Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. Bring on more buts.
Having made the case clearly in 1:18 thru 2:5 that the world's wisdom finds the gospel foolish, and that this was by God's design, Paul now explains, We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing.
Not wisdom that is futile. Not wisdom that is fleeting. Wisdom that is spiritually discerned. He identifies this as God's secret wisdom, hidden in the past but destined for glory since before time began. It's spoken of as a mystery, but very certain as God's plan for his people. This, too, is by design. Paul recalls Isaiah's teachings to confirm that this message was hidden to accomplish God's purposes. But...
But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
With the help of this big but and its greater context, we're able to put some of the pieces together.
Even more significant, we couldn't put these pieces together were it not for God's Spirit enabling us. He revels it to us by his Spirit; the Spirit searches the deep things; knows the thoughts of God; and dwells in us. As such: 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.
I don't know about you, but this is shedding a whole new light on the altar-calls-in-the-stadiums picture we painted in the previous post. Were it not for God sending his Spirit to open my eyes and ears...
And this is the foundation of Paul's preaching and teaching. In verse 13 he makes it known: This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual things in spiritual words.
There seems to be a deliverance from folly, an ability to discern, and salvation--in God's ministry to us. Two more buts at the end of the chapter sew it up--thanks be to God for this wonderful, salvific gift.
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