Through the Bible with Les Feldick
LESSON 2 * PART 2 * BOOK 26
FOR WE ARE LABOURERS TOGETHER WITH GOD – PART 2
Now to pick up where we left off in our last lesson in I Corinthians Chapter 2. We had just commented on verse 9 so we’re ready to go into verse 10. But before we do, let me state that as usual we have people here today from many different denominations, but that’s not important because we’re just here to teach the Word. And after all, God is not going to have a special set of requirements for one group, and other requirements for another group, there is only one Word, and as Paul says in the Book of Ephesians:
Ephesians 4:4-6
“There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism (Ref. I Corinthians 12:13), One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
So we trust as we teach we can reach into the hearts of whoever you are, and whatever your background, and get into the Book. So now let’s get back to our study in I Corinthians, Chapter 2, and let’s read again verse 9 where we had stopped.
I Corinthians 2:9
“But as it is written (Old Testament), eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
And then verse 10 starts with the word “But.” So that’s the flip-side again, and if it’s not been revealed to the heart of man, to whom have these things been revealed? To the believer. We do have a concept of what eternity holds in store. We do know that there’s a great city with streets of gold, in which one day we are going to live. We do know that there’s a glorious reign of Christ (1000 year reign) in which we will take part. We do know that there are all of these good things awaiting us, but for the unbelieving world, they have no idea. They don’t know what they’re missing, and they certainly don’t want to know where they are going. So they just don’t know. Now verse 10.
I Corinthians 2:10
“But God hath revealed them unto us (the believers) by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.”
The Holy Spirit is the one Who communicates these things of course from the Word of God. He also searcheth the deep things of God. And again I’m concerned because what I hear from people all across the land is that they are not getting in-depth teaching from the Word. It’s all so shallow, and I know that too much Sunday School material, as good as it may be, just doesn’t get into the deep things of God. And Paul is admonishing here that we have to let the Holy Spirit take us into the deep things of God’s Word. Now verse 11.
I Corinthians 2:11
“For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him?…”
Now that goes into the secular world doesn’t it? How can a child function in the secular world if he isn’t taught the things he needs to know to function? And you know that even today we’re bringing kids out of high school and college that can’t read or write. They can’t fill out an employment form, or write a check, so what’s happened? They haven’t even been taught the rudimentary things of the secular world, and they can’t function. Now bring it into the spiritual realm, is it any different? No! And this is what Paul is going to be dealing with as soon as we get to Chapter 3. This was one of the Corinthian’s problems. Remember I told you in our first lesson in I Corinthians that the Church at Corinth had more problems than any of the other congregations that Paul dealt with? In fact let’s look for a moment at Chapter 3 so you will know what I’m talking about.
I Corinthians 3:1a
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual,…”
In other words, they hadn’t gone into the deep things. Granted, they hadn’t had that long of an opportunity, but we can reflect on the Thessalonians and how Paul had been able to teach them with all things from the rudimentary to the very deep things, and they had grasped it, but the Corinthians didn’t. Now reading verse 1 again.
I Corinthians 3:1
“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual but as unto carnal (believers who have not come out of the fleshly experience, and are still under the control of the old Adam rather than the Holy Spirit. However, in Romans 8 when Paul speaks of `carnal’ he is speaking about an unsaved individual. But here Paul is speaking of believers who are saved, but are still so weak spiritually that he speaks of them), even as unto babes in Christ.”
I Corinthians 3:2a
“I have fed you with milk , and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.”
You don’t give that new-born baby solid food, you have to start with milk, and it’s the same way with the believer. Now I think that the Lord has given me patience with new believers. I don’t expect them to all of a sudden comprehend all the deep things of God’s Word. They don’t have to, but you know what I look for? I want growth. I tell my classes if you aren’t more steeped in the Word now than you were a year ago than I’ve failed, and you’ve failed. God expects growth from His children. But the Corinthians (and this is why Paul is so uptight), were still so steeped in the flesh. But always remember Paul calls them believers, don’t ever lose sight of that. They’ve been born-again, and placed into the Body of Christ, but they are still so fleshly minded. Now back to where we were in Chapter 2. Now verse 11:
I Corinthians 2:11
“For what man knoweth the things of a man (our system of secular education), save the spirit of man which is in him (in like manner)? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.”
