That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Faith is to stand in the power of God and the demonstration of the Spirit, not in the wisdom of men, excellency of speech, persuasive argument, or learning. At Corinth Paul deliberately laid aside philosophy, oratory and elaborate reasoning to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified in weakness, meekness and simplicity, so that converts would rest on God rather than on human ability. Human skill and knowledge cannot by themselves convict and convert sinners or transform character; only the Spirit makes the truth effective and the conversion deep and lasting. What is preached is God's hidden wisdom ordained before the world, unknown to the princes of this world who crucified the Lord of glory, but revealed by the Spirit to those who love Him and discern spiritual things spiritually. Gospel workers today must labor on the same principle, hiding self in Christ and depending wholly on the Holy Spirit, so that hearers are converted to Christ and not to the instrument.
Paul's Ministry at Corinth
At Corinth Paul deliberately set aside excellency of speech and enticing words of human wisdom, refusing elaborate argument, theory, philosophy, oratory, debate, flourish, boasting, pompous show of science or eloquence, and refusing to act as a fine orator, deep philosopher, ruler over conscience or supreme despot in church order. He determined to know only Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the risen Saviour and the cross of Calvary as the sum and substance of the whole gospel and theme of the plan of salvation, presenting the affirmative truth of God's law where obedience is life and disobedience is death. He preached in simplicity and in the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, declaring God's testimony in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that attention would not be scattered from Christ to varied interesting things or errors of the world. The purpose was that faith should rest on God's power and not on human wisdom, persuasive eloquence, learning, reasons or proof, with success attributed not to the man but to the power of God upon him, lest reliance on human skill obscure the Word's power, dishonor the truth, and leave the work fruitless.
He came in weakness and fear and much trembling, in meekness, making clear that the message and its results came from God rather than human ability, authority, or persuasive skill. His lowly bearing showed that believers were to trust God rather than man, contrasting God's power with the wisdom of the world which cannot reveal or establish the wisdom of God in Christ. For a shepherd of the flock this same course requires faithful humble labor for the spiritual welfare of the church, discerning essential truth and giving it to the people, being circumspect in deportment, using capabilities with tact and skill in winning souls, having zeal according to knowledge, representing the meekness of Christ, and being a true witness and sweet savor of Christ in every place.
During his year and a half in Corinth he adapted his teaching to hearers who were carnal babes in Christ able to bear only milk and not meat, slow to learn, jealous and faultfinding, worldly wise yet babes in Christ, ignorant of divine power upon the heart and unable as natural men to receive the mysteries of salvation and the deep things of God. He therefore taught the rudiments, the very alphabet of faith, setting before proud theorists, exponents of false worship, critics, skeptics, and licentious sinners the true object of life, practical godliness and holiness, Christ and Him crucified, salvation through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He sowed seed for others to water with further spiritual light in due season as the church could bear it. Whereas his reasoning and learning at Athens silenced the philosophers but led few to accept the gospel, at Corinth he simply presented Christ as the crucified Saviour with the Spirit's power, showing that the gospel's effectiveness and the basis of faith are God's power, not human skill in argument.
After understanding his call to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, a call not from men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, he gave himself to much study of the Holy Scriptures so he could preach the gospel centered on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, not with wisdom of words and not trusting the wisdom of the world in which he had formerly trusted, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. His grace-empowered preaching of the cross, with angels making the Word effective, led many Corinthians to believe and be baptized, converting thousands of Jews and Gentiles.
Christ Crucified Proclaimed
The sum and substance of the message is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the risen Saviour and the cross of Calvary as the theme of the plan of salvation. Faith is therefore grounded not in elaborate argument, theory, excellency of speech, enticing words of human wisdom, flourish, boasting, pompous show, oratory, debate and philosophy, but in the power of God demonstrated through the Spirit. That preaching refuses to scatter attention to varied interesting things and errors of the world, refuses to rule conscience, and attributes success not to the man but to the power of God upon him, with angels making the Word effective to convert thousands of Jews and Gentiles.
It sets before proud theorists, exponents of false worship, critics, skeptics, and licentious sinners the true object of life, practical godliness and holiness, salvation through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It presents the affirmative truth of God's law, where obedience is life and disobedience is death.
The sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is the great central truth around which all other truths cluster. Every truth from Genesis to Revelation must be studied in the light streaming from Calvary, with the Son of God uplifted on the cross as the theme of every discourse. Faith that sees Christ in His human and divine nature stands not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God, because God has revealed Him and ordained that hidden wisdom before the world unto glory.
