‏ 1 Corinthians 2

* The plain manner in which the apostle preached Christ

crucified. (1-5) The wisdom contained in this doctrine. (6-9) It

cannot be duly known but by the Holy Spirit. (10-16)

1-5 Christ, in his person, and offices, and sufferings, is the

sum and substance of the gospel, and ought to be the great

subject of a gospel minister's preaching, but not so as to leave

out other parts of God's revealed truth and will. Paul preached

the whole counsel of God. Few know the fear and trembling of

faithful ministers, from a deep sense of their own weakness They

know how insufficient they are, and are fearful for themselves.

When nothing but Christ crucified is plainly preached, the

success must be entirely from Divine power accompanying the

word, and thus men are brought to believe, to the salvation of

their souls. 6-9 Those who receive the doctrine of Christ as Divine, and,

having been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, have looked well

into it, see not only the plain history of Christ, and him

crucified, but the deep and admirable designs of Divine wisdom

therein. It is the mystery made manifest to the saints, #Col

1:26|, though formerly hid from the heathen world; it was only

shown in dark types and distant prophecies, but now is revealed

and made known by the Spirit of God. Jesus Christ is the Lord of

glory; a title much too great for any creature. There are many

things which people would not do, if they knew the wisdom of God

in the great work of redemption. There are things God hath

prepared for those that love him, and wait for him, which sense

cannot discover, no teaching can convey to our ears, nor can it

yet enter our hearts. We must take them as they stand in the

Scriptures, as God hath been pleased to reveal them to us. 10-16 God has revealed true wisdom to us by his Spirit. Here is

a proof of the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, #2Pe

1:21|. In proof of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, observe, that

he knows all things, and he searches all things, even the deep

things of God. No one can know the things of God, but his Holy

Spirit, who is one with the Father and the Son, and who makes

known Divine mysteries to his church. This is most clear

testimony, both to the real Godhead and the distinct person of

the Holy Spirit. The apostles were not guided by worldly

principles. They had the revelation of these things from the

Spirit of God, and the saving impression of them from the same

Spirit. These things they declared in plain, simple language,

taught by the Holy Spirit, totally different from the affected

oratory or enticing words of man's wisdom. The natural man, the

wise man of the world, receives not the things of the Spirit of

God. The pride of carnal reasoning is really as much opposed to

spirituality, as the basest sensuality. The sanctified mind

discerns the real beauties of holiness, but the power of

discerning and judging about common and natural things is not

lost. But the carnal man is a stranger to the principles, and

pleasures, and actings of the Divine life. The spiritual man

only, is the person to whom God gives the knowledge of his will.

How little have any known of the mind of God by natural power!

And the apostles were enabled by his Spirit to make known his

mind. In the Holy Scriptures, the mind of Christ, and the mind

of God in Christ, are fully made known to us. It is the great

privilege of Christians, that they have the mind of Christ

revealed to them by his Spirit. They experience his sanctifying

power in their hearts, and bring forth good fruits in their

lives.