Morning Meditation - 9/22/08

IT PAYS TO ADOPT THE ROAD TO MATURITY
1 Cor. 2:6-8

Verse 6-8 says, “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: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

Paul is making an explanation to the Christians in Corinth about the difference in one’s ability to understand the truth that is being proclaimed and being completely puzzled by it. In the first five verses of this chapter, he gives us one of the great passages that explains his first approach in preaching the gospel when he came to Corinth. (There is a meditation on 1 Cor. 2:1-5 on the web page that you can download and read). Let’s take a look at what Paul is saying here.

TO WHOM HE IS SPEAKING

He says, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect.” The words “we speak” are a present tense verb and mean that he is referring to the present message that he and other ministers of the Word were speaking in that day. The “we” lets us know that he does not have a corner on the “mystery.” The simple gospel that we preach is over the head of the unsaved and the immature. There were carnal Christians in Corinth and I believe Paul is explaining that the truth of the Scriptures goes right past them. There are people who sit in church for years and never grow. They may be saved because they do give a testimony of salvation. So I will not be their judge. But it is obvious that they are spiritually immature and have real problems dealing with spiritual matters. The word “perfect” translates “teleios” and is a word meaning, “brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness.” A mature person in Adam is full grown both mentally and physically. In Christ a mature person is a person who has heard and accepted the Word of God as his rule of faith and practice and is surrendered to the Lordship of Christ to the extent of absolute obedience. He is walking in the Spirit and this means that he has made himself totally available to all that the Lord Jesus wants for him. Then Paul adds that what he is saying is not according to the wisdom of this world. This message is different and contrary to the wisdom of the world.

HE EXPLAINS THE NATURE OF THE MYSTERY

He says in verse 7, “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery.” The word “mystery” translates “musterion” and means, “hidden thing, secret, mystery, generally mysteries, religious secrets.” There are a lot of cults built on this precept. The Mason’s are an organization like this. The fact is the Lord didn’t establish that organization, He established the Church (Matt. 16:18) and anyone who takes that position is in darkness while he speaks. You cannot get more light anywhere on this earth than you can in a New Testament Church (Eph. 3:21). And you won’t get it there unless you are committed to the path of maturity. Why does Paul say that the message of the Scripture is a “mystery?” Verses 14-15 explain it: “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. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” The natural man reasons with the wisdom of this world. It is of the flesh. The Spiritual man has the capacity to understand the things of God and to put them in proper perspective, i.e., “he that is spiritual judgeth (discerns) all things.” (Parenthesis mine for emphasis).

It takes illumination to understand God’s revelation. Every born again believer has been given the capacity to understand the things of God. But having that capacity is not enough. He must operate under the Lordship of Christ which is ministered through the Word and empowered by the Holy Spirit’s presence. The carnal Christian is one who is truly saved but is operating according to the wisdom of this world. This is the reason Paul says in chapter 3 and verses 1 and 2, “And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”

The mystery of which Paul speaks was ordained by God “before the world unto our glory.” God had this gospel that we preach in mind from the beginning. It was revealed in type in the Old Testament. Man was given the law to prove to him that his fallen condition was so serious that he could not meet God’s standards and was therefore helplessly lost without a sacrifice (Gal. 3:24). Jesus was and is that Sacrifice. God is beginning a new race through the new creation called the New Birth. He does not repair the old, He creates a new man in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17). He has no plans to save the flesh (1 Cor. 15:50). The kingdom of God operates with the new man in Christ. If one lapses back to the old man, he operates as all the other religions of this world on the basis of human wisdom, and his reasoning is always on the basis of human rationalism. He can do nothing but give his church and pastor problems. The Bible is not his rule of faith and practice but rather his interpretation of the Bible.

THE REASON FOR THE CRUCIFIXION

Paul says, Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”

The word “princes” translates “archon” and means, “rulers, commanders, chiefs, leaders.” Jesus got the official condemnation of crucifixion from the leaders of this world. The words “princes of this world” refer to both the Jews and the Romans. The word “knew” translates “ginosko” and means, “to know, understand, perceive, have knowledge of.” It is a perfect active indicative verb. The perfect tense is completed action in the past that completed action having present results. Now to translate that where we can understand it. The princes of this world had not accepted the truth of the gospel couched in Old Testament pictures and prophecies, did not listen to Jesus when He came and therefore, did not accept him so that they would be given the capacity to understand the mystery, and they remain in this condition as Paul writes this epistle. When Jesus came He found them blind, by their own choice they remained blind, and by their choice they continue in that condition.
They did not have to be that way. It was a choice that they had made. To prove that, I give you two illustrations. First, there was Simeon. This story is recorded in Luke 2:25-33. When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus into the Temple for circumcision, Simeon was there. He is said to be “just” and “devout” and “waiting on the consolation of Israel.” Remember this is what God says about him. When Joseph and Mary brought Jesus in, Simeon took Jesus in his arms and said, “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart (die) in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (parenthesis mine for emphasis). This man was conversant with the Holy Spirit on Old Testament grounds. He was a saved man with the God-given capacity to understand Spiritual things.

Second, there was a godly woman that served God in the Temple night and day who was there when they brought Jesus in as a baby. Luke 2:36-38 says, “And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem. And when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.” This woman was saved and had the capacity to discern Spiritual things. She stood on Old Testament grounds and recognized Jesus when she saw Him. Glory to God and the Lamb forever!!!

Paul said by inspiration of God, “for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” Saved people didn’t crucify Jesus. It was the unsaved religious leaders. The Jews had the true religion but did not have the faith of Simeon or Anna. They claimed to be Abraham’s seed and they were after the flesh. But when they made this claim to Jesus we are told in John 8:33: “They answered him, We be Abraham’s seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?” Then in John 8:37 He says, “I know that ye are Abraham’s seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you.” Then John 8:39 says, “They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham’s children, ye would do the works of Abraham.”

It pays to adopt the road to maturity. When a person is saved, he is made a new person in Christ. He is a babe and is given the capacity for spiritual growth. The only way to grow is to walk by faith under the Lordship of Christ through His Word. We need to present our bodies a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:10), which means that we become totally available to the Lord to do with us and through us what He wants. When this happens, He will use us. We will enjoy the things of the Lord. The trials will be there but so will He. We will constantly be fed from His Word because we have Spiritual discernment. We understand the “mystery.” The carnal Christian will not get the same thing out of reading the Word. He will hear your testimony and he will want what you have. He will probably never get it because he will not make a break with the world, the flesh, and the devil. Oh yes, there are saved people like that. There are those who will be saved so as by fire (1 Cor. 3:15). I urge you to make a choice to get on the road to maturity. The way it takes place is to confess you are not there. He will forgive you. At that point the blood of Christ cleanses from all sin. You can’t be more right than the blood of Christ makes you. Now give yourself to Him without reservation. Don’t be afraid. He will not ask to do anything that He will not enable you to do. It may be to continue doing what you are presently doing but with a different attitude. The way to maintain that walk in the Spirit is to deal with sin as it comes up with immediate confession. The blood will keep on cleansing you from all sin. It will be the blood that keeps you right and not the energy of the flesh. Jesus does not want your sweat but your REST IN HIM.

May the Lord bless these word to our hearts.