Power Not Human Wisdom
Faith is to stand in the power of God and in demonstration of the Spirit, not in the wisdom of men, in excellency of speech, in enticing words of man's wisdom, in persuasive argument, in learning, in reasons, or in proof. For this reason preaching is the testimony of God, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, presented simply and plainly rather than with elaborate arguments, theories, philosophy, oratory, or reliance on human ability or authority. Paul ministered in weakness and fear and much trembling, so that it would be clear the message and its results came from God. Christ crucified is Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God has made foolish the wisdom of this world and saves those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. True wisdom is not the wisdom of this world nor of the princes of this world who come to nothing, which cannot reveal or establish the wisdom of God in Christ, but the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto glory, which none of the princes of this world knew.
Receiving that hidden wisdom requires studying the Word, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and a spiritual knowledge and experience that the natural man does not have, since the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. It requires humility, knowing that all is received from God with nothing to glory in as if not received, for God has hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them unto babes, and spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Such spiritual discernment is needed to face the future, meet opposition, and be ready to be changed if alive or raised to immortal life.
Human learning, eloquence, and persuasive skill cannot by themselves convict and convert sinners or bring people to salvation. Only the Spirit's power sanctifies intellectual ability, gives power to the preaching of Christ crucified, awakens consciences, produces genuine deep and lasting conversion, transforms character through the cross, and makes the message effective as God's great power. Presenting arguments alone leaves efforts powerless, and even precious truths are made powerless when presented with human wisdom without the Spirit. Yet a believer who can give no argument can still carry convicting power when the Spirit rests on plain truth, humbling pomp and pride and bringing learned hearers to confession, and God can supply the words needed so His work does not depend on elaborate education or skill in words. Though Paul could meet oratory with oratory and philosophy with philosophy, he determined to know only Jesus Christ and Him crucified, because only God through the mighty power of the cross brings back what was lost, giving the Spirit of God instead of the spirit of the world so that spiritual things are spoken in words the Holy Ghost teaches.
Paul feared lest his work should stand in human wisdom and therefore prove fruitless and produce no harvest. Solid work therefore requires preaching Christ crucified plainly rather than preaching to please ears, presenting eternal truths plainly and keeping before the people their peril in neglecting eternal interests. It keeps self out of sight while Jesus Christ is ever lifted up and exalted, learned at the foot of the cross in order to bring sheaves to Him.
God's Hidden Wisdom Revealed
The wisdom Paul speaks of is not the wisdom of this world nor of the princes of this world who come to nothing, and that worldly wisdom cannot reveal or establish the wisdom of God in Christ. It is the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto glory. It is the things prepared for those who love Him, which eye has not seen nor ear heard nor heart conceived. That hidden wisdom was spoken among them that are perfect, meaning humble, praying, believing saints with discernment and experience in the things of His Spirit.
None of the princes of this world knew that hidden wisdom, for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. They crucified Him through ignorance, and in blindness of mind and failure to apply the prophecies of Christ where they belong, human opposition counterworked the Spirit of God and rejected the crucified Christ Jesus. That hidden wisdom no man ever can or will explain to the sense of men, for it was ordained by God before the world unto glory.
God reveals these things by His Spirit, who searches all things, even the deep things of God. Receiving them requires study of the Word, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and a spiritual knowledge and experience that the natural man does not have. The carnal and worldly-wise, though babes in Christ, are unable as natural men to receive the mysteries of salvation and the deep things of God upon the heart. Only God through the mighty power of the cross gives the Spirit of God instead of the spirit of the world, so that spiritual things are spoken in words the Holy Ghost teaches. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
God has hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them unto babes, and He has made foolish the wisdom of this world while saving them that believe by the foolishness of preaching. The world by wisdom knew not God, and men made worldly-wise by business and worldly pursuits count the preaching of the cross as foolishness, so not many wise after the flesh, mighty, or noble are called. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak to confound the mighty, and base and despised things to bring to nothing things that are, so that no flesh should glory in His presence. In every generation He gives His church a special truth and a special work hidden from the worldly-wise and prudent and revealed to the childlike and humble, found not with ecclesiastical authorities but with men and women not too learned or too wise to believe the word of God, though its advocates are few at first and are opposed and despised by the great men of the world and by a world-conforming church. This calls for humility, knowing that all is received from God with nothing to glory in as if not received.
To believers Christ crucified is Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. He is made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that he who glories must glory in the Lord.
