THE THINGS OF GOD
1 Corinthians 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 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. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 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. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.
It is very clear in this letter of the Apostle Paul’s to the church at Corinth that God cannot be known by man through the efforts of his own reasonings! In verse nine he instructs us that neither man’s eye, nor his ear have ability to obtain the things that only sovereign regeneration can produce. For he states in the very next verse that the Holy Spirit hath revealed (past tense) these Things of God unto us, that is, into the hearts of those whom he applies Christ’s atonement. For it is only the Holy Spirit who can search out and give us, by revelation, the deep things of God.
The Lord Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born from above in order to be raised up both to see, and to enter into an understanding of his spiritual kingdom. (John 3:3,5,8). For revelation does not come from man climbing up Jack’s magical Bean Stalk to find the golden egg! The knowledge of the Things of God only come down from God sending his Son to us! John 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
The Lord also make this very clear to Peter. Matthew 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. 17 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. Peter did not get that as the “son of Jonas!” For that can exclusively be had by a revelation from the Heavenly Father!
And consider these words the the Apostle Paul writes to the church at Ephesus: Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; … 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That mystery spoken of in verse three was the gospel. And it was said that it was made known only by revelation. The gospel revealed may provide along with it an inspiration and an education, but it is only given by revelation.
Every individual believer is exclusively taught of God, and they are all brought to His Son! John 6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 1 John 5:20 And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Now there are those natural witnesses of the existence of God that can only render man inexcusable for not knowing him. These have no power to regenerate, but only to take away all excuses for denying his existence! Acts 14:17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
And there are also the scriptures that grant a witness of the Being and character of God. But we are not to imagine that we have eternal life even in them. John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. For the written word is to bring us to the Person of the Living Word!
For the writings of the Holy Scriptures are unique apart from all other religious writings. John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 21:25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.
Consider these verses which are the Person of the Word’s instruction for our proper relating to the scriptures. Therefore they show God’s purpose for the scriptures. Luke 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 27 And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.
Luke 24:44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, 46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
For the Old Testament economy was replaced and superseded by belief in the very Person of the Word, who was with God, and who is God! John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In other words, “Ye that believe in the God of Abraham, and in the God who parted the Red Sea, believe that I AM that very God!” John 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father? John 10:30 I and my Father are one.
For it was this Person who became flesh and dwelt among men! John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
For there have been dedicated religionists who have given their lives to the study of the scriptures, but have not come to know and receive the Person of the Word. And without a personal revelation of Christ by the Holy Spirit they will become guilty of denying and rejecting Him! Acts 13:27 For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him.
And we need be careful of misusing the benefit of associating with the human “epistles” of every true believer in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: For the world’s saying is, “You can’t tell a book by its cover.” But the scriptures state, But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1Sam. 16:7.
There is more of God to be seen in these living “epistles” of righteous believers, than men’s natural eye can perceive. Matthew 25:44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
But sad to say, most religious societies have not eyes to envision the glory of Christ manifest through the lives of righteous believers! For they neither know Christ, or his Bride and Body, as they only seek them in the flesh! 2 Corinthians 5:16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
How sad also are the words of God to the prophet Isaiah in regards to the book of the scriptures and its association with those outside the realm of redemption. They might be in the realm of an organized religious society, but they are not in the spiritual organism of the Body of Christ – the true church! Isaiah 8:16 Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples. 17 And I will wait upon the LORD, that hideth his face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for him. 18 Behold, I and the children whom the LORD hath given me are for signs and for wonders in Israel from the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth in mount Zion. 19 And when they shall say unto you, Seek unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto wizards that peep, and that mutter: should not a people seek unto their God? for the living to the dead?
Redemption and revelation go hand in hand. For John was caused to weep much as there was no one to open the book, due to an absence of worthiness! But when his eyes were directed to look upon the Worthy One, his tears stopped and the administration of the King of kings was laid out!
Revelation 5:1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals. 2 And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof? 3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon. 4 And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon. 5 And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof. 6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth. 7 And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne. 8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
As in 1 John 5:20, listed above, we only have an understanding of the things of the Lord God, as we receive the Worthy One to open to us the spiritual things of God! Again we read in our lesson, For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
None will get into heaven, nor even into the spiritual revelation of the scriptures apart from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. And that answers Judas’ question. John 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Pastor Gene Breed
July 1, 2015
