Sermon #38 Jude Sermons
Title: “The
Only Wise God - Our Savior”
Text: Jude
1:25
Subject: Christ
the Only and All-wise God
Date: Tuesday Evening — August 16, 2005
Tape # Jude
#38
Readings: Lindsay
Campbell and Rex Bartley
Introduction:
(Jude 1:24-25) “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.”
Tonight, I want us to give adoration, worship
and praise “To the only wise God, our Savior.”
Proposition: I want only to show you
that the Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, is the only wise God, and inspire our
hearts to trust, love, worship and adore him.
“To the only wise God our Savior!” Without question, Jude’s doxology is suited to our Triune God
and to each person in the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All are
engaged in the salvation of our souls from eternity (Jude 1; Eph. 1:3-14). But,
Jude was inspired in this verse to ascribe his praise and ours specifically to
our Lord Jesus Christ, as “the only wise God, our Savior,” just as in
verse 24 he was inspired to tell us that it is Christ, our God-man Mediator,
who is able and will keep us from falling and present us “faultless before
the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.” These are the specific
things Christ engaged to do for us as our Surety in old eternity, is doing, and
shall do. Therefore he is specifically praised for doing them. The Triune God
is pleased that in all things he should have pre-eminence; and these
ascriptions of praise are his personal right as our Redeemer, Mediator, Surety,
Substitute, and Savior.
Christ
is Worthy
First, let me say, again, that
Christ is worthy of all praise as “the only wise God, our Savior.” The
title suits him well; and we are happy to give it to him. While he walked on
this earth, our blessed Savior was looked upon as a man of ignorance. — “How knoweth this man letters,”
men said concerning him, “having
never learned” (John 7:15). How ignorant they were!
Indeed, how ignorant all are, who fail to see that this Man, is God our Savior,
and that he is “the only wise God!”
The Lord Jesus Christ is
worthy of all possible glory. Yet, when he came to redeem his people, he emptied
himself of all glory and took upon his the form of a servant (Phi. 2:7).
Majesty and glory are his inherent rights. Yet, when he walked upon earth, he
hid not his face from shame and spitting (Isa. 1:6). Dominion belongs to our
Savior. He is, as God, the eternal Monarch of the universe. Yet, while in this
world, he did not even have a place to lay his head (Luke 9:58). And all power
is his forever, for he is the omnipotent God. Yet, when dying in our room and stead,
as our Substitute, he was mocked by men as one who was utterly impotent to help
himself. The men around his cross cried, “He saved others; himself he cannot
save (Mark 15:31). Yes, he who loved us and gave himself for us, to whom
the Triune God has given all power over all flesh, that he might give eternal
life to his redeemed people, God all-wise and utterly worthy to eternally
receive all glory, and honor, and power, and might, — “for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood.”
(Revelation 5:9-10) “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; (10) And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
The
Only Wise God
Second,
let me show you something of his excellency, supremacy, and superlative
solitariness as the only wise God. I will not take time to show you again that
the man Christ Jesus, who is our Savior, is God. Instead, I want use to simply
adore his wisdom as God.
We admire wisdom in men. We do not necessarily admire learning, education, or knowledge. But we do admire wisdom. We seek the counsel and advice of wise men. We take the reproof and correction of one who is wise and seek to profit by his wisdom. To do so is itself an act of wisdom. As we admire the attribute of wisdom in a man, we ought all the more to admire it in God. A wise God is worthy of admiration, worship, trust, and obedience.
Like goodness, sovereignty, power, and holiness,
wisdom is an attribute of God’s perfect, infinite Being. God is wise,
infinitely wise, perfectly wise, supremely wise, and consummately wise. His
wisdom should inspire our hearts with confidence in him and praise to him.
But why is the Lord Jesus here called “the only wise God”? It is because he alone is
the embodiment and Revelation of God (John 1:14-18; Col. 2:9-10).
1. He who is God our Savior is
wise, all-wise, infinitely wise. In fact, he alone is wise.
That statement might seem to be an exaggeration; but it is not. He who
is our God, and he alone, is wise (Rom. 16:27; 1 Tim. 1:17).
(Romans 16:27) “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”
(1 Timothy 1:17) “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Three times in the New Testament the Lord our God is
called “the only wise God.” Wisdom is
more than knowledge. It is the proper and best use of knowledge. And the Lord
our God, omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient, possesses all wisdom. He is “the only wise God” (Job 12:12-13; Dan.
2:20-21).
(Job 12:12-13) “With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding. (13) With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.”
(Daniel 2:20-21) “Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: (21) And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:”
Yes, God does, in measure, give wisdom to men, as he did to Solomon. He
has endowed man with a spirit of wisdom and prudence. But he alone is
truly wise, because his is infinite wisdom. That makes all human wisdom
but ignorance and folly. There is none wise, but God; and if we have any
measure of wisdom we have it by his gift. God our Savior is originally and
independently wise in and of himself. Our wisdom is but a ray
communicated from “the father of lights” (James 1:17). He alone is
essentially wise. That makes him “the only wise.”
2.
Though I repeat myself, I must say, “the
only wise God, our Savior,” is exclusively wise.
The holy angels, though they are wise and holy
creatures by God’s design, when compared to him, are charged with folly (Job
4:18). And man, though he would be wise and thinks himself wise, is as “a wild ass’s colt” before God. We have very little wisdom even in natural things
and none in spiritual things by nature. If we attain any spiritual wisdom it is
by the gift of God (2 Cor. 2:11-16). We are wise to do evil. But to do good, we
have no knowledge. God alone is wise. Wisdom belongs to God exclusively.