Spirit-Empowered Preaching Today
Gospel workers must work on the principle that faith rests in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men, and this takes place when the sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is made the great central truth around which all other truths cluster, every truth from Genesis to Revelation studied in the light streaming from the cross of Calvary with the Son of God uplifted as the theme of every discourse. They resolutely refuse to display human wisdom or to exalt self, refusing to seek to be head and shoulders above their brethren, keeping self in the background and hiding self in Christ so that self does not appear and Jesus only, the Man of Calvary, appears as chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely. Then men are converted not to the human instrumentality but to Christ. This requires preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified in simplicity and meekness, in weakness and fear and trembling, without excellency of speech or enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Such preaching is possible only when ministers deeply feel their inefficiency and their entire dependence upon Christ for success. Even one who is a very great teacher must feel that without the Spirit of God working with him all education is of little account, and all need the experience of being afraid of self, sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to His words of instruction, emptying the soul-temple of foolishness, pride and folly, and inviting Jesus to take possession of heart and soul and character, leaving no pride of spirit and giving a fuller appreciation of how much more there is to be learned for Christ's sake while keeping the life-and-death question of what to do to inherit eternal life constantly before the mind. It requires studying the life of Christ until surrendering unreservedly to Him and practicing His words, becoming one with Him so that the life represents the pure principles of the Word with simplicity and meekness. Through the grace of Christ workers are made messengers of light and blessing when by earnest, persevering prayer they obtain the endowment of the Holy Spirit and go forth weighted with the burden of soul-saving, with hearts filled with zeal to extend the triumphs of the cross.
Solid work that will produce a harvest requires preaching Christ crucified plainly rather than preaching to please ears, presenting eternal truths plainly and keeping before the people their peril in neglecting eternal interests, keeping self out of sight while Christ is ever lifted up and exalted, learned at the foot of the cross in order to bring sheaves to Him. The truths for the time are to be preached through the Spirit's power by God-sent messengers who show that they are strengthened by the Spirit, not that they hold high positions, and faith must not rest on persuasive speech aimed at applause. Ministers must not follow plans of their own devising, theatrical subjects and illustrations, anecdotes, commonplace cheap illustrations, high-flown ideas far from the simplicity of Christ's teaching, phrenology, or teaching about marriage, for such inventions divert the mind from the main question, mingle the sacred and the common, belittle truth, prevent yielding the will to God, and sow imaginings that do positive harm. Faithful preaching follows the example of Christ, maintains the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus in harmony with the third angel's message, and teaches practical godliness, repentance and faith, and the positive requirements of God, so that through divine cooperation souls are converted and thought is brought into captivity to Christ.
When ministers so labor with tact, skill, circumspection, zeal according to knowledge, and Christlike meekness, fruit is seen in their labors, many souls are turned from darkness to light, many churches are established, and the work accomplished will withstand the assaults of Satan. The same power given to Paul and Apollos, to Silas and Timothy, to Peter, James, and John is just as ready for those working for Christ today, who may reveal the same distinguishing excellences as those who proclaimed the gospel in the apostolic age. True speaking is God speaking through human lips in demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that faith rests on God Himself and not on the speaker, His power and presence revealed as He speaks to hearts while ears hear teaching, hearts subdued and broken before God, hearers moved to tears and to come forward with confession and testimony, and souls enshrouded in light and filled with peace and joy that remains as food long afterward. Preaching in the Spirit's power is beyond those who are without Christ, and Christless sermons are feeble, empty, and without nourishment. In the early church plain preaching of God's Word attended by His power won multitudes to Christ, and the midnight cry was given by humble devoted people in the power of the Holy Spirit, awakening discouraged believers who heard it.
Learning Subordinate to God
Faith is to stand in the power of God and not in human wisdom or learning, and education becomes harmful when confidence in book-knowledge displaces trust in God, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. God's Word and the knowledge of God must be placed above human learning, and book knowledge and human ability must not be depended upon for the work God gives. Human ability, knowledge, and training cannot by themselves secure success in God's work apart from divine power, for true wisdom comes from God and leads to holiness and service, and confidence and effectiveness must come from God and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Students who would honor their Creator and gain true nobility through restoration of the image of God in man are to read the chapter carefully, learn all they possibly can from it, allow nothing to direct the mind into wrong channels, and do their best, which is all the Lord requires. God calls and works through people who are not renowned for learning, might, or status, so that the faith produced by their message depends on God rather than on human authority or ability. In every generation He gives His church a special truth and a special work that is hidden from the worldly-wise and prudent and revealed to the childlike and humble, calling for self-sacrifice with battles to fight and victories to win. Its advocates are few at the outset and are opposed and despised by the great men of the world and by a world-conforming church, yet God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise and the weak and base and despised things to bring to nothing the things that are, so the special truths for this time are found not with ecclesiastical authorities but with men and women who are not too learned or too wise to believe the word of God.
