"Quote" of the Week

“In Proverbs, the words wise and wisdom are used at least 125 times, because the aim of the book is to help us acquire and apply God’s wisdom to the decisions and activities of daily life.” –Warren Wiersbe

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!" Luke 2:14

‘God’s works of providence are, His most holy, wise, and powerful; preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions’(Westminster Shorter Catechism, Q. 11). If creation was a unique exercise of divine energy causing the world to be, providence is a continued exercise of the same energy. By it the Creator, according to His own will, keeps all creatures in being, involves Himself in all events, and directs all things to their appointed end. God is completely in charge of His world. His hand may be hidden, but His perfect rule extends to all things.’

It is sometimes supposed that God knows the future but does not control it; that He upholds the world, but does not intervene in it; or that He gives general direction, but is not concerned with details. The Bible emphatically rules out all such limitations of His providence.

‘The Bible clearly teaches God’s providential control (1) over the universe at large, Ps. 103:19; Dan. 4:35; Eph. 1:11; (2) over the physical world, Job 37; Ps. 104:14; 135:6; Mt. 5:45; (3) over the brute creation, Ps. 104:21, 28; Mt. 6:26; 10:29; (4) over the affairs of nations, Job 12:23; Ps. 22:28; 66:7; Acts 17:26; (5) over man’s birth and lot in life, 1 Sam. 16:1; Ps. 139:16; Is. 45:5; Gal. 1:15, 16; (6) over the outward successes and failures of men’s lives, Ps. 75:6, 7; Luke 1:52; (7) over things seemingly accidental or insignificant, Pr. 16:33; Mt. 10:30; (8) in the protection of the righteous, Ps. 4:8; 5:12; 63:8; 121:3; Rom. 8:28; (9) in supplying the wants of God’s people, Gn. 22:8; 14; Dt. 8:3; Phil. 4:19; (10) in giving answers to prayer, 1 Sam. 1:19; Is. 20:5, 6; 2 Chr. 33:13; Ps. 65:2; Mt. 7:7; Lk. 18:7, 8; and (11) in the exposure and punishment of the wicked, Ps. 7:12, 13; 11:6. (L. Berkhof, Systematic Theology 2d rev. ed. [Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1941], p. 168.).’

Describing God’s involvement in the world and in the acts of rational creatures requires complementary statements. For example, a person wills an action, an event is triggered by natural causes, or Satan shows his hand—yet God overrules. Again, people may go against God’s will of command—yet they fulfill His will of events. People’s motives may be evil—yet God uses their actions for good (Gen. 50:20; Acts 2:23). Although human sin is under God’s decree, God is not the author of sin (James 1:13-17).

God’s 'concurrent' or 'confluent' involvement in all that occurs does not violate the natural order, ongoing casual processes, or the free, responsible agency of human beings. God’s sovereign control does not take away the responsibility and power of second causes; on the contrary, they are created and have their roles by His appointment.

Of the evils that infect God’s world (spiritual, moral, and physical) the Bible says: God permits evil (Acts 14:16); He uses evil as a punishment (Ps. 81:11-12; Rom. 1:26-32); He brings good out of evil (Gen. 50:20; Acts 2:23; 4:27-28; 13:27; 1 Cor. 2:7-8); He uses evil to test and discipline those He loves (Matt. 4:1-11; Heb. 12:4-14); but one day He will redeem His people from the power and presence of evil altogether (Rev. 21:27; 22:14-15).

The doctrine of providence teaches Christians that they are never in the grip of blind fortune, chance, luck, or fate. All that happens to them is divinely planned, and each event comes as a new summons to trust, obey, and rejoice, knowing that all is for one’s spiritual and eternal good (Rom. 8:28).

Sproul, R.C. Providence. The Reformation Study Bible. Orlando: Ligonier Ministries, 2005. 900.

I have recently been reading through the book of Proverbs. This book is intended to show how God’s people can avoid peril and enjoy life by living in the way God intended. A key term in this book is “Wisdom.” Below I have listed some truths about and characteristics of godly wisdom and have included Scripture references from the book.

A wise person fears the Lord.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. Proverbs 1:7

A wise person does not walk in the way of the wicked.
My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. If they say, “Come with us…” do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths. Proverbs 1:10-11, 15

Wisdom is a divine gift and a human task.
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Proverbs 1:23

A wise person receives wise instruction.
My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding…then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:1-2, 5

A wise person trusts in the Lord instead of human understanding.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. Be not wise in your own eyes. Proverbs 3:6-7

Wisdom is better than worldly wealth.
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. Proverbs 3:13-14

Wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. Proverbs 8:11.

