"It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who
has become for us wisdom from God."—1 Cor. 1:30
Admiration never wearies in commending Christ Jesus.
Every perfection claims preeminence in Him. He is the beauty of all beauty,
the luster of all luster, the wonder of all wonders, the excellence of all
excellency. The eye of faith luxuriates in gazing on Him. The sight is the
transport of transports, and renders present meditation a very foretaste of
heavenly reality.
One jewel in His diadem now calls for notice. The Holy
Spirit again and again exhibits Him as Wisdom. He is proclaimed—I. As Wisdom
in Himself. II. As the Source of Wisdom to His people.
I. Wisdom in Himself. Behold the wonders of
Creation. Christ sits as co-equal on the Father's throne, calling
each creature into life, originating each faculty of mind and limb,
arranging all the stores which form the riches of the universe. Scripture
confirms the truth, "O Lord, how manifold are Your works! in Wisdom You have
made them all: the earth is full of Your riches." (Ps. 104:24) Again, we
read, "The Lord by Wisdom has founded the earth; by understanding has He
established the heavens." (Prov. 3:19) Let blind arrogance ascribe this
symmetry of order to the whims of chance, or the fortuitous concurrence of
atoms, or the unintended combination of accidents! How pitiable is such
childish folly compared with the teaching of the Word! In Creation Christ
rides forth in the chariot of Wisdom. His will is Wisdom. His voice is
Wisdom. All things start into being as the formation and result of Wisdom.
Next, see Christ is Wisdom in Redemption's scheme.
On every stone of the glorious fabric Wisdom is inscribed. Christ undertakes
and consummates this work. In this how grandly is Wisdom displayed! He alone
had power to encounter and to triumph over countless difficulties. In Him
alone the might resided to tread down the principalities and powers of
darkness, to snatch the scepter from Satan's hands, to endure the penalties
of the outraged law, to satisfy to the utmost all the violated attributes of
Jehovah, to uphold His people in the perils of their earthly conflict, and
to make them more than conquerors unto the end. All is accomplished by
Christ as Wisdom.
The Gospel page teems with displays of His Wisdom.
It is apparent in its every provision. Sinners are made righteous by faith
through grace, and not of works. Hence redemption is secured without the
risk of failure, and all honor is given to mercy in the highest: every part
of the law is magnified, and man's boasting is excluded: sin is abhorred and
righteously condemned, and yet the sinner is loved and saved: ungodliness is
pardoned and the ungodly raised to glory. This, also, is accomplished by
Christ as Wisdom.
Thus the Spirit proclaims, that "unto the principalities
and powers in heavenly places is known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of
God." (Eph. 3:10) We marvel not that wondering "angels desire to look into
these things." (1 Pet. 1:12) Worthy is the ascription, "O the depth of the
riches both of the Wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His
judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (Rom. 11:33) Hence we see how
blessed are the children of Wisdom! They revel in the contemplation of
wonders achieved by Wisdom.
II. Christ is the Source of Wisdom to His
people. He contains all the treasures of Wisdom and knowledge, not for
Himself alone—not as His exclusive heritage—but for His people's well-being,
that he may impart and largely communicate. He enriches indeed with all true
riches. "All things are yours, for you are Christ's, and Christ is God's."
(1 Cor. 3:23) But the present subject is restricted to His gift of Wisdom.
His entrance into the heart brings new understanding. Not only do believers
dwell in Christ, but He also dwells in them. "If a man loves Me, he will
keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and
make our abode with him." (John 14:23) The brightness of this presence
chases away the mists of ignorance, and opens the eye to clear discernment
of all truth. As in creation's day, He said, "Let there be light, and there
was light," so in the day of grace, He says, Let the light of truth shine
forth, and all is bright.
Let some of his illuminating lessons be now produced.
1. He teaches what unaided man could never learn—humbling
lessons of man's darkness and need. He reveals our lost and ruined
state, as we stand by nature in God's sight. He exhibits sin in all its
hateful features, as rebellion against God; hatred of His holy rule,
defiance of His power, the enemy of His glorious law. He brings us to feel
that sin is the inborn inherent of our constitution, corrupting every
faculty of mind and body, bringing the whole man into vilest bondage,
awakening God's righteous wrath, forging the chains by which Satan binds his
prisoners, kindling the flames of hell, and driving its slaves to receive
the wages of their woeful service. These are truths which never can be
learned in reason's school. There the self-complacent pupil boasts, "I am
rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knows not that
he is wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." (Rev. 3:17)
Jesus imparts this Wisdom to each disciple. Hence He is made unto them
"Wisdom."
2. He is made unto them Wisdom by the clear revelation of
Himself. He unveils Himself in all the glories of His Person, His
character, His attributes, His work. He shows Himself as very and eternal
God—as invested with all the power, and majesty, and greatness of Deity—as
thus possessing all strength and ability to consummate redemption. He
manifests Himself as condescending to assume our nature, and thus to become
qualified to become man's substitute, to bear our every penalty, to pay our
every debt, to shed blood in our behalf, to bear what man should bear, and
do what man should do. Thus He can be touched with the feeling of our
infirmities, and sympathize with our need and sufferings. He teaches that
while He is able to atone as God, He is capable to feel as man. He thus
presents a key to unlock the treasure-house of Wisdom.
