Ch,7, Continued The Spirit and getting in -Revelation by the Spirit

Revelation by the Spirit.

1) The Essential Content of the Gospel came to Paul by Revelation (by the Spirit).

1Co 2:10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

1Co 2:11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

1Co 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

1Co 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

1Co 2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.

1Co 2:16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Eph 3:5 which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Eph 3:6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Eph 3:7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.

Gods Secret wisdom is revealed by the Spirit who knows the thoughts of God. We have received the Spirit that we may understand what god has freely given us. This is taught not by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, because it is spiritually discerned. - The Spiritual man makes judgments about all things – we have the mind of Christ.

The Gospel stands, at its profoundest point, in utter contradiction to human wisdom. God has redeemed our fallen race by means of the ultimate contradiction in human terms, a Crucified Messiah.

Paul's argument with the Corinthians was that they were considering themselves people of the Spirit. Yet they abandoned the cross as central. God's mystery revealed by the Spirit is the content of the Gospel.

Without the Spirit who knows the Mind of God. Human wisdom cannot understand God's Redemption by a Crucified Suffering Messiah. They were caught up in a false spirituality sidestepping discipleship marked by the cross.

2. Ephesians 3:2-13, this mystery, Gods hidden wisdom is now revealed by the Spirit..v3, v.5. where Gentiles are included as fellow heirs with Israel. This is the Revelation that came by the Spirit. (1:13-14; 2:1;22)Eph 2:22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

The amazing thing about this Revelation concerning the gentiles was that they should enter 'torah-free' (free from the observance of the Jewish law). i.e. one new humanity of two peoples. Eph 2:14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility

Eph 2:15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace,

cp.1 Cor 12:13; Eph 3:5 1 Cor 14:24-25

2Co 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Prophetic utterances can remove

the veil that is blinding their minds by unveiling the believer's heart and lay it bare before all. 1Co 14:22 Thus tongues are a sign not for believers but for unbelievers, while prophecy is a sign not for unbelievers but for believers.

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Conversion is the Sovereign act of God, carried out by the Holy Spirit. Romans 10:14-15 Believing is a hinge point between our 'hearing the Gospel.” What is external becomes internal by the working of the Holy Spirit. He is the INITIATOR of Faith and then is received by the same faith. -----------------