Workers in the gospel fail as soon as they think themselves able and efficient, even if they have knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures, because they do not understand from where their help comes. God takes care of the result when workers advance without boasting and self-sufficiency, without stopping to challenge the enemy, and trust in God through prayer, belief, and dependence. Simple, humble laymen who know how to pray and believe and trust in God will do more than self-reliant workers, for men are to stand still while the strength of God advances, and then follow.
Faith Lived and Tested
Faith that rests on God's power rather than human wisdom withstands trial and opposition, breaks down opposition, melts away scientific reasoning, and brings people to value the truth that keeps them on a solid foundation. Such faith bears the test of trial and calls for holding fast to past experience instead of trusting enticing speech. Because it stands in God's power it can endure the test of trial and opposition, giving firm reliance on God's help with hope and courage amid increasing trouble.
Those who accept Christ and wear the robe of His righteousness have faith resting not on human wisdom but on God's power, and their changed speech and conversation show they have left their former way of life. Ministers such as Paul and Apollos are only servants by whom people believed, one planting and another watering while God alone gives the increase, so neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything in himself. To divide into parties saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos is carnal and walking as men, and it condemns withdrawing from some for imagined reasons and binding up with others out of envy, strife, prejudice, jealousy, evil surmising and discord. He who plants and he who waters are one in object though their work may differ and one may emphasize another phase of truth or present the Word in a different way, and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor, so such a minister must not be condemned or made afraid that his exposition is not regarded. Cherishing envy and jealousy against brethren separates from brethren and from God and greatly hinders the manifestation of the Spirit of God, who will not be sent as Comforter and Strengthener until His people are all of one mind, loving as brethren, pitiful and courteous.
The requirement that faith stand in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men must be taken home and thought over and personally applied, because many who think they are prepared for the Lord's coming are not. With God's help that application gives understanding and calls for bearing testimony in the Lord's name, confessing Christ and telling His experience, separating from all hindrances, knowing the will of God and traveling in that pathway. Those who do this become free, all light in the Lord, brought out of darkness into His marvelous light. The second chapter of First Corinthians belongs to home reading by those preparing to be translated to immortal life, so they will no longer be babes in Christ fed with milk but will stand in right relation to truth with a close connection to God. There they discern what they need and lay hold upon it, fed with the bread of life and heavenly manna from the Word, with the oil of grace in their hearts, ready to recognize Christ, understand His will, and have Him reveal Himself day by day as they seek Him.
Careful reading and study of the chapter with discernment not wholly perverted gives one who is leading other souls in false paths a glimpse of his present condition. It shows his need while mercy still lingers to fall on the Rock and be broken so that Jesus Christ may build him up into His own likeness, after which he will cease to lead other souls in false paths. The chapter is also to be studied and practiced as practical instruction for overcoming addiction to alcohol and stimulating drink, arousing the moral powers, looking to Jesus and trusting His grace to overcome unnatural craving, regaining self-control, keeping the body in healthful condition for God's service and the intellect clear to think soberly and critically. That practice includes presenting the body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, being transformed by the renewing of the mind to prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, and glorying in the Lord instead of commending self. Seeking worldly approval by separating from God's work exchanges divine wisdom for human policy and brings loss, for influence has value only when it comes in God's way and faith must rest on God's power, not human wisdom or the favor and influence of the world.
God can work through human agents to convert even wealthy influential people whose lives have been devoted to making money, for genuine conversion is a miracle accomplished through the Holy Spirit. In work among the wealthy and influential the words of Christ are to be kept in mind and valued above gold or silver, while faith is to rest on God's power, not human wisdom. Such spiritual knowledge and experience, gained by preaching and believing the testimony of God, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and the wisdom of God in a mystery revealed by the Spirit who searches the deep things of God, is what the natural man does not have. It requires study of the Word and comparing spiritual things with spiritual rather than trusting excellency of speech or enticing words of man's wisdom, and this spiritual discernment is needed to face the future, meet opposition, and be ready to be changed if alive or brought up from the grave to immortal life.