In other words you cannot know the deep things of God unless the Spirit of God reveals them to us. And the Spirit can’t reveal these things until we become a Child of God. The unsaved person can’t comprehend these things, the Bible is closed to them. But once we enter into a salvation experience the Book opens up. There is nothing that thrills me more than when someone writes or calls, and says, “Les, it’s just like you turned on a huge light bulb.” I didn’t turn it on, the Holy Spirit did! And after that these things become so understandable.
I Corinthians 2:12a
“Now we have received (past tense, and he’s not only speaking of himself, but to believers everywhere.), not the spirit of the world,…”
Speaking of the spirit of the world, Paul didn’t put the Corinthians through grade school, high school, and college did he? He took these people and began to teach them the preaching of the Cross. That’s all Paul knew, “Christ crucified, and risen from the dead.” Now continuing on with verse 12.
I Corinthians 2:12b
“but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
Oh, the Creator, Sovereign God is the One Who reveals these things to us, and we have to look at it in that light. We are not attaining this knowledge by the energy of the flesh, but rather as the Holy Spirit works through the Word, and reveals it freely. Now verse 13:
I Corinthians 2:13
“Which things also we speak (the things that are of the Spirit of God), not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.”
Now what does comparing spiritual things with spiritual mean? Your whole eternal destiny. Are we going to spend eternity in this glorious place that Paul has alluded to? Or is it going to be the opposite? Well how are we going to know? You and I can’t look at someone and say, “Yeah, they’re a Christian,” because we don’t really know. That’s something God must discern. But I’ve always maintained that I know what I am, you know what you are, and how do we know that? By lining ourselves up with the Word of God.
Now I learned years and years ago when a young lady came bouncing into one of my home Bible classes, and said, “Les Feldick, do you teach such and such a heresy? And I said, “Well, that’s what I teach, but I didn’t realize that it was heresy.” And then she lambasted me for a few minutes, and finally I said, “Now just wait a minute. On what basis do you think you’re going to go to God’s Heaven?” She said, “I’ve done this, I’ve done that, and I’ve done that.” I said, “Well that’s great, can you show me from the Word that will take you to heaven?” She said, “Well no, not really except Jesus did say, `Suffer these little ones to come unto me, and forbid them not.'” I said, “Is that it?” She said, “Well I think there’s a verse that says, `Go into all the world and baptize them.'” I said, “That’s it?” She said, “Well yeah, that’s pretty much it.” I said, “In other words you are basing your whole eternal destiny on bits and pieces of just two verses?” I had her backed into a corner, you know that I did.
Then I said, “Now let me tell you why I have the hope that I have,” and I showed her verse after verse, after verse, and this was not only for her benefit, but also for the benefit of the whole class. And we just compared Scripture with Scripture. Well by now all the wind was out of her sails, and do you know what she said? “If I had a salvation like that then I guess I could be as sure as you are.” It’s sad isn’t it? But yet that’s where multitudes are tonight, they have settled on something that is just bits and pieces here and there, and they really don’t know where that is. I maintain that you have to know what you are, where you’re going based on comparing Scripture with Scripture and then you’re on solid ground. Let’s look at a verse in II Peter Chapter 1 for a moment. And we just want to give you an example of what we mean by comparing Scripture with Scripture.
II Peter 1:19
“We have also a more sure (or certain) word of prophecy (I think here Peter is not telling the future, but rather just to speak forth the Word of God); whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts;
And I think the Day Star that is referred to here is that Day Star in the Book of Revelation that Christ is the bright and Morning Star. He is going to appear in all of His glory at the very beginning of the millennium that’s back there in Revelation which will be the end of time, and human history as we know it. He is going to be the Bright and Morning Star, and I think that is what the Holy Spirit is implying here from the pen of Peter. Now verse 20.
II Peter 1:20a
“Knowing this first (he says you had better get one thing straight), that no prophecy …” Or as The Word is sent out. Prophecy here is not telling the future. Remember the gift of prophecy in the early Church was gifted men who simply gave forth the Word of God. Now completing verse 20:
II Peter 1:20
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture (or the Word being sent out) is of any private interpretation.”
