May 19
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural 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,” 1 Corinthians 2:12-14.
The apostle Paul clarifies for his hearers the source of his teachings and that of the other apostles. They were not going around teaching what is considered the wisdom of this world. When we are talking about salvation, people who teach the wisdom of this world always direct their followers to their own good works as the means to get right with God.
Such worldly wisdom is foolishness with God, and it is contrary to everything that is taught in Holy Scripture when it speaks of salvation. To the Romans, the apostle Paul wrote, “By the deeds of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the Law is the knowledge of sin,” Romans 3:20. “There is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:22-23. After presenting the impossibility of saving ourselves by our works, the apostle clearly states, “We conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the Law,” Romans 3:28. Later, he wrote to the Romans, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God,” Romans 5:1-2.
Where did Paul and the other apostles get the wisdom to proclaim the message of salvation? They were taught by the Holy Spirit: “We also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches.” The apostle Peter emphasized the same truth. He wrote, “Prophecy never came by the will of man, but Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit,” 2 Peter 1:21. The Holy Spirit gave the impulse and moved the writers to write what God has preserved for us in Holy Scripture. Paul wrote to Timothy, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God,” 2 Timothy 3:16. God breathed into the writers the very words which they recorded. God is the Author of Holy Scripture.
By nature, sinful people regard the Word of God as being foolishness. By nature, we resist the call of the Holy Spirit to repent and believe the Gospel, the message of God’s great love which was demonstrated in the sending of the Lord Jesus, who suffered, died, and rose again to redeem us from sin, death, and the power of the devil.
The Holy Spirit touches our hearts and invites us to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as God’s Son and our Savior. He converts us; He turns us around to behold the face of our forgiving heavenly Father. The call of the Spirit fills our hearts with hope and joy.
Come, Holy Spirit, come! Let Thy bright beams arise;
Dispel the sorrow from our minds, The darkness from our eyes.
Convince us of our sin, Then lead to Jesus’ blood,
And to our wond’ring view reveal, The mercies of our God. Amen.