It Starts Small

Today’s passage is closely related to chapter 1. It continues on the topic about wisdom and the simple message of the cross. The message does not need clever speech or persuasive words. It talks more deeply about spiritual wisdom and how we can have it. Everyone wants to be wise, but there are all kinds of wisdom or intelligence.

Some people are book smart. They are great at tests and exams and academics. They can recite off lists of facts on every possible topic. But book smart people sometimes cannot apply that knowledge to the world around them. In theory, they know how to fix something. They might also know how to run a business. However, when it comes down to it, they aren’t very good at it.

Others are money smart. They are great at investing, great at making money, great at finding good deals, great at using it efficiently. But this kind of person might lack social skills. They might also be consumed with their work and have no time for anything else.

Then there is street smart. This is the person that is savvy and knows the ways of the world. They know how things work. They know the shady aspects of human character and how to survive. They can swing deals and get along wherever they end up. But in the process they have to make a lot of compromises. They may be looked down upon by the more intellectually intelligent. Their status is never that high.

Worldly wisdom, in whatever form, is lacking. AS we think about these three different type of people, where do you identify? Perhaps a portion of all three or maybe a specific one? It helps people in some areas, but still leaves the deep and meaningful part of their lives a wasteland. But there is another kind of wisdom available. This wisdom can be applied to every part of our lives. It touches every part of us, both now and after death.

This wisdom is not reliant on smooth speech. It does not depend on clever arguments. In the business world you need smooth speech. You have to say just the right words to appeal to people’s egos and close the deals. There is business talk, book talk, and street talk. But here the cleverness or smoothness of the words is not important.

What does God’s Word say about this type of speech and where does it come from?

But Moses replied to the Lord, “Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent—either in the past or recently or since you have been speaking to your servant—because my mouth and my tongue are sluggish.

Exodus 4:10

⁶ But I protested, “Oh no, Lord God! Look, I don’t know how to speak since I am only a youth.”

⁷ Then the Lord said to me:

Do not say, “I am only a youth,”
for you will go to everyone I send you to
and speak whatever I tell you.

Jeremiah 1:6-7

Moses and Jeremiah both did not know what to say and were not eloquent, but God used them.

¹⁸ because such people do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites. They deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting with smooth talk and flattering words.

Romans 16:18

God warns us to be wary of people who rely on smooth talk and flattery. This often glosses over the fact that they have little of substance or value in their words. If you have to deceive someone or flatter them to get them to do something, it is not the wisdom of the Lord. It is the wisdom of the world.

¹¹ And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1 John 5:11

What is the testimony of God? It is that God has given us eternal life in His Son.

As we reflect on these verses, we look at this letter Paul wrote. What is important? What did Paul focus on when he originally went to the Corinthian church?

The basis of all spiritual wisdom is the cross, the gospel. Because this is the foundation this is what Paul focused on when he went to the Corinthian church. He started with the basics, building up from a good foundation.

This is the same place we should start as well. When we share with unbelievers, we have to start with the cross. We must repeat the same gospel message repeatedly. It does no good to preach moral reform or change unless they first accept the gospel.

You might have heard it put this way. You can not change to come to the cross. The cross is what changes you. Or maybe you have heard it, come as you are. Often, we get this idea that if we change first, then we can be acceptable to God. That s a worldly wisdom. It is the cross that changes us.

We cannot serve God unless we first believe in Him. Any changes we make will be incomplete, unsustainable, and come from wrong motives. No matter how much an we know, we need to keep going back to the gospel. We should also determine to know nothing except Christ crucified. This is the crux of the issue. Who is Jesus? Is He true? Jesus is the ONLY way to the Father.

Does that mean that pastors or teachers should teach every lesson/sermon on the cross/gospel? Why or why not?

Not at all. This is what pastors/teachers should do if their congregations are made up of all unbelievers. When Paul determined to know only Christ crucified it was referring to his preaching to unbelievers, not believers. Have you ever been to some churches that seem to have a gospel message every single service. This is actually not very good. Teachers and pastors in the church are supposed to train up the body. Their role is to prepare them for the work of serving the Lord. Repeating the gospel is repeatedly giving milk to a congregation. At some point believers need to start eating meat. So for unbelievers, start there and stay there. And for believers, start there and build up from there.

¹⁰ For it is said, “His letters are weighty and powerful, but his physical presence is weak and his public speaking amounts to nothing.”

