EPISODE · Jul 17, 2003 · 14 MIN
Knowing The Unknowable
from Hope for Today (English) · host Heralds of Hope
1 Corinthians 2:11-16 Our minds are somewhat like an unfathomable lake. No one has yet been able to measure the depth of the human mind. Philosophers have reasoned without conclusions. They have tried to determine how we think, but no one seems to know. Scientists have researched the relationship of the brain to thought processes. They also have no conclusions. Intelligence and reason set us completely apart from the animal world. We are in a class by ourselves. The human mind is the powerhouse of all cultures. By the interaction of many minds, reason and thought construct the pillars of culture. We can say our minds provide the necessary base to communicate with God. That’s awesome. God is in the world outside of our ability to discern. Yet we can communicate with Him by way of our minds. At the same time, the distance between God and us is unbridgeable, unless God makes the initial move. Many a philosopher has run into a dead-end street because he depended entirely upon his own system of logic. In I Corinthians 2:11-16, the apostle explains the possibility of KNOWING THE UNKNOWABLE. Now that may sound like a contradiction. But stay with me because I’m going to discuss for you how you can know the unknowable. Let’s read I Corinthians 2:11-16: 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Here, then, Paul shows us how we can know the unknowable by discussing the several essential STAGES we must pass through. The first stage is: CATEGORIZE THE DEMARCATION OF KNOWING 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Paul sets off two areas, only two. In his Demarcation of Knowing, he categorizes the spirit of man and the spirit of God. The things of man, the whole area of human learning, is one area. It’s continually expanding. We are pushing back the whole horizon of human understanding and knowledge. Sometimes when two people meet, they say to each other, “Well, what do you know?” The answer is, “What I don’t know will fill a bigger book.” The more you know, friend, the more you know there is to know. So the natural things are constantly evading us. The spiritual things are incomprehensible. The things of God are outside the realm of the things of man. Please observe the closing of verse 12: “We know the things that are freely given to us of God.” The things of God are not discovered. The things of God are given. We learn them by the gracious act of God. God is ready to give what we are capable to receive. I want you to...
What this episode covers
1 Corinthians 2:11-16 Our minds are somewhat like an unfathomable lake. No one has yet been able to measure the depth of the human mind. Philosophers have reasoned without conclusions. They have tried to determine how we think, but no one seems to know. Scientists have researched the relationship of the brain to thought processes. They also have no conclusions. Intelligence and reason set us completely apart from the animal world. We are in a class by ourselves. The human mind is the powerhouse of all cultures. By the interaction of many minds, reason and thought construct the pillars of culture. We can say our minds provide the necessary base to communicate with God. That’s awesome. God is in the world outside of our ability to discern. Yet we can communicate with Him by way of our minds. At the same time, the distance between God and us is unbridgeable, unless God makes the initial move. Many a philosopher has run into a dead-end street because he depended entirely upon his own system of logic. In I Corinthians 2:11-16, the apostle explains the possibility of KNOWING THE UNKNOWABLE. Now that may sound like a contradiction. But stay with me because I’m going to discuss for you how you can know the unknowable. Let’s read I Corinthians 2:11-16: 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Here, then, Paul shows us how we can know the unknowable by discussing the several essential STAGES we must pass through. The first stage is: CATEGORIZE THE DEMARCATION OF KNOWING 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Paul sets off two areas, only two. In his Demarcation of Knowing, he categorizes the spirit of man and the spirit of God. The things of man, the whole area of human learning, is one area. It’s continually expanding. We are pushing back the whole horizon of human understanding and knowledge. Sometimes when two people meet, they say to each other, “Well, what do you know?” The answer is, “What I don’t know will fill a bigger book.” The more you know, friend, the more you know there is to know. So the natural things are constantly evading us. The spiritual things are incomprehensible. The things of God are outside the realm of the things of man. Please observe the closing of verse 12: “We know the things that are freely given to us of God.” The things of God are not discovered. The things of God are given. We learn them by the gracious act of God. God is ready to give what we are capable to receive. I want you to...
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Knowing The Unknowable
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