Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood. 1 Corinthians 2:6-8
The Bible has different names for people who don’t believe in Jesus Christ. For instance, unbelievers are called children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3), sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:2), and natural man (1 Corinthians 2:14), and in just the opposite way, Christians are called children of God (1 John 3:1), sons of God (Romans 8:14), and spiritual man (1 Corinthians 2:15).
The reason for this polar opposite is that Christians, true believers in Christ, have been born again by the power of the holy spirit and are brought into the family of God as children of God. In this way Christians, have the spirit of God dwelling in them and are able to spiritually discern the things of God – the spiritual things of God. This is why Christians know that the Bible, God’s Word, is truth. Also, in this way, since they are able to discern spiritually, Christians can know the difference between the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. Paul gives insight to this in 1 Corinthians:
Now we (Christians) have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
Therefore, as Paul explains, a natural man (an unbeliever or unspiritual person) does not understand the things of God or the wisdom of God because these things are only understood spiritually, when a person is given light by God, and Jesus came to give us the light of God. Hear His Words from the Gospel of John:
This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. John 3:19-21
For those who don’t know the “Light” that only comes from Jesus Christ, they cannot understand spiritual things and the wisdom of God. Instead, spiritual things and the wisdom of God are “foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.” 1 Corinthians 2:14
However, believers in Christ who are in the Light can know and grow in God’s wisdom. Once we know Christ as Savior and Lord, we have access to the very wisdom that only comes from God.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
May God bless you with His grace, love and truth!