The Way - Day 064 (1 Corinthians 2)

Pastor Tom's Journal on Today's Reading:
1 Corinthians 2
Paul began his letter to the church at Corinth by challenging believers to be unified and "perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment" (1:10) because the church had formed factions which resulted when people had given their loyalty away to individuals instead of God (1:11-17). Rather than being loyal to a man, Paul desired them to be committed to God and the message of the crucified Christ, who brings forgiveness to those who trust in Him (1:18-31). At the beginning of 1 Corinthians 2, Paul highlighted the importance of this message he had delivered to them and how it was not developed through his own human wisdom (2:1-5), but through the power of God.

When Paul was surrounded by mature believers, he would speak with wise words, but not wisdom as understood by this world (2:6). Instead, Paul spoke the mysteries of God to those who believed so that they could understand God more fully (2:7-8). Using the words from Isaiah 64:4, Paul reveals that God will give much wisdom to individuals who put their trust in the crucified Christ (2:9). How does God reveal these mysteries? Paul writes, "But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God" (2:10). So the key in understanding the things of God is the indwelling Holy Spirit, who resides in all those who truly believe (2:11-13). "But the natural [unbelieving] man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned" (2:14). The person who believes is able to discern the things he has learned from God and apply them to his life because of the indwelling Holy Spirit; furthermore, he need not fear the judgment of others because God alone is the judge (2:15). In essence, Paul is teaching that believers are able to know the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit and the word of God (2:16). When considering this truth, a believer must remain committed to reading God's word and applying it through the witness of the Holy Spirit so that he can work in them.

Dear God, may I know You more fully through careful study of the word and learning to listen for the witness of the Spirit of God.