Being Taught by the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)

Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. [7] But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. [8] None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. [9] But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—[10] these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. [11] For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. [12] Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. [13] And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. [14] The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. [15] The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. [16] “For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:6-16)

I. The Spirit as Teacher

We know what it means for a parent to be a teacher, and we know what it means for a school employee to be a teacher, and we even know what it means that Jesus was a teacher. But what in the world does it mean for the Holy Spirit to be a teacher; to be your teacher? Is that a reality, even a daily reality, with which you are familiar? Turn if you would to 1 Corinthians 2

II. The Passage: “That We Might Understand” (2:6-16)

As we seek to understand verses 6-16, let's first make sure we think carefully about the context here by very quickly talking about how we arrived at this passage. So what we're asking is, “How has Paul's teaching so far brought him to this point?” Well, as you may remember, Paul has been writing to these followers of Christ, who were in the southern Greek city of Corinth, and he's been contrasting the gospel message of Christ crucified (1:23; 2:2)(he's been contrasting that message) with their own Greek culture's emphasis on wisdom and influence and power.

Why this contrast? Because it appears that the divisions within their church (mentioned in 1:10-17) were at least partly fueled by the criteria they were using, a culturally-distorted criteria, to either endorse or dismiss key leaders in the early Christian movement (leaders like Peter, or Apollos, or even Paul himself). This is why Paul will go on to warn them as he does in 4:3–5...

But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. [4] For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not there-by acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. [5] Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.

So when we arrive at our main text, 2:6-16, Paul continues this contrast between the things of God and the things of men; between Greek culture and 'Jesus culture'. And he does that in this passage by presenting three distinct, but connected contrasts. Those are 1) the wisdom of God vs. the wisdom of this age, 2) the Spirit of God vs. the spirit of the world, and 3) the spiritual person vs. the natural person. So let's look at each of those contrasts more closely.

First, starting in verse 6, Paul presents a contrast between the wisdom of God and what he labels here as “a wisdom of this age”. Notice what we learn here about this “wisdom of this age”. Now he previously called it “the wisdom of the world” in 1:20 and “the wisdom of men” in 2:5. But in verse 6 it's also called a “wisdom... of the rulers of this age”. In contrast, Paul presents another wisdom in the next verse, verse 7. That wisdom is the wisdom of God. But notice how the Apostle describes God's wisdom there. Verse 7... it is a “secret or hidden wisdom”. How secret? How hidden? Verse 8... “None (i.e., not one) of the rulers of this age understood this” wisdom. So even though the rulers of this age are esteemed, and therefore, their 'wisdom' is esteemed, the Ruler above all rulers, God himself, has a wisdom that is far better and far older than wisdom this world can offer; for it was (v. 7) “decreed before ages for our glory”.

But if God's wisdom really is “secret and hidden”, how in the world could any of us discover it? Well, that leads to the second contrast here, between (v. 12) “the spirit of the world” and “the Spirit who is from God”. And it's that verse, v. 12, that answers our question about knowing God's secret and hidden wisdom. Look at that verse in its entirety: “Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” In fact, two verses earlier Paul made this same point about the Spirit's work. Verse 10... “these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit.” He then goes on to reinforce this idea in verse 13, describing how we are “taught by the Spirit” (there it is!), and in verse 14, as he speaks of truths that are “spiritually discerned”. Of course, isn't this what we talked about last time? When Paul first brought the Good News about Jesus to Corinth, they certainly didn't believe because of his eloquent words or his commanding presence. No! Their faith was (2:4) a “demonstration of the Spirit and of power”. The Corinthian believers believed because of the revealing work of the Spirit; because of the teaching work of the Spirit.

This is, of course, what Jesus described for his disciples in John 14:26: “...the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things...”. But this leads us to a third and final contrast; this time, between the spiritual person and the natural person. Who is the one to whom the Spirit of God has revealed the secret and hidden wisdom of God? He or she is (v. 15) “the spiritual person”. While words like spiritual and spirituality are actually popular today, as you can see from the context, when Paul talks about a “spiritual person”, he's doesn't mean what Paul today mean by those words; he's talking about someone who is 'of the Spirit'; of the Holy Spirit; the Spirit of God. That means those who have not been “taught by the Spirit” simply cannot be “spiritual” in the way Paul is describing here. What description does Paul give to those who live by the wisdom of this age, by the spirit of the world? In v. 14, he calls him or her “the natural person”. What do we learn about such a person? Look what Paul tells us: “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he (like the rulers of this age... he) is (without the Spirit) not able to understand them...”.

