“‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ … these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit.” – 1 Corinthians 2:9
Is it REALLY so hard to believe the Gospel message – that God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son? And is it REALLY so hard to believe that this same Jesus desires to live inside you and continue His great work through you?
For many people, the answer is … YES. In 1 Corinthians 2:7, Paul reveals the main reason so many smart people don’t believe the gospel message. They don’t believe it, because they don’t understand it. And they don’t understand it, because God has hidden its true wisdom from them. Why would He do that?
One reason is found in 1 Corinthians 1:29: “So that no one can boast before Him.” If there’s one thing that God hates, it’s pride. So, if someone comes to God proud, puffed up and full of himself, God will intentionally hide the wisdom of the cross from him. But if you come to God with a humble heart and a teachable spirit, the outcome will be very different. His Holy Spirit will reveal to you the wisdom that, because of your former arrogance, was once hidden from you.
When someone comes to God with a humble heart, sees the truth of the cross and accepts Jesus as Lord, wisdom begins. But it’s ONLY the beginning. The Word of God has been described as a river: Certain parts are very shallow, where even a little lamb can safely get a drink of water. Other parts of the river are deep enough for an elephant to disappear under the depths. As Christians, we shouldn’t spend our entire lives only sipping in the shallow end.
In 1 Corinthians 2:9, Paul writes: “As it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived’ … these are the things God has revealed to us by His Spirit.” In Old Testament times, no one was able to see, hear or even imagine the cross of Jesus and what it would mean to hopeless sinners like you and me. But with the help of the Holy Spirit, we have been blessed with insight and understanding. We can experience God’s love in a way that no one in ages past could.
Jesus Christ has blessed every Christian with the gift of His Holy Spirit for many reasons, including THIS reason in verse 12: “that we may understand what God has freely given us.” The Holy Spirit has access to all of God’s wisdom and understands every bit of it. So, if you’re a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is your COUNSELOR, giving you the best advice; your REMINDER, reminding you of what Jesus has taught you in Scripture; and your TEACHER, teaching you about who God is and what He requires of you. The Holy Spirit gives you insight and wisdom you could never have had on your own. To God be the glory!
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