Faith is to stand in the power of God and the demonstration of the Spirit, not in the wisdom of men, excellency of speech, persuasive argument, or learning. At Corinth Paul deliberately laid aside philosophy, oratory and elaborate reasoning to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified in weakness, meekness and simplicity, so that converts would rest on God rather than on human ability. Human skill and knowledge cannot by themselves convict and convert sinners or transform character; only the Spirit makes the truth effective and the conversion deep and lasting. What is preached is God's hidden wisdom ordained before the world, unknown to the princes of this world who crucified the Lord of glory, but revealed by the Spirit to those who love Him and discern spiritual things spiritually. Gospel workers today must labor on the same principle, hiding self in Christ and depending wholly on the Holy Spirit, so that hearers are converted to Christ and not to the instrument.
Paul's Ministry at Corinth
At Corinth Paul deliberately set aside excellency of speech and enticing words of human wisdom, refusing elaborate argument, theory, philosophy, oratory, debate, flourish, boasting, pompous show of science or eloquence, and refusing to act as a fine orator, deep philosopher, ruler over conscience or supreme despot in church order. He determined to know only Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the risen Saviour and the cross of Calvary as the sum and substance of the whole gospel and theme of the plan of salvation, presenting the affirmative truth of God's law where obedience is life and disobedience is death. He preached in simplicity and in the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, declaring God's testimony in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that attention would not be scattered from Christ to varied interesting things or errors of the world. The purpose was that faith should rest on God's power and not on human wisdom, persuasive eloquence, learning, reasons or proof, with success attributed not to the man but to the power of God upon him, lest reliance on human skill obscure the Word's power, dishonor the truth, and leave the work fruitless.
He came in weakness and fear and much trembling, in meekness, making clear that the message and its results came from God rather than human ability, authority, or persuasive skill. His lowly bearing showed that believers were to trust God rather than man, contrasting God's power with the wisdom of the world which cannot reveal or establish the wisdom of God in Christ. For a shepherd of the flock this same course requires faithful humble labor for the spiritual welfare of the church, discerning essential truth and giving it to the people, being circumspect in deportment, using capabilities with tact and skill in winning souls, having zeal according to knowledge, representing the meekness of Christ, and being a true witness and sweet savor of Christ in every place.
During his year and a half in Corinth he adapted his teaching to hearers who were carnal babes in Christ able to bear only milk and not meat, slow to learn, jealous and faultfinding, worldly wise yet babes in Christ, ignorant of divine power upon the heart and unable as natural men to receive the mysteries of salvation and the deep things of God. He therefore taught the rudiments, the very alphabet of faith, setting before proud theorists, exponents of false worship, critics, skeptics, and licentious sinners the true object of life, practical godliness and holiness, Christ and Him crucified, salvation through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He sowed seed for others to water with further spiritual light in due season as the church could bear it. Whereas his reasoning and learning at Athens silenced the philosophers but led few to accept the gospel, at Corinth he simply presented Christ as the crucified Saviour with the Spirit's power, showing that the gospel's effectiveness and the basis of faith are God's power, not human skill in argument.
After understanding his call to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, a call not from men but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, he gave himself to much study of the Holy Scriptures so he could preach the gospel centered on Jesus Christ and Him crucified, not with wisdom of words and not trusting the wisdom of the world in which he had formerly trusted, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. His grace-empowered preaching of the cross, with angels making the Word effective, led many Corinthians to believe and be baptized, converting thousands of Jews and Gentiles.
Christ Crucified Proclaimed
The sum and substance of the message is Jesus Christ and Him crucified, the risen Saviour and the cross of Calvary as the theme of the plan of salvation. Faith is therefore grounded not in elaborate argument, theory, excellency of speech, enticing words of human wisdom, flourish, boasting, pompous show, oratory, debate and philosophy, but in the power of God demonstrated through the Spirit. That preaching refuses to scatter attention to varied interesting things and errors of the world, refuses to rule conscience, and attributes success not to the man but to the power of God upon him, with angels making the Word effective to convert thousands of Jews and Gentiles.
It sets before proud theorists, exponents of false worship, critics, skeptics, and licentious sinners the true object of life, practical godliness and holiness, salvation through repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. It presents the affirmative truth of God's law, where obedience is life and disobedience is death.
The sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is the great central truth around which all other truths cluster. Every truth from Genesis to Revelation must be studied in the light streaming from Calvary, with the Son of God uplifted on the cross as the theme of every discourse. Faith that sees Christ in His human and divine nature stands not in the wisdom of men but in the power of God, because God has revealed Him and ordained that hidden wisdom before the world unto glory.