2 Corinthians 10:10

Paul was not a very impressive in person. The person is not important. The message is.

³ I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

1 Corinthians 2:3

What does Paul mean in verse 3?

To be honest, I am not completely sure of the specifics. Maybe it was because of illness or persecution. It could have been due to a lack of confidence. Perhaps he was trembling because of the message’s importance or his own inadequacy. It might have been the thorn in his flesh. I don’t know. But the main point is that it was not himself or his words (verse 4) that were important. The point is not how good or strong or bold or clever Paul was. He was weak. But God’s power is made perfect in our weaknesses. The message was important. The message was powerful. Paul was not.

Why did Paul not come to them with persuasive words or clever speech?

⁴ I am saying this so that no one will deceive you with arguments that sound reasonable.

Colossians 2:4

Paul did not want them to be deceived with fine-sounding arguments.

⁸ When he comes, he will convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment: ⁹ About sin, because they do not believe in me; ¹⁰ about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; ¹¹ and about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.

¹² “I still have many things to tell you, but you can’t bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. ¹⁵ Everything the Father has is mine. This is why I told you that he takes from what is mine and will declare it to you.

John 16:8-15

The Holy Spirit is the one doing the work of conviction and revealing God’s message.

¹⁹ But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk, but the power of those who are arrogant. ²⁰ For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power.

1 Corinthians 4:19-20

The kingdom of God is not talk, but is power.

⁵ because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance. You know how we lived among you for your benefit,

1 Thessalonians 1:5

Came with power and the Holy Spirit.

Paul did not try to persuade them for two reasons. First, persuasion doesn’t work. Only God’s work in the heart can change a person. It lets them accept God’s wisdom. The other is seen in verse 5.

so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.

1 Corinthians 2:5

Even if it did work, it would not work. Even if Paul persuaded someone to believe through clever speech or words, it is unsuccessful. Their faith is in our arguments and our logics. It relies on our evidences rather than the Word and power of God. What is the problem with that? As humans our logics, evidences, and arguments are fallible.

Perhaps someone even smarter than us comes along. They “prove” that the evidence or logic we gave them does not make sense. It is not applicable. What happens then? Then they do not believe anymore. If we try to persuade through clever speech we are setting them up for failure.

There have been people who have believed and relied on certain preachers or Christian spokesmen (social media influencers). But sometimes these leaders fall. This past year we saw many “well-known” preachers get caught up in scandals. They disappoint us. And unfortunately, when a leader falls, it is very likely that some of their congregation will lose heart. Some of them may give up as well.

This is because people are following, believing, respecting PEOPLE too much. Now matter how great a pastor’s sermons are, they are not infallible. Sometimes they are wrong. Sometimes they make mistakes. Sometimes they sin. Let our faith be in God and Him alone. And when we teach let us teach our faith to be in God and God alone. Let us always direct them to the simple message of the cross. We should not rely on smooth speech or persuasive words. Remember, if a person can be persuaded into something, they can be persuaded out of it too.

⁶ We do, however, speak a wisdom among the mature, but not a wisdom of this age, or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.

1 Corinthians 2:6

What does verse 6 mean? What “wisdom” is spoken to those who are mature? What kind of wisdom is this? Why is it only spoken to the mature?

This goes back to what we were discussing in verse 3. Once people believe in Christ and are ready for the meat, Paul shared it with them. At first, he shared the gospel only with unbelievers. After they believed and grew mature, he could build on that foundation to share more. He qualifies this to say that it is still not the wisdom of the world. That wisdom is passing away. It is temporary and not useful. The immature probably will understand, and even if they do it will not help them until they accept the gospel.

This wisdom was a mystery, a secret for generations.

⁷ On the contrary, we speak God’s hidden wisdom in a mystery, a wisdom God predestined before the ages for our glory.

1 Corinthians 2:7

Does verse 7 talk about some deep secret or puzzle? Does it mean God doesn’t want us to know His wisdom?

³⁵ so that what was spoken through the prophet might be fulfilled:

I will open my mouth in parables;
I will declare things kept secret
from the foundation of the world.

Matthew 13:35

Jesus used parables and uttered things hidden since the creation of the world.

²⁵ Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the proclamation about Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept silent for long ages

Romans 16:25

The gospel was hidden for long ages past, but revealed in Jesus.

