I Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Truth by Submission
I just finished reading a book for the second time about how we think is being changed by the internet. Actually, I read it while driving 1500 miles from Arizona to the Bill Rice Ranch. How does one read while driving? Well, I listened to the book on my iPhone which kind of illustrates the point of the book that our thinking changes with the tools that we use. We used to be a literate society, using words on paper, but we are becoming an internet society where the way we measure and value IQ has changed.
I Corinthians 2 reminds us that there is a different and far more important kind of IQ than that measured by your understanding of the world or your capacity to do so. I Corinthians 2 speaks of the wisdom of man in contrast to the wisdom of God.
Paul says in verse 1, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Then he contrasts the wisdom of men with the wisdom of God.
We have no way of comprehending God’s truth apart from God’s help. Verse 10 says, “But God hath revealed them [hidden things] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?” No one else can know what is in a person’s heart. Paul continues, “Even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” The only way to comprehend God’s truth and wisdom is by submission to God’s Spirit.
What I know of the truth is not primarily a matter of intellect, but a matter of submission. I can’t comprehend the words if I don’t even know the language. Not long ago I was privileged to preach at a church on a reservation where the language people speak is unique to that town. On a couple of occasions I heard people talking in the tribal language, but I couldn’t understand the words since I did not know the language. Likewise, you can’t understand God’s truth if you don’t understand God.
I Corinthians 2:12 tells us, “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” The truth is freely given to us by God, and it is spiritually received. It is not something we buy or deserve. I can’t know God’s truth if I won’t submit to God’s Spirit. “For who hath known the mind of the Lord,” verse 16 says, “that He may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” No one can instruct God because no one can comprehend God’s limitless mind, but when I have the mind of Christ, I have the wisdom of God. That is a matter of submission more than it is a matter of intellect.