Power Not Human Wisdom
Faith is to stand in the power of God and in demonstration of the Spirit, not in the wisdom of men, in excellency of speech, in enticing words of man's wisdom, in persuasive argument, in learning, in reasons, or in proof. For this reason preaching is the testimony of God, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, presented simply and plainly rather than with elaborate arguments, theories, philosophy, oratory, or reliance on human ability or authority. Paul ministered in weakness and fear and much trembling, so that it would be clear the message and its results came from God. Christ crucified is Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God, because God has made foolish the wisdom of this world and saves those who believe by the foolishness of preaching. True wisdom is not the wisdom of this world nor of the princes of this world who come to nothing, which cannot reveal or establish the wisdom of God in Christ, but the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto glory, which none of the princes of this world knew.
Receiving that hidden wisdom requires studying the Word, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and a spiritual knowledge and experience that the natural man does not have, since the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. It requires humility, knowing that all is received from God with nothing to glory in as if not received, for God has hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them unto babes, and spiritual things are spiritually discerned. Such spiritual discernment is needed to face the future, meet opposition, and be ready to be changed if alive or raised to immortal life.
Human learning, eloquence, and persuasive skill cannot by themselves convict and convert sinners or bring people to salvation. Only the Spirit's power sanctifies intellectual ability, gives power to the preaching of Christ crucified, awakens consciences, produces genuine deep and lasting conversion, transforms character through the cross, and makes the message effective as God's great power. Presenting arguments alone leaves efforts powerless, and even precious truths are made powerless when presented with human wisdom without the Spirit. Yet a believer who can give no argument can still carry convicting power when the Spirit rests on plain truth, humbling pomp and pride and bringing learned hearers to confession, and God can supply the words needed so His work does not depend on elaborate education or skill in words. Though Paul could meet oratory with oratory and philosophy with philosophy, he determined to know only Jesus Christ and Him crucified, because only God through the mighty power of the cross brings back what was lost, giving the Spirit of God instead of the spirit of the world so that spiritual things are spoken in words the Holy Ghost teaches.
Paul feared lest his work should stand in human wisdom and therefore prove fruitless and produce no harvest. Solid work therefore requires preaching Christ crucified plainly rather than preaching to please ears, presenting eternal truths plainly and keeping before the people their peril in neglecting eternal interests. It keeps self out of sight while Jesus Christ is ever lifted up and exalted, learned at the foot of the cross in order to bring sheaves to Him.
God's Hidden Wisdom Revealed
The wisdom Paul speaks of is not the wisdom of this world nor of the princes of this world who come to nothing, and that worldly wisdom cannot reveal or establish the wisdom of God in Christ. It is the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom ordained before the world unto glory. It is the things prepared for those who love Him, which eye has not seen nor ear heard nor heart conceived. That hidden wisdom was spoken among them that are perfect, meaning humble, praying, believing saints with discernment and experience in the things of His Spirit.
None of the princes of this world knew that hidden wisdom, for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. They crucified Him through ignorance, and in blindness of mind and failure to apply the prophecies of Christ where they belong, human opposition counterworked the Spirit of God and rejected the crucified Christ Jesus. That hidden wisdom no man ever can or will explain to the sense of men, for it was ordained by God before the world unto glory.
God reveals these things by His Spirit, who searches all things, even the deep things of God. Receiving them requires study of the Word, comparing spiritual things with spiritual, and a spiritual knowledge and experience that the natural man does not have. The carnal and worldly-wise, though babes in Christ, are unable as natural men to receive the mysteries of salvation and the deep things of God upon the heart. Only God through the mighty power of the cross gives the Spirit of God instead of the spirit of the world, so that spiritual things are spoken in words the Holy Ghost teaches. Spiritual things are spiritually discerned.
God has hid these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them unto babes, and He has made foolish the wisdom of this world while saving them that believe by the foolishness of preaching. The world by wisdom knew not God, and men made worldly-wise by business and worldly pursuits count the preaching of the cross as foolishness, so not many wise after the flesh, mighty, or noble are called. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and the weak to confound the mighty, and base and despised things to bring to nothing things that are, so that no flesh should glory in His presence. In every generation He gives His church a special truth and a special work hidden from the worldly-wise and prudent and revealed to the childlike and humble, found not with ecclesiastical authorities but with men and women not too learned or too wise to believe the word of God, though its advocates are few at first and are opposed and despised by the great men of the world and by a world-conforming church. This calls for humility, knowing that all is received from God with nothing to glory in as if not received.
To believers Christ crucified is Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. He is made unto believers wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that he who glories must glory in the Lord.