III. Those who thus learn Christ truly feast at
Wisdom's table. They read in bright colors all the significance of His
finished work, and delight in clear understanding of each part of
salvation's scheme. They are enlightened to scan the cause of all His doings
and all His sufferings. Their expanded intellect knows with what intent He
became man and shed His blood, and now makes intercession on the right hand
of God. They can explain the mysteries which baffled the mental powers of
the sages of this world. They read in Wisdom's school all the purposes of
redeeming love. They can estimate the unspeakable value of the blood,
efficacious to wash out every sin. They adore Him as reigning on high, that
He may bless His people with all blessings in heaven and in earth, and bring
them in safety through all earth's perils to their home above. Such is a
small glimpse of the Wisdom which Christ by His Spirit sheds abroad in the
heart.
IV. He exhibits, also, the overflowing riches of His
grace and love. Every page of the Gospel-story teaches the feelings of
His heart. Radiant manifestations of His character abound throughout. In
love He receives His people as His own. Before the world was framed, He
inscribed them on the tablets of His heart. In love He undertakes their
cause, and espouses them as His bride. In love He works out in their person
a righteousness so bright, so perfect, so glorious, that Jehovah's eye can
find no flaw, no spot, no blemish in it. In love He beautifies them with His
shining robe, and fits them for the banquet in the heaven of heavens. In
love He guards them from every foe, and makes them more than conquerors over
all the hosts of darkness. In love He makes all things to work together for
their good. In love He leads them to lie down in the rich pastures of Bible
truth, and instructs them in the Word which is "able to make them wise unto
salvation." (2 Tim. 3:15) In love He will come again to receive them to
Himself. In love He will present them pure and blameless to His Father with
exceeding joy. In love He will dwell among them through the ages of
eternity. All these truths, and many more, are distinctly revealed by Him.
Thus He is made Wisdom to them.
Wisdom in the mind soon becomes Wisdom in the
will. The enlightened intellect leads to determined action.
Illumination in the thoughts is not dormant and inactive. It rouses Wisdom's
sons to put forth energetic conduct. The sinner who has been taught Wisdom's
ways no longer slumbers on the pillow of indifference. He lies no longer
groveling in the mire of filth and impurity. He dwells no longer content in
the regions of gross darkness. He is no longer willing to grind in the
prison-house of Satan. He no longer hugs the chains of vile captivity. He is
widely awake to his misery and peril. He sees a pitfall yawning in his path.
He fears that each step may plunge him into the abyss of endless woe. He
knows his danger, his wretchedness, his helpless state, and thus is all
anxiety for escape. His earnest cry is, "O wretched man that I am! who shall
deliver me from the body of this death?" (Rom. 7:24)
The Wisdom which thus awakens to the sight of peril also
shows the City of Refuge, the ark of safety, the fortress of deliverance,
the fortress whose gates and walls are salvation and praise, the munition of
rocks, which is high above all billows, the door of hope, the abode of
blessedness and peace. Jesus stands before the awakened sinner with
salvation in His hand, and cries of inviting love issuing from His lips. He
shows His pierced side into which the sinner may flee, and be secured from
every foe. The convinced man cannot rest until he reaches the sheltering
arms of Jesus. No hindrances, no obstacles can impede. Through seas of
difficulty he works out a way. Over obstructing mountains he strides
valiantly. He never rests, until he clasps the Savior to his heart, and
intelligently shouts, "I am my Beloved's, and my Beloved is mine." (Song
6:3)
Thus Wisdom strengthens the sinner to embrace the Savior,
and to cling to Him as all salvation and desire, and to sing aloud, "Whom
have I in heaven but You? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside
You." (Psa. 73:25) Thus Christ is made to His people saving Wisdom.
He also places balances in their hands in which they
truly weigh the value of surrounding attractions. He enables them to discern
things which differ. He strips off the tinsel which conceals the emptiness
of mere temporal objects. He tears away the delusive mask which hides
features of real deformity. Earthly honors and distinctions, human titles
and applause, the glitter of pomp and parade, fade before the scrutiny of
this Wisdom; and nothing is regarded as a lasting treasure which has no
reference to the eternal world. Thus Christ becomes to His people
discriminating Wisdom.
This Wisdom implants desire for increase of knowledge.
The more we gain, the more will be coveted. Each ascending step in this
scale shows higher eminences which eagerness will strive to reach. All
earthly knowledge sinks into insignificance in contrast. Paul, learned in
all the acquirements of the age, "counted all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord." (Phil. 3:8) His
all-constraining desire was to "know Him, and the power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His death."
(Phil. 3:10) His constant aspiration was, that he might know the love of
Christ, which he confessed to surpass all knowledge. (Eph. 3:19) Thus rich
delights will charm the pupils of true Wisdom. New revelations will outshine
the previous light. A study will commence which will continue throughout the
ages of the endless world. Eternity will be the never-ending lesson of
Christ Jesus. Thus no day will come in which He will not be made Wisdom to
His people.
Alas! there are some who choose darkness rather than
light, because their deeds are evil. "They will not come to the light, lest
their deeds should be reproved." (John 3:19, 20) Who will not pity this
blindness! Who will not strive to rescue them from such willful ruin! Those
who fail to be made wise by Christ in time, will learn their folly when no
Wisdom can enlighten. What misery can be like the misery of "blackness of
darkness forever." (Jude 13) What joy can be like the joy of expanding in
Wisdom forever!