Understanding the Wisdom of God B

We are speaking wisdom. It may not be the world's wisdom and you may think it is foolish and you may say it is simple and simplistic. We are speaking with wise saying has an opposite one no less wise to balance it.

That's the world's philosophy for you every thought has value and no idea is better or worse than any other. What do you think that sort of philosophy find a home in today's churches. Are we ever tempted to put human wisdom on par with God's word.

The fact is that does happen in many churches. Human wisdom is diluting the simple gospel and displacing the biblical approach to running a church learn how to spot human wisdom. Make sure you know why God's wisdom is the only wisdom with life-changing power, both now and for eternity. John's current study will help you do just that. It's called the foolishness of God turn to first Corinthians chapter 2, and here's John Paul illustrates the fact that he doesn't believe in the necessity of human wisdom by chapter 2 verses 1 to 5 is that you remember how it was when I came to you, I didn't come with excellence of speech verse one, or wisdom verse for my speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom. Verse five it and what your faith to stand in the wisdom of man was false as you can see that I didn't put any stock in human philosophy. I didn't put any stock in human wisdom by the very way that I came to you. That's obvious first to I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I didn't come to you with some sophisticated words are sophisticated philosophy, I came he was simplicity. See the gospel does not need the addition of human philosophy. God does not need man's reason man's innovation everything the gospel comes in really is very simple. The preacher comes along and cards like Paul Ditta presents Christ and him crucified its versatile effect. They said is so simple it's foolish member that the preaching of the cross was to than the parish. What foolish this is stupid. This is nonsense. You mean you expect us intellectuals with all the wisdom that we've gained all the education all the sophisticated philosophy you mean that what you expect us to believe that somewhere, sometime, one guy dies on the cross. And that's the whole crux of human destiny, and I've heard people say the same thing today to staff for little kids in a ladies right now. It does immeasurably that I can't buy it, I had many people say that when Paul comes along when you come as a know we don't preach human was a naysayer sure right what you got is foolishness. Now watch verse six. However, we are speaking wisdom separated. It may not be the world's wisdom and you may think it is foolish and you may say it is simple and simplistic, but we are speaking wisdom. You may not see it as such.

But it is so. He says we are speaking wisdom.

What's among them that are perfect. The problem is that only the saved know it perfect tell I was here refers to full-grown or mature in this context. Incidentally, the word telling Royce or telling us whatever you choose to speak of perfect ones has to be interpreted in the context because it can mean a Christian who is very mature I could just mean a Christian. A Christian is one who has come to the place of knowledge of being complete in Christ. So here it is referring to a Christian, not a super Christian just a Christian because he not contrasting mature Christians with infantile onesies contrasting Christmas with unbelievers. We are speaking wisdom among those that are believers the only people know this is wisdom on the Christian now from their Paul divides the rest of the text and the two points I was to give these two points you very simple and yet I want to get this because you'll find that this can be very very helpful not only giving you the understanding of the passage in God's given us, but in helping you to relate this to somebody else to points number one. True wisdom is not humanly discovered number two. True wisdom is divinely revealed. That's pretty simple.

Number one. True wisdom is not humanly discovered. Paul says we realize that this ultimate truth is outside the boundaries of the wisdom of this particular era and the philosophers of this era, all of whom come to nothing but verse seven. Here's the strongest adversative in the Greek language Allah but on the other hand we speak or are speaking the wisdom of God, stop right there. We are not speaking something from this system or from this world. From these philosophers.

Rather, it is, from whom God he is talking about a divine, supernatural wisdom, yes, we are speaking wisdom. They said foolishness nonsense. Now we are speaking, wisdom, and the believers understand that it's wisdom is not the wisdom from your system is the wisdom of God and the reason you don't understand it. Verse seven is we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom. The reason you don't know what is. It isn't knowable to you man doesn't know the wisdom of God because God has not given a demand to know he has put outside the boundaries of man's capacity. Now he says it is written, I have not seen, nor ear heard leaders enter the heart of man the things which God prepared an 11 now God, from the ages past prepared some fantastic things for the people of them but the people that don't love him can't know what those things are. You see the world with all of its quest for truth can't figure out what's going early two ways you can come to the truth from human viewpoint. Only two ways that a human can make a conclusion about truth number one is objective number two is subject number one is by the external empirical experiential method.

The second was by reason or logic. That's all. It's either empiricism or rationalism here comes the first as it is written. I hath not seen, nor ear heard. Now if you're going to look at objective truth is only two ways you can assimilate objective truth through the eye or the ear right this is how you gain true will remember folks through the human eye, and to the human ear ultimate truth cannot pass let's go internal. The other way that men draw conclusions is by their own reason. Rationalism, neither have entered into the mind of man heart simply means mine.

