The Mysteries of God

 Temple Baptist Church - 5-7-2025

1 Corinthians 2:6-14

 

Introduction:  As we read our text, we find that there are two classes of people seen in these verses: saved and unsaved.  Those who understand the revealed mysteries of the Bible are the saved, and those who not only do not understand, but cannot understand, are the unsaved.

 

A.  In our text, in verse 6, we find the word “wisdom,” and in verse 7, we find the word “mystery.” 

 

1.  These two words are tied together.  Here is the tie: the wisdom of God has been, to this point, a mystery.  The third word that defines mystery is “hidden.”

 

2.  A biblical mystery is not something that we must investigate to understand.  Sherlock Holmes could never find out what the mystery was through his investigative prowess.  “Mystery” means to close the mouth, or something not previously said, a silence imposed. 

 

3.  When “mystery” is used, it is always followed by a vocal answer to explain it.  A “mystery” is a biblical truth not yet revealed.  Though it is a mystery to the world, according to verse 6, it is understood by the mature believer. 

 

4.  That which was silent could not be known through world investigation but became known to the believer through the Scriptures.

 

B.  However, Paul never used it in that way. Rather, that which had been silent has now become vocal. That which had not been known and could not be known by human investigation is now made known through the revelation of Scripture.

 

C. Some things remain hidden or a mystery because it is not time to be revealed.

 

Deuteronomy 29:29  The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.

 

Ephesians 3:1-5  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; (as I wrote afore in few words,  (4)  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)  (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;

 

D.  We often misinterpret verse 9 by applying it to the children of God who have not seen, heard, or even thought of what God has prepared for them. While that may be a right application to some degree, it is not the correct interpretation of verse 9.

 

 

E.  Verses 10-13 clarify this by saying that the children of God know these truths through the teaching of the Holy Spirit and the illumination of the Word of God, while these same truths remain a mystery to the world.

 

1.  We have seen the New Heaven, the New Earth, and the New Jerusalem through the Spirit of God and the Bible.

 

2.  We have heard with our ears about this wonderful place called heaven.

 

3. These blessed truths of the Bible have taken root in our hearts as we have meditated on and envisioned what God has said in the Bible.

 

F.  The contextual interpretation indicates that the world knows nothing about what God has prepared for His children. Consider the preceding verses 6-8. 

 

G.  Verse 14.  The natural man has no understanding of spiritual things.

 

1.  The natural man will not receive the things of God because they are foolishness to them.  Why?  Because he/she refuses the truth of God’s Word.  They want no part of it and will never have any part of it.  Their refusal is willful.

 

2.  The natural man cannot discern the things of God because they are spiritually discerned.  The natural man does not have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to aid in understanding.  These things are discerned spiritually, not physically.

 

Matthew 11:15  He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. 

 

Paul’s words imply that although everyone has ears to hear in the physical realm, not everyone has spiritual ears and understanding to listen and take in things of a spiritual nature.

 

H.  Why the natural man cannot understand the mysteries of God.

 

1.  Natural Man Is Spiritually Dead - Ephesians 2:1-3  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

 

John 6:63  It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

 

2.  The Natural Man Has Not The Spirit Of God - Isaiah 11:2-3  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;  And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

 

Romans 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

 

3.  The Natural Man Is Blinded By Satan - 2 Corinthians 4:3-4  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost:  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 

a.  Blinded By The Cares Of This World - Mark 4:18-19  And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,   And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.

 

Isaiah 56:11  Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.

 

b.  Blinded By Self - Ephesians 4:17-20  This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  But ye have not so learned Christ;

 

c.  Blinded by Sin - Daniel 12:9-10  And he said, Go thy way, Daniel: for the words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end.  Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

 

Romans 1:28-32  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

 

4.  They Have No Understanding Because They Do Not Seek After God - Psalms 14:2  The LORD looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

 

Romans 3:11  There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

 

5.  They Fail To Understand God’s Word - Matthew 13:14-15  And in them is fulfilled the prophecy of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:  For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.

 

Acts 8:30-31  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

 

1 Timothy 1:7  Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

 

6.  They Fail To Understand Man’s Depravity And God’s Righteousness - Matthew 15:16-20  And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding?  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught?  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:  These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

 

7.  They Fail To Understand God’s Peace - Philippians 4:7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

a.  Peace In The Storms Of Life - Mark 4:39  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.

 

b.  Peace In The Sorrows Of Life - John 16:20  Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.

 

8.  They Fail To Understand The Will Of The Lord - Ephesians 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

 

a.  God’s Will In Salvation - Galatians 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

 

2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 

b.  God’s Will In Sanctification - 1 Thessalonians 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

 

Romans 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

c.  God’s Will In Service - Acts 13:36  For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption:

 

9.  They Fail To Understand The Judgment Of God - Proverbs 28:5  Evil men understand not judgment: but they that seek the LORD understand all things.

 

10.  They Fail To Understand Israel, God’s Chosen People - Micah 4:11-12  Now also many nations are gathered against thee, that say, Let her be defiled, and let our eye look upon Zion.  But they know not the thoughts of the LORD, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

 

11.  They Fail To Understand Our Relationship With Christ - 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.

 

12.  They Fail To Understand God’s Inheritance - Ephesians 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

 

13.  They Fail to Understand The Unsearchable Riches Of Christ - Ephesians 3:3-9  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)  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 the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:  Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.  Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;