Bible Studies For Life
Wisdom from God Essentials Christian Living Session 2 26 JUL 26
1 COR 1:20 (1Co 1:20 RSV) “Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”
The references are basically to lost sources who think they have human wisdom locked up. Wisdom of the world is based on human experience and reasoning, while wisdom of God is derived from divine revelation and scripture. Worldly wisdom seeks personal achievement; God's wisdom seeks to fulfill His purpose and glorify Him.
1 COR 1:21 (1Co 1:21 RSV) “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.”
JAMES 1:5 Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge wisely. God gives wisdom abundantly and graciously when we ask, IF we have the KNOWLEDGE to apply. In Peter’s Growth Process, knowledge is the key to real Christian growth, after one has the virtue (moral energy to grow. This very point is what most pastors and teachers overlook. Knowledge must come before wisdom. Without knowledge, God has nothing to work with.
PROV 29:3 (Prov 29:3 RSV) "He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but one who keeps company with harlots squanders his substance." This is like Jesus’ story of what is known as the Prodigal Son but should be called the Brother Who Stayed. Wisdom here means the ability to use the knowledge of the Law wisely.
Assuming the Christian has the knowledge for a particular situation, God, through the Holy Spirit, will give liberally the guidance to act upon this knowledge. Note specifically (2 Pet 3:18 RSV) But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen."
JAMES 1:6-8 James cautioned us that if we expect to receive God’s liberal gift we must ask in faith, “nothing wavering,” or having doubt as to whether or not God will give needed wisdom.” Doubting. i.e., going back and forth between belief and unbelief (cf. Rom. 4:20), is the lack of the virtue in Peter’s Growth Process. The back and forth is not about losing one’s salvation. It is about moving ahead or not along the Growth Path. James used the illustration of a “double-minded man” which means a drunken person who has drunken so much as to be unstable in walking.
1 COR 1:22 (1Co 1:22 RSV) “For and Greeks seek wisdom,”
See the links for a detailed discussion:
“The phrase "The Jews Demand a Sign" refers to a recurring theme in the New Testament where Jewish leaders and people request miraculous signs from Jesus to validate His authority and messianic claims. This demand for signs is emblematic of a broader skepticism and a desire for tangible proof of divine intervention, which is a significant aspect of the interactions between Jesus and the Jewish populace during His earthly ministry.”
Greek Wisdom: Each Greek school promised human flourishing through disciplined reasoning.
1 COR 1:23 (1Co 1:23 RSV) “but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles,”
Dr. Herschel H. Hobbs in his Studying Life and Work Lessons, April-June 1988, page 120 "His prayer was that God would give them the same "mind… which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:5) The purpose is that united we will glorify God. Lack of harmony in Christian fellowship shames God before the world." Look at (John 17:21 RSV) "that they may all be one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that thou hast sent me." Note "so that"! If Christians are not "one; even as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee", then the world may not believe. In fact that is far less likely to believe because of the lack of Christian unity. This certainly means unity within the SBC, but also within Christianity. There are an almost countless number of groups saying they are Christians but believing and preaching often vastly different things. Rightly so, who is the world to believe? Many of these so-called Christian groups are actually lost people preach a non-gospel. Within a local church or more, we cannot be as one as the Son is with the Father if we believe different things. This has nothing to do with style but with facts. God cannot be both "Three Persons in the Trinity" or One Person and no Trinity. One is true and one is false. Harmony cannot come at the expense of Truth. In fact, Christian Harmony is from Truth alone. Such is the "mind of Christ."
What is the “mind of Christ”? It is more than being in humble submission to the Father. It is (Mat 20:26-28 RSV) "It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant, {27} and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; {28} even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."" It is (John 13:14 RSV) "If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet." It is (John 13:34 RSV) "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." It is so much more. Dr. Hobbs summed it this way, page 95 “The mind which we have in him is not one of selfish ambition, but of self-abnegation and service.” Paul’s summary is (1 Cor 2:16 RSV) ""For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." It is living the command of Jesus as one’s Lord. Yes, come Lord Jesus!
1 COR 1:24 (1Co 1:24 RSV) “but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”
Saved people include both Jew and Greek. The only verse in the Bible that comes near to giving the Gospel in one verse is (Acts 20:21 RSV) "testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance to God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 COR 1:25 (1Co 1:25 RSV) “For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”
Even our power in thought and strength is foolishness and weakness when compared to the mighty hand of God under which we are to be made humble.
