Wisdom... From Old to New

Last Sunday we looked in the Old Testament’s book of Proverbs regarding wisdom. The New Testament is even more explicit about the source of true wisdom. Paul declared that Christ is "the power of God and the wis­dom of God who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Cor. 1:24,30).

Submission to the Holy Spirit is the sure mark of a Christian's wis­dom. In giving instruction for selecting deacons, the apostles com­manded, "Select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputa­tion, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task" (Acts 6:3). As Stephen, one of those men, was preaching, his oppo­nents "were unable to cope with the wisdom and the Spirit with which he was speaking" (6:10).

This Sunday, James offers wisdom as still another test of living faith (James 3:13-18). The kind of wisdom a person possesses will be revealed by the kind of life he lives (v. 13). Those who possess the wisdom of man, the wisdom from below, will demonstrate by their lives that they have no sav­ing relationship to Jesus Christ and no desire to worship, serve, or obey Him (vs. 14-16). Those, on the other hand, who possess genuine saving faith will manifest the wisdom of God, the wisdom from above (vs. 17-18).

Join me as we continue in James and “get wisdom” from above.

Love to all,

Pastor Mike