III. Understanding That's More Than

Now, there is so much more packed into these eleven verses. And we will touch on more of it (but not all it) in the next few minutes. Before we do, I don't want us to miss the main point Paul is driving home to his readers: though you are tempted to go back to the wisdom of this world, you are different now because of the Spirit of God. By God's grace, you and I have come to know the wisdom of God; specifically, the radical wisdom manifested in (2:2) “Christ and him crucified”.

So in addition to the three contrasts we just looked at, it's also vitally important that we talk about three ways this passage really should change your life; three things about the Spirit as teacher that are tied together by the word “understand”. Remember verse 8? “None of the rulers of this age understood this...”. Remember verse 12? We have received the Spirit “that we might under-stand”. Remember verse 14? “The natural person... is not able to understand...”. So think with me about three ways in which the understanding talked about here may be more than we think.

First, understanding here [in 1 Corinthians 2] is more than comprehension. Without the Spirit of God intervening in any way, the natural man or woman can comprehend these truths. The rulers of this age mentioned in verses 6 and 8 (men like Pontius Pilate and the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin), they did comprehend what Jesus was teaching. It's exactly why they crucified him, as verse 8 reminds us. Look back at 1:23 as well. The Jews and Gentiles mentioned there do comprehend what is being told to them about Jesus and his cross. Again, it's precisely why that message is a stumbling block or foolishness to them.

What the Spirit teaches us, according to Paul, is more than comprehension. It is also affirmation and application. Those without the Spirit of God can comprehend the gospel message, but it doesn't make sense to them. They cannot affirm it. If we went to a picnic, and you and I were in charge of putting a team together to play tug of war, you could comprehend my advice to pick the smallest and skinniest people for our team, but it wouldn't make sense to you, would it? Only the Spirit can help us to see that the weakness of the cross is strength; to see the shame of the cross as glory; to see the defeat of the cross as victory; to see life where others only see death.

But we're talking about faith-filled application as well. That is, to actually apply that truth to our lives. To embrace the cross of Christ in such a way that Christ crucified becomes our daily comfort and our eternal hope. Friends, if the Spirit of God is really your teacher, then he will always move you beyond comprehension. Don't be reassured because you comprehend the Bible or comprehend theology. Let the Spirit truly show you the wisdom of what you know. When He does, then he will also help you to embrace the things of God with your whole life. Every day, in every way.

Second, understanding here is more than salvation. We might think, “Well, Paul is just talking here about becoming a Christian, right? This is just about saving faith; about new birth.” While this is, of course, about the Spirit helping us to understand the truth for the very first time, I think Paul is also talking about the Spirit's work among them right now. Verse 13 seems to be talking about Paul's ongoing ministry among them: “And we impart this [i.e, God's wisdom] in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” As you can see from the opening lines of chapter 3, Paul is frustrated that they are not allowing the Spirit to lead them; or to use the language in this chapter, to teach them.

But what about you? Are you looking to, are you depending on, are you crying out in light of the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit? I'm not trying to get all mystical on you. But this is supernatural. Believer, disciple of Jesus, if you are not satisfied with mere comprehension (and you should not be), then you desperately need the Spirit's intervention. We cannot come to Christ without the Spirit, and we cannot follow Christ without the Spirit. Pray using Psalm 143:10... “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!”

Finally, third, understanding here is more than doctrine. It also involves doxology. Doxology is just a fancy word for praise and worship. Just think with me about the wonders of what Paul has revealed in this passage alone. God has (v. 12) freely given us things, eternal things, life-giving things, amazing things, and the Spirit helps us understand those things. The wisdom that God has (v. 10) “revealed to us through the Spirit”, is a wisdom that (v. 7) “God decreed before the ages for our glory”. And yes, though we cannot (v. 16) “under[stand] the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him”, through the Spirit, we have been given “the mind of Christ”. So, yes, under-standing is absolutely more than just comprehension. And it's more than just a past reality. And it's more than just a doctrine we affirm. This Spirit revealed understanding is a present reality that should drive us toward Jesus each day, and to our knees in grateful worship. And... we should be incredibly humbled, right? Think about it: without God's gracious work through the Spirit, we would never have understood the truth. It would remain foolishness to us. What a gift!

Brothers and sisters, let's rejoice together in light of the gift of God's Spirit. But just as you would raise your hand in class when you need the teacher to come and help you, let us also raise a hand in prayer, daily, in light of our desperate, desperate need for the Spirit of God to be our constant teacher. So... how will that affect your prayers this week? Please pray in light of these stunning truths. Please look to the Spirit. Please don't be satisfied with anything less than this Spirit-given, Spirit-revealed kind of understanding. Let's give thanks for the Spirit as our teacher.