1 COR 2:9 (1Co 2:9 RSV) “But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him,"”
This is talking about New Heaven and New Earth after the White Throne Judgment of Jesus. Dr. Hershel H. Hobbs wrote in his Studying Adult Life and Work Lessons, April-June 1981, page 125, "But John said that the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. In the Greek text "the first" is repeated for both heaven and earth. This is done for emphasis. Of course, "heaven" did not refer to God's dwelling place, but to the natural sky-and earth. The old heaven and earth had fled from God's presence (see Rev. 20:11). Peter described the destruction of the present order (see 2 Pet. 3:7, 10-12) which would lead to a new heaven and a new earth, wherein dwelled righteousness (see 2 Pet. 3:7, 10-13). When God created the first heaven and earth He pronounced them as good (Gen. 1). But evil marred the creation…So now John saw a new heaven and a new earth, which would never be defiled by evil. Since this is apocalyptic symbolism, details should not be pressed. But one thing is certain. This is a place prepared by Jesus Christ for his own (see John 14:2-3)." As for the "no more sea", Dr. Hobbs wrote that "sea is seen as separating the saints from God." In the New Cosmos, the saved will never be separated from the Trinity. The Old Cosmos will be totally destroyed. The New Cosmos is to be created out of nothing just as the first (old) was. The Father is still in Heaven. This should be of great encouragement for now as it was then. The Trinity will leave Quantum Heaven and move to New Earth in the New Cosmos and will stay in whatever New Jerusalem really is. (Rev 21:22 RSV) "And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb." Just think of it. God not only sent his Son to Old Earth for us, God will move to New Earth to be with us to give us the finest possible Eternal Life experience. We were created as humans to live in the physical. God will make that physical perfect again in New Earth and it will stay that way because every person who will get to live there has chosen personally to serve God for eternity. Then to make things even more for us, we will not have to travel from New Earth to Heaven to see and fellowship with the Trinity. Taking what he did in Gen. 3 to the limit, God will forever fellowship with us on our new home planet! It is just too grand and too significant and too everything to put into words. The word "tabernacle" symbolizes the center of worship of God for eternity "is with men."
1 COR 2:10 (1Co 2:10 RSV) “God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.”
When the Holy Spirit came on Pentecost, his actions are (John 16:8 RSV) "And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:" This He does as the action agent of God's witness team. For the Christian His fundamental role is: (John 16:13 RSV) "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." As a "guide" He will not do the truth for you. But He will advise and suggest. He also "pray the Father" as Jesus did for the disciplines: (Rom 8:26-27 RSV) "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God." So truly in every way, the Holy Spirit is another Jesus of the same kind. But He is not Jesus. So to place the Holy Spirit before Jesus, as many do, is not Biblical. One of the major problems Paul encountered in his churches was the misuse of the spiritualities of 1 Cor 12 for personal gain in many forms. A big thing today is the so-called Holy Spirit revivals taking place in some major Assembly of God and a few other churches. In general all these believe the indwelling of the Holy Spirit comes sometime after salvation. Then the Holy Spirit supposedly causes shakes, dancing, and swoons for most Christians he gives second and additional "blessings." In all such displays in such churches, it is the Holy Spirit who gets the attention and becomes the focus. What does the Bible say? (John 16:14 KJV) "He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." Jesus will be the focus if the Holy Spirit does anything. He will not draw attention to himself. It is the Father who sends the Holy Sprit. Note (Luke 11:9-10 RSV) "And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. {10} For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." The context is LUKE 11:13. These verses are not general purpose prayer verses that almost everyone makes them out to be. (Luke 11:13 RSV) "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" Jesus said for his disciples to do Luke 11:9-10 to seek and be ready for the indwelling Holy Spirit the Father would send the Spirit. Therefore the Holy Spirit is of supreme importance to every Christian
1 COR 2:11-13 (1Co 2:11 RSV) “For what person knows a man's thoughts except the spirit of the man 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 which is from God, that we might understand the gifts bestowed on 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 possess the Spirit.”
Only saved people can begin to understand and appreciate the comfort of these truths.
1 COR 2:14 (1Co 2:14 RSV) “The unspiritual man does not receive the gifts of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”
Paul did say, in context with 2 Cor 12:7, (2 Cor 11:29-30 RSV) "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? {30} If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness." In context, this “weakness” is what the world thinks of Paul’s life and message. It is not what God thinks. This is the weakness Paul addresses. The lost thinks Christianity is crazy. Only a living witness of a spiritually strong Christian who is united as one with God and other Christians can make the lost accept the truth about Jesus. But having head-knowledge is not enough to gain salvation. But without is, there can be no salvation.
1 COR 2:15 (1Co 2:15 RSV) “The spiritual man judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.”
Except Jesus on the Great White Throne.
1 COR 2:16 (1Co 2:16 RSV) “"For who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.”
Paul specified exactly what the will of God for them was. It is the same for all Christians. He laid it out clear and load to all of his churches:
1. (Col 1:9-10 RSV) "And so, from the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, {10} to lead a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
2. (Rom 12:2 RSV) "Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” “Do not be conformed” means do not live according to the style or manner of this present age. It is a lifestyle of growing into maturity Christianity: To be children worthy of the Father. (Eph 2:10 RSV) "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." “Walk” is a voluntary personal do-it-yourself action. Thus God does not make a Christian be a good Christian. How the Christian lives depends strictly upon his or her own choices.
APPLY THE WHOLE BIBLE BEFORE YOU STATE A DOCTRINE!
Best Study Guide: How to Study the Bible Principles with Bible, A Study Sources by Orin T. Binkley.
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