Spirit-Empowered Preaching Today
Gospel workers must work on the principle that faith rests in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men, and this takes place when the sacrifice of Christ as an atonement for sin is made the great central truth around which all other truths cluster, every truth from Genesis to Revelation studied in the light streaming from the cross of Calvary with the Son of God uplifted as the theme of every discourse. They resolutely refuse to display human wisdom or to exalt self, refusing to seek to be head and shoulders above their brethren, keeping self in the background and hiding self in Christ so that self does not appear and Jesus only, the Man of Calvary, appears as chiefest among ten thousand and altogether lovely. Then men are converted not to the human instrumentality but to Christ. This requires preaching Jesus Christ and Him crucified in simplicity and meekness, in weakness and fear and trembling, without excellency of speech or enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.
Such preaching is possible only when ministers deeply feel their inefficiency and their entire dependence upon Christ for success. Even one who is a very great teacher must feel that without the Spirit of God working with him all education is of little account, and all need the experience of being afraid of self, sitting at the feet of Jesus to listen to His words of instruction, emptying the soul-temple of foolishness, pride and folly, and inviting Jesus to take possession of heart and soul and character, leaving no pride of spirit and giving a fuller appreciation of how much more there is to be learned for Christ's sake while keeping the life-and-death question of what to do to inherit eternal life constantly before the mind. It requires studying the life of Christ until surrendering unreservedly to Him and practicing His words, becoming one with Him so that the life represents the pure principles of the Word with simplicity and meekness. Through the grace of Christ workers are made messengers of light and blessing when by earnest, persevering prayer they obtain the endowment of the Holy Spirit and go forth weighted with the burden of soul-saving, with hearts filled with zeal to extend the triumphs of the cross.
Solid work that will produce a harvest requires preaching Christ crucified plainly rather than preaching to please ears, presenting eternal truths plainly and keeping before the people their peril in neglecting eternal interests, keeping self out of sight while Christ is ever lifted up and exalted, learned at the foot of the cross in order to bring sheaves to Him. The truths for the time are to be preached through the Spirit's power by God-sent messengers who show that they are strengthened by the Spirit, not that they hold high positions, and faith must not rest on persuasive speech aimed at applause. Ministers must not follow plans of their own devising, theatrical subjects and illustrations, anecdotes, commonplace cheap illustrations, high-flown ideas far from the simplicity of Christ's teaching, phrenology, or teaching about marriage, for such inventions divert the mind from the main question, mingle the sacred and the common, belittle truth, prevent yielding the will to God, and sow imaginings that do positive harm. Faithful preaching follows the example of Christ, maintains the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus in harmony with the third angel's message, and teaches practical godliness, repentance and faith, and the positive requirements of God, so that through divine cooperation souls are converted and thought is brought into captivity to Christ.
When ministers so labor with tact, skill, circumspection, zeal according to knowledge, and Christlike meekness, fruit is seen in their labors, many souls are turned from darkness to light, many churches are established, and the work accomplished will withstand the assaults of Satan. The same power given to Paul and Apollos, to Silas and Timothy, to Peter, James, and John is just as ready for those working for Christ today, who may reveal the same distinguishing excellences as those who proclaimed the gospel in the apostolic age. True speaking is God speaking through human lips in demonstration of the Spirit and power, so that faith rests on God Himself and not on the speaker, His power and presence revealed as He speaks to hearts while ears hear teaching, hearts subdued and broken before God, hearers moved to tears and to come forward with confession and testimony, and souls enshrouded in light and filled with peace and joy that remains as food long afterward. Preaching in the Spirit's power is beyond those who are without Christ, and Christless sermons are feeble, empty, and without nourishment. In the early church plain preaching of God's Word attended by His power won multitudes to Christ, and the midnight cry was given by humble devoted people in the power of the Holy Spirit, awakening discouraged believers who heard it.
Learning Subordinate to God
Faith is to stand in the power of God and not in human wisdom or learning, and education becomes harmful when confidence in book-knowledge displaces trust in God, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. God's Word and the knowledge of God must be placed above human learning, and book knowledge and human ability must not be depended upon for the work God gives. Human ability, knowledge, and training cannot by themselves secure success in God's work apart from divine power, for true wisdom comes from God and leads to holiness and service, and confidence and effectiveness must come from God and the work of the Holy Spirit.
Students who would honor their Creator and gain true nobility through restoration of the image of God in man are to read the chapter carefully, learn all they possibly can from it, allow nothing to direct the mind into wrong channels, and do their best, which is all the Lord requires. God calls and works through people who are not renowned for learning, might, or status, so that the faith produced by their message depends on God rather than on human authority or ability. In every generation He gives His church a special truth and a special work that is hidden from the worldly-wise and prudent and revealed to the childlike and humble, calling for self-sacrifice with battles to fight and victories to win. Its advocates are few at the outset and are opposed and despised by the great men of the world and by a world-conforming church, yet God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise and the weak and base and despised things to bring to nothing the things that are, so the special truths for this time are found not with ecclesiastical authorities but with men and women who are not too learned or too wise to believe the word of God.