²⁵ I have become its servant, according to God’s commission that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ God wanted to make known among the Gentiles the glorious wealth of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 1:25-27

Paul was a messenger to proclaim the word of God in its fullness. Part of this was a mystery for generations. It is now disclosed to the saints.

God’s revelation is progressive throughout history. He did not reveal everything at once. He told only what people in each time period (dispensation) needed to know. God reveals His plan step by step at His perfect time. Much of what Jesus did and much of the NT was a mystery before. The whole “church age” and God’s dealings with the Gentiles is not seen in the OT. It was hidden before, but revealed in Christ and as His teachings went out through the disciples.

So what is this “wisdom” that the rulers who crucified Jesus didn’t understand?

This mystery was not understood by the Jews and rulers. They did not understand why the Messiah had to die and suffer. Most thought that Jesus would come to forever deliver them from tyrants and evil authorities over them. They thought the Messiah would be a political ruler. A literal King. If they had truly understood God then they would not have killed Jesus. But they looked at things through their own understanding and rationalization and to them it did not make any sense.

⁹ But as it is written,

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard,
and no human heart has conceived—
God has prepared these things for those who love him.

1 Corinthians 2:9

What is verse 9 talking about? Does it mean that God’s wisdom is unknowable?

Verse 9 is often mistaken for describing heaven, but that is taking it completely out of context. Actually it is talking about the wisdom that God has prepared for believers. It is not seen or heard or understood. It was a mystery.

¹⁰ Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10

How can we know the wisdom of God? Can it be discovered through meditation? Can it be discovered by rational thought? Can it be discovered by letting everything go? Can it be discovered through some pilgrimage or journey?

The wisdom of God is knowable, but it is not knowable on our own! We can not sit back in our easy chair and simply through rational thought approach God. Philosophers try to do this, but unsuccessfully. We can only know through God’s revelation to us. How does God reveal it to us?

He reveals it to us through His Word. We can only understand this when His Word is combined with the enlightening of the Holy Spirit. God’s Word, His wisdom, will also appear foolish to us unless His Spirit works in our hearts and changes us. We only have this wisdom because God has given it to us. This tells us several things.

• We should be humble. It is not because we are smarter than others or reached a higher stage of enlightenment. It is not thanks to ourselves.
• We can not impart it to others on our own through persuasion or clever speech. When we share we must rely on God and pray for His Spirit to enlighten people’s hearts.
• We must ask God for this wisdom (James 1:5). It comes from Him. We must study the Bible not as an intellectual exercise. We need to combine it with prayer. We must rely on the Lord to show us the meaning.

¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts^[a] except his spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who comes from God, so that we may understand what has been freely given to us by God.

1 Corinthians 2:11-12

How can one know God? The idea is that only a person himself truly knows what he himself is thinking. Only I know what is going in my heart. Only Paul knows what he is thinking. Only you know what is going on in your heart. This is also true of God. Only God Himself knows His own thoughts and ideas. This is more evidence that the Holy Spirit is God. So we cannot know God unless He reveals Himself to us. How does He do this? He reveals Himself to us through the Holy Spirit. He wants us to know about Himself, but we cannot come to know about Himself through our own intellectual exercises. We have to come to know Him through the Word and the Spirit’s enlightening work in our hearts.

What should we do with this wisdom? It is not to be kept to ourselves. After we have the wisdom from God then we start to speak the wisdom of God. We share it with others. Our words should be seasoned with salt and giving grace to those who hear. We have godly, spiritual thoughts and then we have godly, spiritual words.

What is a natural man?

As we have discussed many times in this chapter and the last, this kind of person cannot know God. They cannot have God’s wisdom. It is foolishness to Him. He cannot know the truth.

⁴ In their case, the god of this age has blinded the minds of the unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,^[a] who is the image of God.

2 Corinthians 4:4

Satan is blinding the hearts of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel.

We are then contrasted again with this person.

¹⁵ The spiritual person, however, can evaluate everything, and yet he himself cannot be evaluated by anyone.

1 Corinthians 2:15

What does verse 15 means? We can discern the truth in the world. We can also discern the truth in other’s lives. However, the natural person cannot discern the truth in our lives. Many think we have some kind of secret motivation for believing or sharing. We have some kind of secret motivation for giving our money to God. We make various sacrifices to serve God. They cannot understand us.

It is amazing that anyone can ever know the mind of God. God has graciously revealed Himself to us. He has also given us the very mind of Christ. Praise the Lord for His great mercy and grace in our lives!

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