1 Corinthians 2:10b-16 (NIV)
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, for,
“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”
But we have the mind of Christ.
The difference between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom that is from God is its source. Mere human wisdom comes from the mind and spirit of human beings. As such, it is limited by the material world. It cannot see beyond what can be seen or touched and is also limited by the imperfections of the human brain, by emotions, education, and state of health.
God’s wisdom, on the other hand, is given to those who belong to God and who serve Him through the power and presence of his Holy Spirit, which dwells in the center of each person who turns to Jesus for salvation. Because God’s wisdom comes from His own mind and heart, it is unlimited in breadth and depth of knowledge. It is not limited to the physical dimension and is freely accessible to anyone who belongs to Jesus, regardless of age, physical health, or educational level.
This godly wisdom makes it possible for those with God’s Spirit to understand the things written in his word, even things that are completely incomprehensible to scholars and academics who try to discern the truth contained in the Scriptures using mere human wisdom and intellect. Without the light of God’s Holy Spirit in their hearts, the words of Scripture and the truth that they are communicating seem like mere foolishness.
Unfortunately, greater education and persuasive arguments will never help someone to see the spiritual truth which are so easily understood by those with the Holy Spirit. It is only when a person has repented, believed in Jesus, and receive salvation and the Holy Spirit for themselves that they will have their eyes opened so that they can see and understand these spiritual truths themselves. Fortunately for them, God’s Spirit is continually at work in them, drawing them to Jesus (John 12:32), and convicting them concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8-11), so that they have the ability to repent and receive if they are willing.
Lord, I have seen Christians and non-believers engaged in sometimes heated discussions about what seems to the Christian simple spiritual truths. But there is no mutual understanding, or any real communication going on, because each person is seeing something completely different. The spiritual truth that seems so obvious to the Christian is completely invisible to the non-believer because they do not have access to the Holy Spirit who makes that truth plain to those who belong to you. So, both of them speak past each other, as if they come from two different cultures and speak two different languages, which they actually do! Lord, help me to assimilate this spiritual truth, and to pray for the salvation of those I am trying to share these amazing truths with, so that they can turn to You, have their eyes open through salvation and receiving your Holy Spirit, and be able at last to truly see. Amen.