The Deep Things of God
A Sermon on 1 Corinthians 2:1-16
Scripture
1And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3And I was with you in weakness, …
Sermon Description
In this sermon on 1 Corinthians 2:1-16, Dr. Martyn-Lloyd Jones explains three things about modern humanity that are worth noting. First, amidst all their problems, though baffled, the modern person will listen to any counsel but the Bible. Second, people today are hero worshippers, but have no interest in the greatest hero, Jesus Christ. Third, humanity is interested in great events, yet passes by the cross unconcerned by its magnitude. Through careful exegesis of a portion of Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, Dr. Lloyd-Jones exposes that before people are converted to God’s fold, humanity’s primary issue is that he approaches the world wrongly. He thinks that by observation, science, and philosophy that he can answer the questions of life. Dr. Lloyd-Jones then reveals the splendor of the truth of God. God gives us the mind of Christ upon conversion and the Spirit that searches for the deep things of God. It is with this mind that we can become spiritually discerning, since it is given to us by the creator and inventor of these truths. The natural man does not understand the things of God and the world's eyes are darkened to these truths but if Christ is embraced, Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains, Christians must prepare to become “fools for Christ's sake.”
Sermon Breakdown
- The apostle Paul is dealing with one theme in 1 Corinthians 2 - the contrast between God's wisdom and human wisdom.
- Human wisdom is based on man's ability, experimentation, and reason. The scientific method observes facts, forms theories, tests theories, and makes discoveries.
- God's wisdom is based on revelation from the Spirit. It is not discovered but given by God. Spiritual things can only be understood through the Spirit.
- The subject matter of human wisdom is the natural, physical world. The subject matter of God's wisdom is God Himself - the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. This makes human wisdom incompetent to understand spiritual things.
- The gospel is the wisdom of God in a mystery - Christ crucified. This is foolishness to human wisdom but the power of God to those being saved.
- We should thank God that salvation does not depend on human wisdom or ability. If it did, few would be saved. But as the power of God, the gospel can save all who believe.
- Men reject the gospel because they rely on their own wisdom and understanding. They see the gospel as an insult to their intelligence. But human wisdom comes to nothing, while the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.
- To receive the gospel, we must stoop down in humility and drink of the living water - Christ Himself. We must become fools to become wise.
Itinerant Preaching
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.