Workers in the gospel fail as soon as they think themselves able and efficient, even if they have knowledge and understanding of the Scriptures, because they do not understand from where their help comes. God takes care of the result when workers advance without boasting and self-sufficiency, without stopping to challenge the enemy, and trust in God through prayer, belief, and dependence. Simple, humble laymen who know how to pray and believe and trust in God will do more than self-reliant workers, for men are to stand still while the strength of God advances, and then follow.
Faith Lived and Tested
Faith that rests on God's power rather than human wisdom withstands trial and opposition, breaks down opposition, melts away scientific reasoning, and brings people to value the truth that keeps them on a solid foundation. Such faith bears the test of trial and calls for holding fast to past experience instead of trusting enticing speech. Because it stands in God's power it can endure the test of trial and opposition, giving firm reliance on God's help with hope and courage amid increasing trouble.
Those who accept Christ and wear the robe of His righteousness have faith resting not on human wisdom but on God's power, and their changed speech and conversation show they have left their former way of life. Ministers such as Paul and Apollos are only servants by whom people believed, one planting and another watering while God alone gives the increase, so neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything in himself. To divide into parties saying I am of Paul and I am of Apollos is carnal and walking as men, and it condemns withdrawing from some for imagined reasons and binding up with others out of envy, strife, prejudice, jealousy, evil surmising and discord. He who plants and he who waters are one in object though their work may differ and one may emphasize another phase of truth or present the Word in a different way, and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labor, so such a minister must not be condemned or made afraid that his exposition is not regarded. Cherishing envy and jealousy against brethren separates from brethren and from God and greatly hinders the manifestation of the Spirit of God, who will not be sent as Comforter and Strengthener until His people are all of one mind, loving as brethren, pitiful and courteous.
The requirement that faith stand in the power of God and not in the wisdom of men must be taken home and thought over and personally applied, because many who think they are prepared for the Lord's coming are not. With God's help that application gives understanding and calls for bearing testimony in the Lord's name, confessing Christ and telling His experience, separating from all hindrances, knowing the will of God and traveling in that pathway. Those who do this become free, all light in the Lord, brought out of darkness into His marvelous light. The second chapter of First Corinthians belongs to home reading by those preparing to be translated to immortal life, so they will no longer be babes in Christ fed with milk but will stand in right relation to truth with a close connection to God. There they discern what they need and lay hold upon it, fed with the bread of life and heavenly manna from the Word, with the oil of grace in their hearts, ready to recognize Christ, understand His will, and have Him reveal Himself day by day as they seek Him.
Careful reading and study of the chapter with discernment not wholly perverted gives one who is leading other souls in false paths a glimpse of his present condition. It shows his need while mercy still lingers to fall on the Rock and be broken so that Jesus Christ may build him up into His own likeness, after which he will cease to lead other souls in false paths. The chapter is also to be studied and practiced as practical instruction for overcoming addiction to alcohol and stimulating drink, arousing the moral powers, looking to Jesus and trusting His grace to overcome unnatural craving, regaining self-control, keeping the body in healthful condition for God's service and the intellect clear to think soberly and critically. That practice includes presenting the body a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God, being transformed by the renewing of the mind to prove the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, and glorying in the Lord instead of commending self. Seeking worldly approval by separating from God's work exchanges divine wisdom for human policy and brings loss, for influence has value only when it comes in God's way and faith must rest on God's power, not human wisdom or the favor and influence of the world.
God can work through human agents to convert even wealthy influential people whose lives have been devoted to making money, for genuine conversion is a miracle accomplished through the Holy Spirit. In work among the wealthy and influential the words of Christ are to be kept in mind and valued above gold or silver, while faith is to rest on God's power, not human wisdom. Such spiritual knowledge and experience, gained by preaching and believing the testimony of God, Jesus Christ and Him crucified, and the wisdom of God in a mystery revealed by the Spirit who searches the deep things of God, is what the natural man does not have. It requires study of the Word and comparing spiritual things with spiritual rather than trusting excellency of speech or enticing words of man's wisdom, and this spiritual discernment is needed to face the future, meet opposition, and be ready to be changed if alive or brought up from the grave to immortal life.