WISE WORDS FROM PAUL

Wednesday 18 June

For I resolved to know NOTHING (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:2 (AMPC)

Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard NO ONE from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh]. 2 Corinthians 5:16 (AMPC)

Paul was arguably the most intellectual of all the apostles in the New Testament. He trained under Gamaliel who was a notable Pharisee and an astute teacher of the law. Paul was essentially on his way to becoming a top rate religious lawyer. His ability to construct arguments in defense of the gospel are unrivalled in the New Testament. Even Peter said of him,

‘our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand…

With all of Paul’s masterful understanding in the finer details of the law and given his erudite disposition, it would have been easy for him to rely on his presumedly well-rounded general knowledge over the knowledge of Christ.

That is what makes his statements even more impressive. Firstly, he determines to know NOTHING except Jesus Christ. I’m sure he heard firsthand of the amazing story from Luke where Jesus opened up the scriptures to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

‘Then beginning with Moses and with all the Prophets, He (Jesus) explained to them the things written about Himself in all the Scriptures.’

Later on we see Paul extends this concept to the entire Corinthian church when he said to ‘regard no one from a human point of view’ and it eventually reached us in the Body of Christ today.

Let’s quickly unpack both of our opening verses.

Why did Paul decide to know nothing except Christ? What he was implying here is when it comes to the revelation of Christ we are not to rely on our own strength or intelligence. Paul himself did not want to function in his own ability in any way, shape or form so as not to hinder or get in the way of the message that he was to communicate to the saints at Corinth. He intentionally determined to only have the word and the Spirit in operation in his life and ministry.

Paul later gives a corporate instruction. To know NO ONE from a human point of view. Why? He encouraged them in this because it can be easy sometimes to ‘profile’ someone and pigeon hole them according to their past life or current actions, not the way that God says they are. Remember righteousness is first and foremost a gift of grace which doesn’t require ANY behavioural modification to receive. This is why we’re told not to ‘lie to one another’ about our identity in Christ!

How can we be certain of the context of what Paul was saying here? You need look no further than the very next verse.

‘Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous MORAL and SPIRITUAL condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!’

Imagine what it would be like if every believer did exactly what Paul exampled for us. Deciding to be conscious or acquainted about themselves or others with NOTHING other than what is of Christ. Who God says we are, what we have and what we can do in Him, regarding NO ONE by their old life.

No religion. No judgement. No self-righteous attitudes or striving in human ability. Just grace extended to everyone and treating everyone the way that God sees them and the epistles describe them to be.

If we could just accept what God says about us and others as authentic and dare to live from that reality, knowing NOTHING but Christ and regarding NO ONE before Christ. So…who’s with me?

APPLICATION

Make up your mind that your confidence is not in your own ability but in Christ; His death, burial, resurrection and ascension into the heart of every believer.