You can't know it externally from an objective fact. You can't know it internally from a subjective thought process, you can't come to God by observation or by rationalism is pretty hopeless and that's got a great plan for those 11 God is hidden.

It's not known to the philosophers of this era is proven by the fact that if they don't, they would've executed Jesus and incidentally everybody goes on rejecting Jesus proves continually continually continually that they can't know the truth doesn't and they can try by experiment defined and they can try biologic to find it and they won't because it is not known to them by the that's the first point, and I think Paul makes it well. The wisdom of God is not discoverable by the human mind. Point number two. This will secretly true wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit. You see, if you can't get out and find God's got a come in with this information.

Anything that comes to him, somebody brings from the outside in. Isn't going anywhere and that's Paul's point.

The Holy Spirit has invaded man's lockbox with the truth. True wisdom is revealed by the Holy Spirit. Now notice people. There are three steps in the process. Revelation inspiration and illumination.

Three great Christian true. First of all Revelation.

This is great watch that you can really be excited to know verse 10 God has revealed them unto us by his what spirit, what we would never be able to know on our own. God has come into our little lockbox and sit here God has invaded our iron lung and deposited the information.

Wow revealed apocalyptic means to disclose something that has been previously hidden to unveil something that has been veiled Holy Spirit does that. That's Revelation to review the Holy Spirit up there in heaven. God says I got a few facts I want those people down to earth to know the Holy Spirit, who is the agent of transmission for the Trinity grabs the Revelation on got the revelation off the goats to bring it to us. That's Revelation he's got the body of truth, ready to deposit you see will why does the Spirit do that. Look at verse 10 for the spirit searches all things, you, the deep things of God. He's the one who knows the deep recesses of the mind of God. What better one to reveal God right it doesn't mean that he's ignorant of some things in the ass to search around a find about. He's got duty knows everything.

It simply means he is the one who penetrates the interbeing of God.

God's own Spirit. Aren't you glad of the Bible was written by secondhand Angel knowing what the Bible God's Holy Spirit. I'm happy about that. Are you as you not know if I can trust all the angels some really messed up in the same used to be one of the sun God didn't entrust the transmission of the Scriptures to anybody outside the Trinity Holy Spirit was dispatched with the information because he's the one that knew the depths of the inner recesses of God's nature illustrates, for example, verse 11. What man knows the things of a man except the spirit of a man visiting the show.

That means I make up the essay. I have a friend I know you you have here like this in years like this and those like this and that. I know you when certain things happen you react like this in your personality is and I know you you got a temper and you like this and I know you know what, but I don't know him like he knows right me and you don't know me like me and meeting is at right me and me know things about me that mean you are never going right and you and you know things about you that you and me are never going it's just that the only one who really knows the depth of myself is my own spirit is not right and you know even in a marriage as close as it gets. After years and years and years there still some things that only I know about me.

We talk about honesty, but even our honesty is somewhat veiled, selective honesty that that's just human nature. The one who knows me best is my own spirit that's always saying that's just an illustration look at the end of verse 11.

Even so the things of God knows no man, but the spirit of God. You see, the spirit knows the deep recesses of God. Just as a man spirit knows the deep recesses of that man like no one else does. So God didn't send a secondary messenger. He sent the Holy Spirit who knew the most. Who knew everything now we find to begin with that. That is Revelation. Christianity is revealed through the Holy Spirit grabs up all the deep things of God comes off with him and he's on his way to work and now he arrives at the door and he says open up I've got something from God, you say well what kind of packages a day is going to deliver the Revelation what's erected, you can't just have it all floating you could have God standing on a mountain, shouting it all out. How would it come, let's find out. Because that takes us to the second step of the spirits transmission of God's truth and that is inspiration here is the method by which the spirit delivered Revelation verse 12 oh this is good. Now we have what's the next word receive now friends underline that word in your Bible and draw a circle that is a tremendously important word summary says to me you know the Bible was just the opinion of man. I say look first Corinthians 2. Paul said we have received this.

That means it was given to us. Look at the end of verse 12 that we might know the things that are freely what's next word given to us of got word about comfort was given by God and one of the apostles do they what received out. This is so important. This is the vehicle for carrying the Revelation, the spirit of God brings it and they receive now want to know something the word we in verse 12 is used couple times and then again in verse 13 we received that we might know which things we speak. Please notice the word, we there does not refer generally to Christian refers to the apostles and the Scripture writers you and I have received these truths only from them as they recorded but here Paul is experiencing and writing of his own experience.

We receive them from the spirit we that we might know what graciously was given to us which things we now speak this is apostolic Rev. John 1426 the Lord said now when I go, the comforter will come and he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said that is not primarily for all believers.

