Wednesday, June 2, 2010

Divine Enablement

06.02.10
J.A. Matteson

"Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God" 1 Corinthians 2:12

As a tree is the recipient of the gentle winds of spring, causing its branches and leaves to sway in response to an external force unseen, those foreknown to the Father, having been predestined for salvation, move spiritually in response to the preaching of the Gospel through which they are effectively called, being brought forth from the dead to newness of life. Washed by the Word, sanctified by the Spirit of truth, the children of promise are passive recipients of the grace of God, and the message of the cross which is reckoned as foolishness to the world becomes sweet and precious in the soul of the redeemed.

Awakened from the dead the saints walk about the earth as out of place foreigners, their inner awkwardness and unease being felt within, and also glaringly recognized by the living dead from which they were mercifully delivered. The sons of Adam are natural men, dead to the things of the Spirit of God, unable and unwilling to accept spiritual truth as truth, persuaded in their fallen sinful state that the message of the cross of Christ is the epitome of stupidity, and those who align themselves with it are likewise ignorant fools unworthy of a fair and impartial hearing in the court of public opinion. In fact, so distasteful is the message of the cross in the ears of the living dead destined to destruction that great energy is often expended in an effort to silence it.

In this chapter of 1 Corinthians the Apostle clearly articulates the election to salvation of those foreknown to God in the beginning. Each person is a descendant from Adam, conceived in sin, and being dead in trespasses and sins naturally inclined to “not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them” (v. 14), the Apostle Paul and his readers being included in that population of sinners.

Apart from divine enablement no one responds to the message of the cross “so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (v. 5), for naturally they are unable to do so, being spiritually blind and deaf. With his mind illuminated to this marvelous reality the Apostle did not loose hope in preaching Christ in the midst of formidable opposition, knowing that those to whom salvation had been appointed would respond favorably to his message, and the rest would be hardened. Preaching Christ to the Gentiles Luke expresses the effectual calling to faith of those elected to salvation, “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). An evidence of the sanctifying work of the Spirit of God is the “glorifying of the word of the Lord” by those who hear or read it, and that response is only manifested in a soul first regenerated to new life, for the natural man—unregenerate—will “not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them.”

What can we say then to all these things? Shall we grow despondent in our preaching and teaching when the Gospel of Christ is rejected? Absolutely not! For how do you know who among the sons of men is foreordained to life and death? What if God in wanting to demonstrate His power and grace through you allowed you to be humbled through rejection, so that you might once and for all do away with the notion that it is your eloquence and persuasiveness of speech which brings men to the Savior? All such speculation and reasoning within the heart of man is evil in that it denies the grace of God through which no man will be saved. Therefore, beloved, be content to be God’s fool, for “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” and “since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe” (1 Cor. 25, 21). And as the Lord Jesus explained to Nicodemus the Spirit of God moves upon the hearts of men, bringing them to life and repentance in times and seasons unknown to God’s messengers. Let us hear the Apostle Paul instructing Timothy and take note, “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory” (2 Tim. 2:10). And with that let us be content.

Copyright (c) 2010 Immutable Word Ministries (”…the word of our God stands forever.” Isa. 40:8).

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