Now I know this verse is a little hard to understand. When you speak of something private, what do you speak of? That which pertains to one person. That which is yours, that’s your privacy. All right, now carry that over into the Scriptures. Nothing that God has sent forth to us, the human race, is all wrapped up in just one verse. See this is why a lot of people get hung up on Bible study. They’ll say, “Well, why didn’t God make it a little plainer, or more simple?” God knew He wasn’t dealing with third graders. For the most part God is dealing with adults, and so He knows we have the ability to search the Scriptures. And how are you going to search the Scriptures? By comparing scripture with scripture. And when you compare Scripture with Scripture from Genesis to Revelation you can’t be on a more solid rock. And that’s all I beg people to do, just search the Scriptures, don’t go by what I say or what someone else tells you. And so Peter is making it so plain. In other words he is saying, “Don’t build your eternal destiny on one verse, or you’re going to end up in the wrong place. But rather build your eternal destiny on a series of doctrines and teachings that fit from cover to cover.” Now verse 21.
II Peter 1:21
“For the prophecy (or again the speaking forth of God’s Word) came not in old time (Old Testament writers) by the will of man; but holy men of God spake as they were moved (or inspired) by the Holy Ghost.”
You know I’ve read skeptics, and scoffers, and they will attribute especially the Old Testament to nothing more than stories that came up around the old ancient camp fires of Israel. And as they began to compare stories, and after generations and generations of verbalizing, then someone came up with the idea of writing some of this stuff down. And so that’s how they got the Old Testament. Well that’s ridiculous. Peter says nothing, even in the Old Testament, of men dreaming it up. None of this came by men going out and doing some research on this, but rather as the Holy Spirit caused them to write. Moses wrote, David wrote, Elijah wrote, Jeremiah wrote, and then of course when you get into the New Testament it’s the same thing.
Now if the Holy Spirit is the Author of this Book, then you know that there is no confusion. See that’s the first thing that the scoffers say, “Well, it’s a Book of contradictions.” No it isn’t! Everything fits so beautifully if you will just compare Scripture with Scripture. Now for a moment let’s go all the way back to the Garden of Eden, and that would be in Genesis Chapter 3. Now we’re going to compare Scripture with Scripture. And here Eve is being confronted by the serpent, the Devil, and now verse 3, and we find Eve saying:
Genesis 3:3
“But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said (now with God saying it that puts it in concrete doesn’t it?), `Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it(that of course Eve added), lest ye die.'” Now I always call this the very first law of man’s dealing with a Holy God, and if he is going to disobey the revealed will of God, it’s sin, and he’s going to die of his sins. A spiritual death as well as physical. Now let’s compare some Scripture with that in the Book of Ezekiel, Chapter 18 and see what Ezekiel says.
Ezekiel 18:4
“Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.”
Now what did God tell Eve back in Genesis 2? He said to Eve, “The day thou eatest thereof thy shalt surely die.” Now here in Ezekiel He says basically the same thing doesn’t He? “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” Now to compare Scripture with Scripture let’s turn to Romans Chapter 3, and we will find that Paul will not disagree with Eve and Ezekiel. Let’s look at verse 9 first.
Romans 3:9
“What then? are we (Jews) better than they (the Gentiles)? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;” In other words every Jew, and non-Jew that has ever lived has been guilty of disobeying the revealed will of God, and that is what? Sin! Do you see how that all fits? He goes on through these verses, and we find a horrible description of the human race. And then the conclusion of course is wrapped up in Romans 3:23.
Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned (everyone), and come short of the glory of God:”
Now remember my definition of sin is real simple. It isn’t just an adulterer, or drunkard, but rather anyone who has disobeyed the revealed will of God. Now that’s sin in any of it’s colors, and Paul says, “All have done that!” Everyone of us are guilty of having gone against the revealed will of God. Now just in four different scriptures I’ve been able to show you that all have sinned, and now to look at it further let’s turn to II Corinthians Chapter 5. So now all have died spiritually, and all will die physically. I’m just doing this to show you how to compare Scripture with Scripture, and then there is no compromising it because it all fits.
II Corinthians 5:14
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:”
Do you see that? I remember one of my pastors years ago saying, “Folks do you realize that we’re living in a world of dead people?” Now that kind of slaps us in the face for the moment, but that’s exactly true because we are living in a world full of spiritually dead people. Now read on.
II Corinthians 5:15
“And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.”
Now turn with me a little further to the Book of Ephesians Chapter 2, and we will look at a well-known verse. And that should be sufficient for this line of thought on comparing Scripture with Scripture.
Ephesians 2:1
“And you hath he quickened (or made alive, spiritually, as a result of their salvation), who were (past tense) dead in trespasses and sins:” How did we get to that point? We were born in it. Adam, the federal head of the human race plunged everyone of us into that kind of a state, and so we’re born spiritually dead.