Can Men Understand God?

Lately, I have found myself dwelling on 1 Corinthians 2 a lot. The subject matter of the chapter is the contrast between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of man, and it reveals a key to becoming a true follower of God.

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.

There are several lessons just in this short introduction. First of all, Paul makes it clear that it is not necessary that the gospel be dressed up in flowery language, because he "did not come with eloquence." Likewise, he also did not come with any arrogance of "superior wisdom," but rather he put himself on equal ground with all men as sinners, preaching the message of truth "in weakness and fear, and with much trembling." He then explains why he preached in this way: so that people would learn to have faith in what is revealed by God rather than what is understood by men. This concept sets the tone for the rest of the chapter.

1 Corinthians 2:6-10

We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"— but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.

While Paul did not come preaching to them with words of wisdom, he makes it clear that God does impart wisdom to those who are mature, but it is different from the type of wisdom that people were familiar with. The wisdom that comes from God was not devised by men, nor could it have been - "but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit." 

This is crucial: God has reveals His plan to us. We can't figure it out for ourselves. That's why theologians have all kinds of different views: they are all applying human reasoning to God's Word, trying to understand it by their own intellectual means. 

1 Corinthians 2:10-13

      The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

The "spirit of the world" and the "spirit in man" are one and the same: they represent the understanding and efforts of carnal human thought. While it can appear wise within itself, human wisdom is foolishness to God. No one who does not have God's Spirit can understand "words taught by the Spirit." We can come to a certain degree of biblical understanding without the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we must at least have the Holy Spirit working with us. When we are called (remember that God does not call everyone at this time) and are being led to baptism, the Holy Spirit works with us so that we can have enough understanding of God's ways to trust our lives to Him and His will, a commitment that we are commanded to affirm by baptism. Even so, after we are baptized we must allow the Holy Spirit to dwell in us by submitting to God. Therefore, our understanding does not become complete until we are in the process of conversion, having God live through us, changing our actions and attitudes to be in line with His commandments that He reveals to us.

In the book of Galatians, Paul speaks to this subject again, this time focusing on the legitimacy of his message:

Galatians 1:11-12

I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ.

Likewise, there are some aspects of God's plan that we, too, must receive "by revelation." It doesn't have to be a dramatic revelation as in the story of Paul's conversion, but we have to accept that God's thoughts are much higher than our own that we simply cannot understand them without His help. God has to open our minds. 

Galatians 1:1

Paul, an apostle—sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead

Here Paul acknowledges that his authority is from God - not from any man, including himself. Paul knew that no man can open a person's mind to the truth, only God can. No words of men can lead to understanding, only God's words. No man sent by men can bear God's message, because he is led by men and not by God.
If you desire spiritual understanding and spiritual knowledge, then you must first desire to follow God. Not your own idea of God. Not your preacher's idea of God. You must desire to follow the God of the bible. Decide first how you think God wants you to change, and then do your best to change. Ask God to show you His will and give you understanding as you continue to read and study the bible. Every time God shows you something new that you should change, do your best to change it. Keep asking God what His will for you is, seeking His ways, and knocking at His door, so that He may have mercy on you and let you in, for this is the very thing that God desires: that we should call on Him, and that He should answer us.

Matthew 7:7-8

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.