A wise person welcomes instruction.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. Proverbs 9:8-9

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. Proverbs 12:1

A wise person knows when to be quiet and listen.
The wise of heart will receive commandments, but a babbling fool will come to ruin. Proverbs 10:8

A wise person is humble.
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom. Proverbs 11:2

A wise person practices self-control.
The annoyance of a fool is known at once, but the wise ignores an insult. Proverbs 12:16

A wise person speaks kindly.
There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Proverbs 12:18.

A wise person speaks truthfully.
Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Proverbs 12:19

A wise person partakes in honest hard work.
The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor. Proverbs 12:24

Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it. Proverbs 13:11

A wise person keeps good company.
Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise. Proverbs 13:20

More words of wisdom from Proverbs to come when I complete my study of the book.

"Quote" of the Week

"Proverbs shows that humans may live by a right way or a wrong way, a wise way or a foolish way. The right way is not the easy way, but those who live by it find great reward." -Kendell H. Easley

Most people, if asked, have an image of Jesus ingrained in their mind, especially around Christmas. Many stories are told and songs are sung of a child wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger. Although this image communicates truth, it is only truth in part emphasizing Jesus' humanity, which could unintentionally deemphasizing deity.

I have recently noticed some confusion with the kids of Fellowship Fort Smith, during our Sunday morning study of the life of Christ, about who Jesus is and how he relates to God the Father. For example, after a lesson discussing Jesus' life on earth and how He was subservient to the Father when fulfilling His will, some students informed me that they thought of Jesus as being less than equal to the Father. Although evangelicals believe this conclusion to be false, this answer is an indication that the kids are wrestling with the difficult balance of Jesus' deity and humanity.

Yesterday we discussed John 1 because the beginning of the chapter gives a clear teaching of both Jesus’ distinctiveness from and likeness to the Father. Below is the outline I used, which can be found in chapter 5 of J.I. Packer’s classic book entitled, “Knowing God.”

Jesus is eternal (v. 1)
In the beginning was the Word

• Jesus, like the Father (Genesis 1:1), had no beginning. He has always existed and will continue to exist forever.
• A side note I shared with them was that the Holy Spirit (The Third Person of the Godhead) also had no beginning and will continue to exist forever (Genesis 1:2b).

Jesus is distinct from God the Father (v. 1)
And the Word was with God

• Here there is a distinction made between the Father and the Son.
• Jesus is not the Father, but with the Father. The Father is not the Son and neither are the Holy Spirit and vice versa.
• Because this is true one can safely assume that God exists in three persons.

Jesus is God (v. 1)
And the Word was God

• Jesus and the Father are one.
• Although the Bible is clear that God exists in three persons, it also emphasizes God’s oneness (1 Timothy 2:5).
• One must then conclude that God is one in essence and three in person.

Jesus is the Creator (v.3)
Through him all things were made

• Like the Father and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1), Jesus is involved in the creation process.
• Scripture teaches, “For by (Jesus) all things were created” (Colossians 1:16a).

In Jesus is Life (v. 4)
In him was life

• Packer affirms, “There is no physical life in the realm of created things except in and through (Jesus)…Life is given and maintained by the Word” (56).
• In other words, “If Jesus did no exist, neither would we.” He gives life and maintains it. This means that he has given us life and is actively involved in keeping us alive.

Jesus became a man (v. 14)
The Word became flesh

• The baby in the manger = the second person of the Godhead made man.
• According to Packer, “The Word had become flesh: a real human baby. He had not ceased to be God: he was no less God then than before; but he had begun to be man. He was not now God minus some elements of his deity, but God plus all that he had made his own by taking manhood to himself (57).

Let us remember this Christmas season that the baby in the manger was God made man. According to Packer, “The Christmas message rests on the staggering fact that the child in the manger was—God” (57).

A SHORT PSALM THAT SAYS A LOT

Below is a great Psalm that speaks of God as being both transcendent and immanent. When explaining Psalm 113, author R.C. Sproul affirms, "God is both transcendent (vv. 4-6) and immanent (vv. 7-9); (meaning) above creation but present with His people."