That is not a promise for us that was spoken to those who would write the New Testament it was to them that he gave the recall of all the Jesus of your what John could sit down and write all the whole Gospel of John 21 chapters and all through that entire thing record exactly the words of Christ he could do it because the Holy Spirit ponders remembrance that's that promise there same here.

We who have received it. We apostles we writers God has given it to us. You member how what was the vehicle inspiration second Timothy 316 says it all Scripture is inspired by God to produce just one word. God breathed, God breathed out into our minds we received it. The Bible was not made up by man is not the opinion of man is not the view of man is not the comment of man on certain acts of God, it was received from God.

A gift brought by the Holy Spirit so important and noticed a freely given or a graciously given one matter just graciously given verse 13, follows a thought which things now we are speaking not in the words that which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, stop right when Paul says now when I pass this information on to you is not with my words but whose words Holy Spirit were zealous to me. People I believe that this verse clearly teach that the very words of the Scripture were given by the Holy Spirit get that that is basic. That is what we call verbal inspiration. Some people say, well, God inspired the general thoughts and they put in their own words is ridiculous and denies this verse and secondly how could have a thought without words we speak not he says is, emphatically, in the words which man's wisdom teaches were not speaking to you in our own words, but words which the spirit has graciously given us in the revelation of God. You know when those Bible writers said that when Paul sent out a right first Corinthians the spirit of God to control that man the spirit of God way that guys brain pulled out of his brain. The words that were in his own vocabulary and out of his own experience and arrange them in the order that he wanted them written the very words selected by the Holy Spirit but selected from the life and personality of Paul so that reflected him. Nonetheless, the words of the spirit. This is God's word and these are God's words.

Summary says. Why do you get so detailed you study every verse everywhere. Every word came from the mouth of God: Satan was tempting he is.

He didn't call Deuteronomy and say thou shalt not live by bread alone, but by the general principles of God. What he said shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds of the mouth of God. God gives words and they wrote words that is inspiration.

God breathed into their minds.

The words all Scripture you don't Scripture is what the word means writing all writing is inspired, not all the apostles.

Not all their thoughts all their writing was inspired. God chose words. So the revelation comes down can be just a big glob pulling out heaven like Campbell's alphabet soup.

It's gotta be put together. And so it comes down and goes into the mind out the pens and there it is written in God's words say that's it.

Spirits done. Are you really you think is a you are there lots people on the Bible and the listen there all kinds of people in the Bible you know what they discover in the Bible Jesus is God, to be remitted him as a knock on your door there people study this Bible covered every Screwball thing. There is a don't understand what's going on.

You know what is 1/3 step Holy Spirit started illumination. That's verses 14 to 16 in here. The Holy Spirit has to make this thing personal. As you can own a Bible not understand. Verse 14 tells us that the natural man Supercuts the fleshly man. The man was his human just always got his human lives and physical material world can't know God can't sense God can't get out of his little box, receive it, not the things of the spirit of God you had a Bible stick under his nose and doesn't make any difference does understand it does know what's going on to him. It's all foolish. He can know it because it is spiritually evaluated, spiritually appraised, spiritually judged, spiritually discerned, and he is spiritually dead. Psalm one 1918, the psalmist prayed a beautiful person, open thou mine eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law isn't just a God gave the law, God also asked open the eyes of understanding, the spirit has to illuminate the mind. Truth is available, but only those who are aluminum will understand that truth, the natural man can handle. He's without the Holy Spirit, he may have it in his hand. He got the revelation, the inspiration, but without illumination, it doesn't make any sense he doesn't have the Holy Spirit, just like a blind man can't see the sun.

He can't see the sun of righteousness.

Just like a deaf man can hear sweet music you can appreciate the sweet song of salvation. Martin Luther said man is like a pillar of salt like lots wife is like a log and a stone is like a lifeless statue which uses neither eyes or mouth. Neither senses nor heart unless he is enlightened converted and regenerated by the Holy Spirit."

He can know anything.

Even if he has the Holy Spirit got a minute to if that's verse 15 but he that is spiritual, he can evaluate all things David possesses the spirit he that has the resident true teacher within him. He that is the point of reference to himself, he that has the anointing of first John two 2728 you have no need for human teachers, you have an anointing in unity teaches you all things. If you have the Holy Spirit, there is the resident true teacher and there is the evaluator by the Holy Spirit. We take the word of God and he makes a lively mix of meaningful and this is for all Christian yes all Christians the world doesn't know the truth. The world can't know the truth. You know the truth, because the Spirit of God dwells in you and teaches you the truth, and makes this book alive.

We can appraise we can evaluate the point of references in us and then he adds a little shot there at the end of verse 15 yet he himself is judged of no man we can appraise because were spiritual but nobody can appraise us if you ever knows how difficult it is for the world to evaluate Christian they don't know what we are will how can you put will you think you are.

