The sermon by Jeffrey Johnson on 1 Corinthians 2:10-16 emphasizes the crucial role of the Holy Spirit in understanding God's Word and discerning His will. Johnson begins by highlighting the importance of hearing from God, not through extra-biblical revelation, but through His Word. He explains that for God's Word to be meaningful and impactful, it must be both inspired and illuminated by the Holy Spirit. This illumination allows believers to comprehend and apply God's Word in their lives.
Johnson emphasizes that the Holy Spirit is essential for understanding the depths of God. He argues that just as a person’s inner thoughts are known only to themselves, only the Holy Spirit fully comprehends God. Therefore, believers need the Holy Spirit to reveal God to them.
The sermon then discusses the distinction between the spiritual and the natural person. A spiritual person, indwelt by the Holy Spirit, can understand and appreciate the things of God, while the natural person, lacking the Spirit, finds them foolish and cannot understand them. This spiritual discernment is critical for believers to evaluate all things in light of God's wisdom.
Johnson also touches on the sufficiency of Scripture, cautioning against seeking new revelations outside of the Bible. He stresses that the Holy Spirit works through the Scriptures to guide and instruct believers.
In conclusion, Johnson highlights the transformative power of the Holy Spirit in the believer's life, enabling them to know God intimately and have the "mind of Christ." This sermon is a call to depend on the Holy Spirit for understanding and applying God's Word, affirming its sufficiency and the necessity of spiritual illumination for true comprehension and application.
