have bits and pieces but we only have the tip of the iceberg.
In context we see the wisdom of God is Salvation by grace through the crucifixion Christ!
The wisdom of God has not been understood by the rulers of the world (8).
Ultimately, we see that the rulers of this world have not understood the wisdom of God. How do we know this? Because they fought against God himself in the crucifixion of Christ.
Luke 23:34 tells us that the rulers did not understand what was going on "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."
So here is the ultimate irony, the rulers of the world carried out the wisdom of God without knowing the wisdom of God!
They played right into his hand!
Have you ever played chess with a master who beats you without you even realizing you are beat?
MTR: Take a second and consider the knowledge you pursue, is it of eternal consequence?
Christians need to realize that the things of God can, at least in part, be known (9-11).
God has plans that transcend human understanding (9).
What is the coolest thing you know?
Think about it, maybe you know how to rebuild a 454 Big Block, or maybe you know every player on the 1979 Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Championship Team. These things all pale in comparison with the knowledge of the risen Christ! I mean it, they really do. Consider this,
