Post by Admin on Jun 11, 2020 16:25:27 GMT
The Gospel was a Mystery, truth not revealed prior to this Age.
Let's look in 1 Corinthians and see the Hidden Wisdom of God, which is Christ, and the Gospel of Christ:
1 Corinthians 1:17-24
King James Version (KJV)
17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Paul's ministry was built on one thing...the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The context here is...the Gospel of Christ.
He was not sent out to baptize, because baptism does not save, he was sent out to speak the Word which does save...the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
In the Book of Romans Paul begins by making an identical statement, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel...it is the power of God unto salvation."
19 For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
Again, the Prophecy speaks of a future event. The wisdom of the wise is brought to nothing...by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Men do not come into relationship with God through intellect or will, as John 1:13 states, men are born of God, not of blood (heritage), not of the will of the flesh (a man's determination/will), and not of the will of man (man's determination/will for another man/woman). JOhn 1:11-12 makes it clear that men began to become the sons of God by receiving Jesus Christ, and men hear of Jesus Christ through...the Gospel.
That is how men are saved.
22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
It is the will of man that determines something is true because their idea of truth is validated in their minds/will. It is the will of man that determines they can themselves seek out truth and conclude rightly, but as you have mentioned...the natural man cannot understand nor receive the spiritual things of God in his own efforts.
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
And Paul goes right back to the focus of his teaching...the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The "but" stands in contrast to signs and man's wisdom, because Christ is...
24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Now let's take a look at at the context of 1 Corinthians 2:
1 Corinthians 2
King James Version (KJV)
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
The context remains focused on...the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Again, in view is what he preached, and that was...the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Christ crucified, Christ the power of God.
Look again at 1 Corinthians 1:24...But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
Power for what? Power unto salvation.
Christ is the power and wisdom of God.
6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
Again the preaching of the Gospel is contrasted with the wisdom of men, and Paul states we speak the Wisdom of God in a mystery, the Hidden Wisdom, which God ordained before the world began, just as he states in Romans 16...
25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
No man was privy to the Hidden Wisdom, the Mystery of the Gospel. That is what Paul preached. Had the rulers of this world known, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory, and inf fact Satan would have assembled the most efficient security detail to make sure that the Lord dashed not even His foot against a rock.
And he quotes Isaiah...
Isaiah 64:4
For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
...and reiterates Isaiah's statement...
9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
Most preach this as speaking of how great Heaven is going to be, but, that is not the context in which this quote is found. It is found in a context centered on...
...the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the unveiling of the Hidden Wisdom of God, which no man knew prior to the Mysteryof the Gospel of Jesus Christ being revealed.
Now, Who reveals the Gospel to men?
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
As Christ stated, the Comforter, when He came, would convict the world of sin, righteousness, and judgement:
John 16:7-9 King James Version (KJV)
7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
The Ministry of the Comforter is first and foremost to the lost of this world. He is the One that enlightens the natural mind to the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And that is how it must be because...
1 Corinthians 2:13-14
King James Version (KJV)
13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
God bless.
Note: I will have to edit this later for font and emphasis.