Monday, February 13, 2017
1 Corinthians 2:6-7 We speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory....
GOD'S HIDDEN WISDOM--THE GOSPEL (1)
The people of ancient Corinth, Greece, were noted for their wisdom. In the first chapter of his epistle to the Christians there, the apostle Paul addressed the subject in great detail, contrasting worldly wisdom and God's wisdom.
Most basically, does worldly wisdom lead one to know, accept, and confess God and His wisdom? Hardly! Just the opposite. In an earlier verse the apostle writes: "For since, in the wisdom of God the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe…."
Yes, the sad fact is that worldly wisdom considers the wisdom of God, His Word and His gospel, foolishness. Who could believe, after all, that an eternal God-Man came into the world and allowed Himself to suffer at the hands of mortal men and then be crucified--not for His own sins, but for the sins of others!? That just doesn't make sense. It is utterly ridiculous, pure foolishness.
Here in our text Paul challenges the assertions of those who were intolerant of his gospel preaching. He teaches that the spiritually mature are they who understand that God's wisdom is true wisdom. The spiritually mature understand that Paul's message of a Christ-centered, cross-centered gospel is true wisdom, sheer wisdom.
By God's grace alone the spiritually mature say and sing:
Wisdom's highest, noblest treasure, Jesus, is revealed in You.
Let me find in You my pleasure, And my wayward will subdue.
Humility there and simplicity reigning, In paths of true wisdom my steps ever training.
If I learn from Jesus this knowledge divine, The blessing of heavenly wisdom is mine.
(Lutheran Service Book, 536:3)