You think you know everything that there's no way that a natural man can evaluate a spiritual he can't know us hang on.

He can't know us any better than he knew Christ what they do Christ crucified it where they can do us much the same laugh as Marcus Kohler schools.

Some places kill us. The reason he quotes Isaiah 4013 to support his point. Verse 16 for who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him, but we have the mind of Christ must, nobody can judge a spiritual man for to do that would be to judge the Lord himself to sit Nevers fantastic. Who knows the mind of the Lord. We have that mine, they can figure us out because they couldn't figure isn't nice know the reason you're confusing is because you have the mind of Christ while I'm as big a mystery to the world. He was that's kinda nice company. I'm glad for that and what it meant. I love this, who has known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him.

You know what a guy doesn't comes along and and denies the claims of Jesus. He say now God let me tell you a few things about what I've learned I want to correct a few misconceptions you got will when somebody says to me know you. You need to understand that I don't bias about Christ. I tell you my opinion my answers. Oh well, you're going to tell God know what you should believe what you mean by that. Well, you see, the Lord dwells in me and he's my teacher. So if you instruct me remember your instructing the mind of the Lord because I have the mind of Christ.

What they they get mad at that fool you think you hot stuff you got all the answers but you do it lovingly, but do it. Was he saying here the whole thing wraps up very beautifully.

Doesn't he simply saying human reason can't know God got us reveal himself God has revealed himself in three steps by the Holy Spirit revealed inspired and illuminates it so we can understand and then the point of references in us. We know the truth because the spirit of God is our teacher and dwells in us is Exide you know I tell you people I read an article what time it said the drive to know in the human being is equal to the sex drive in the hunger drives an interesting the drive to know. Listen if you want to know that bad.

If you'll commit your life to Jesus Christ.

He will plant within you. The resident true teacher and you'll know the truth and the truth shall make you free, but spring father, thank you for our time for the goodness of God to bring salvation for the grace that has brought us into relationship with you and give us the truth were grateful for the Holy Spirit lives in us teaching. We thank you God. We know that even though he is our true teacher we can quench that teaching and that instruction we can grieve that spirit may it not be maybe be submissive filled walking in the spirit indeed we might be able to discern all things. Thank you for the privilege of sharing together in your word, we ask you to draw to yourself this hour, those who need you so much Christ had. That's John MacArthur, Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary showing you how to find true and lasting wisdom, the foolishness of God that to study here on grace to you. Will John for the past couple of weeks. You've urged listeners to reject the world's wisdom and embrace gods and so as we bring this series to a close.

Talk about how that happens.

How do we practically pursue the wisdom of God rather than the wisdom of this world. Yeah, practically pursuing the wisdom of God means that you accept and understand the truth of Scripture.

Wisdom is the application of truth in the Bible is true. We know that because God is the God of truth. Jesus said he is the truth. He said his word is truth.

God cannot lie. Everything that God says is true, and if we understand the word of God accurately. We understand the truth and the truth is the foundation of all wisdom. Again wisdom is the application of the truth. The world has no wisdom because the world that rejects the word of God is left without the revealed truth that is the foundational answer to everything in life, so it's hopeless to try to find the truth and apply wisdom in any other than a very superficial way without the word of God. So I would encourage you if this series has been helpful to you on the foolishness of God that you might want to get a copy of it that you could listen to again and go over it and to share with others.

If you would like the foolishness of God is available in a four CD album or as with all of our messages in all of our series, you can download them on the grace to you app TTY.org and you can get those for MP3 files. Now let me encourage you if you do want the CDs they are available and you can order a copy today. That's right.

And as you raise your children or serve in your local church or interact with friends and neighbors and coworkers. How you make sure you're applying God's wisdom to everything that you do and say. This study can help you do that so download the foolishness of God or the CDs today every message and John series the foolishness of God is free to only an audio or transcript format.

Just go to TTY.org and in fact all John sermons in series are free at our website, including popular studies like the fulfilled family believers, armor and if God's will is so important, why can't I find it again to start downloading sermons or to purchase them on CD. Go to our website TTY.org or you can call us at 805 grace and when you get in touch. Make sure to let us know how your listening. Whether it's on your local radio station online North the grace to you app course would also love to hear how John's verse by verse. Teaching has encouraged you.

Perhaps you are better equipped to explain the truth of salvation to friends and neighbors. After listening to biblical preaching. Like you heard today. If you have a story like that email us at letters@TTY.or you can drop a letter in the mailbox to race to you. Box 4000 panorama city, CA 91412 now for John MacArthur. I'm Phil Johnson encouraging you to watch grace to you television this Sunday will be here tomorrow for another 30 minutes of unleashing God's true one verse at a time on grace to you