Why Won't They Believe? - Himalayan Heights – May 20 Readings: Super 7 – 1 Corinthians 2:14
Super 7 - Key Scriptures for All Christians
All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, but there are some Scriptures that we can consider the Himalayan mountaintops of the Bible. In the next few months, we will be looking at a series of great texts that inspire and move us - the "Himalayan Heights" of God's Word.
Today's Reading: 1 Corinthians 2:14
The "Super 7" refers to 7 passages I consider formative in my Bible Study and Christian life. They are taken from both the Old Testament and the New, various sources and various subjects.
Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 to get the full background of our key verse.
Read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 to get the full background of our key verse.
But the person without the Spirit does not receive what comes from God’s Spirit, because it is foolishness to him; he is not able to understand it since it is evaluated spiritually.
Through the Bible Readings: 1 Kings 5-6, John 4:20–45, Psalm 65:1–7, Proverbs13:13-14
If you wish to read through the Bible in a year, follow these readings.
Devotional: Why Won't They Believe?
Why can't he understand? Why won't she listen?
Have you ever beat your head against the wall wondering why someone you love can't seem to get the beauty of your faith in Jesus Christ? You share the gospel and they either just don't get it or they think it is some kind of fairy tale. To you, it is everything - Jesus is life and hope and joy. And he is very real. But for this person you love and care about, nothing seems to sink in.
There is a reason for this, one that Paul explained in detail in 1 Corinthians 2. The message we share, the gospel we preach, the truth we proclaim from the Word we believe - it is "God's hidden wisdom." (Verse 7) We are not talking about some kind of gnostic secret only known to the initiated. This wisdom has been publicly proclaimed and it is clearly revealed in the Scriptures. But God reveals these things by the Spirit (verse 10) and only those who have received the Spirit (verse 12) can understand and process this truth from God. Our key verse today, verse 14, spells it out. Without the Holy Spirit, the things of God are nonsense and they cannot understand.
It is not that we who believe are smarter or nobler than those who do not believe. That was made clear in chapter 1. The difference is that we have received the Spirit of God through the grace of Jesus Christ and the Spirit has opened our minds to the truth of God.
He is the Spirit of Truth, the one who reveals the things of God to the people of God. The disciples went everywhere with Jesus but never understood him. They were constantly falling all over themselves in confusion, saying foolish things and misunderstanding even Jesus' simplest teachings. Then, at Pentecost, the Spirit fell on them and suddenly they understood it all. Peter, the disciple voted "Most Likely to Say Something Stupid" three years running, suddenly stood up before the hostile crowd, delivered the gospel with clarity and power and 3000 souls were saved.
It is not that your lost friend or family member will not listen and believe. The minds of the unbelieving have been blinded by Satan and are in slavery to his lies. It is only when the Spirit of God opens our minds and hearts that we are able to understand the truth, believe God and follow his word.
Our job is to proclaim God's truth clearly, consistently, and comprehensively. We must tell everyone the truth of Jesus Christ. We must love them with the love of Christ and live in the power of Christ that they might see. But ultimately, we cannot coerce or even convince people. Only the Spirit of God can open the sinful mind. We preach and then we pray, "Lord, may your Spirit convince them of your truth."
Have you ever beat your head against the wall wondering why someone you love can't seem to get the beauty of your faith in Jesus Christ? You share the gospel and they either just don't get it or they think it is some kind of fairy tale. To you, it is everything - Jesus is life and hope and joy. And he is very real. But for this person you love and care about, nothing seems to sink in.
There is a reason for this, one that Paul explained in detail in 1 Corinthians 2. The message we share, the gospel we preach, the truth we proclaim from the Word we believe - it is "God's hidden wisdom." (Verse 7) We are not talking about some kind of gnostic secret only known to the initiated. This wisdom has been publicly proclaimed and it is clearly revealed in the Scriptures. But God reveals these things by the Spirit (verse 10) and only those who have received the Spirit (verse 12) can understand and process this truth from God. Our key verse today, verse 14, spells it out. Without the Holy Spirit, the things of God are nonsense and they cannot understand.
It is not that we who believe are smarter or nobler than those who do not believe. That was made clear in chapter 1. The difference is that we have received the Spirit of God through the grace of Jesus Christ and the Spirit has opened our minds to the truth of God.
He is the Spirit of Truth, the one who reveals the things of God to the people of God. The disciples went everywhere with Jesus but never understood him. They were constantly falling all over themselves in confusion, saying foolish things and misunderstanding even Jesus' simplest teachings. Then, at Pentecost, the Spirit fell on them and suddenly they understood it all. Peter, the disciple voted "Most Likely to Say Something Stupid" three years running, suddenly stood up before the hostile crowd, delivered the gospel with clarity and power and 3000 souls were saved.
It is not that your lost friend or family member will not listen and believe. The minds of the unbelieving have been blinded by Satan and are in slavery to his lies. It is only when the Spirit of God opens our minds and hearts that we are able to understand the truth, believe God and follow his word.
Our job is to proclaim God's truth clearly, consistently, and comprehensively. We must tell everyone the truth of Jesus Christ. We must love them with the love of Christ and live in the power of Christ that they might see. But ultimately, we cannot coerce or even convince people. Only the Spirit of God can open the sinful mind. We preach and then we pray, "Lord, may your Spirit convince them of your truth."
Father, thank you for your Spirit who guides us into all truth. May he not only teach me that truth, but use me to proclaim that truth as he opens the eyes and hearts of those who need you.
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