3.
“The only wise God, our Savior,” is all-wise.
He possesses all wisdom regarding all things. And he
is wise in all his glorious Being. Everything God is is
wise. And everything he does reflects his wisdom. There is no defect or lack of
wisdom in him with respect to anything. Men may be wise in some things and
foolish in others. But God is wise in everything. No man is always wise.
Sometimes the wisest of men say and do foolish things, but not God. Neither his
Word nor his works can be charged with folly. There is not an unwise word in
all the Volume of Inspiration. And there is not an unwise action in all his
works. — “O LORD, how manifold are thy
works! In wisdom hast thou made them all” (Psa. 104:24).
4.
“The only wise God, our Savior,” is essentially wise.
Wisdom is his nature and essence. Wisdom is what God
is. As God is Love, as God is Spirit, as God is Goodness, so God is Wisdom.
Without wisdom, he would not be God. God is wisdom essentially and eternally.
And his wisdom is underived. It is immutable wisdom.
It never increases and never diminishes.
5.
Moreover, “The only wise God, our Savior,”
is the source and fountain of all wisdom.
Whatever wisdom there is in the
universe among angels and men it comes from God. He is the Author and Giver of
wisdom. The angels of heaven get their wisdom from God. The great men of the
earth get their wisdom from God. All the wisdom that Adam had in innocence, or
his sons have in the earth, even all the wisdom that Solomon possessed and the
wisdom of God’s elect in eternal glory, is wisdom given, bestowed and
maintained by God. I repeat myself, again, deliberately: Wisdom is the gift of
God (James 1:5). Anyone who possesses any wisdom by which he is distinguished
from others, be it natural or spiritual, has his wisdom by the sovereign
bestowment of the Almighty (1 Cor. 4:7). Whatever wisdom there is in any of us,
God put it there. He who gives wisdom to the wise is the infinitely wise God. The
wisdom of God is unsearchable. Its depth cannot be fathomed. It cannot be
traced and found out to perfection (Rom. 11:33; Job 11:6-9; 28:12-23).
(Job 11:6-9) “And that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is! Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. (7) Canst thou by searching find out God? canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? (8) It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? deeper than hell; what canst thou know? (9) The measure thereof is longer than the earth, and broader than the sea.”
(Job 28:12-23) “But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? (13) Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living. (14) The depth saith, It is not in me: and the sea saith, It is not with me. (15) It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof. (16) It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire. (17) The gold and the crystal cannot equal it: and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold. (18) No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. (19) The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold. (20) Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding? (21) Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air. (22) Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears. (23) God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.”
As a candle gives no light when the sun shines bright, our wisdom is
but ignorance. Ours is wisdom within very narrow limits, and extends very few
things. His is unlimited, and incomprehensible, and extends to all things.
·
“The only wise God, our Savior,” manages the affairs of the
whole world, of the entire universe, things visible and invisible.
·
He cares for all things, from the ant to the angels.
·
Nothing is so small as to escape his knowledge.
·
Nothing is so great as to be a burden to his mind.
·
Our wisdom is gained by learning, but “who hath directed the Spirit
of the Lord?” (Isa. 11:13).
·
Our wisdom is increased by experience. Therefore old men are usually
more prudent than young.
·
But God’s wisdom is incapable of increase. It is infinite fullness of
wisdom.
·
We are often deceived. Men of the greatest sagacity and cunning fail in
their plots and enterprises, and so their “wisdom is turned into folly.”
·
But it is not so with God. “His counsel shall stand” (Ps.
33:11).
·
We are capable of attending to but one care at a time. Many thoughts
scatter our minds and weaken them.
·
But God in one moment of understanding sees all things and wisely
disposes of all things. “The only wise God, our Savior,” does not
deliberate, or consult, or think in succession. He is “the only wise God,
our Savior!”
If he is “the only wise God, our Savior,” then, let us never
imagine that we are wiser than God. Let us never cavil at what he has revealed,
because we do not understand it. I do not know the nature of an ant. I am often
puzzled by very small things. Yet, I do not question the ant’s existence and
industry, or the small things that puzzle me. Why should I, how dare I, call
into question the mysteries God reveals in his Word? Divine truth, like pills,
must be swallowed rather than chewed, received upon God’s solitary
authority, when we see no reason for them, for he is “only wise God.”
Wisdom’s Work
Third,
the wisdom of “the only wise God, our Savior,” is manifest in his works. Though
his wisdom cannot be found out to perfection, there are some glaring, bright,
and shining, striking appearances of it which are edifying and comforting to
consider. His wisdom is manifest in his counsels of old (Isa. 25:1).
(Isaiah 25:1) “O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.”
Usually, the wisest acts of men are the
results of thoughtful deliberation and sober consultation. Therefore, God’s
eternal decrees are called “his counsels
of old.” God did not need to
deliberate or consult with anyone about what he would do. Yet his decrees and
purposes, being fixed by the highest wisdom are called his “counsels.” Thus he condescends to speak to us mortals with puny
brains in a way that we can understand!
God, in his infinite understanding of all things,
knew from eternity what is best to be done. And by wisdom he decreed it
according to the good pleasure of his will. He appointed the end of all things
and ordained the best means to accomplish that end. In predestination, he set
the proper time for the accomplishment of all things and guarded his purpose
against everything that might hinder its accomplishment.
·
The end for which God ordained all things is his own glory (Prov. 16:4;
Rom. 11:36).
·
The beneficiaries of God’s purposes and decrees are his own elect, whom
he predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ in everlasting salvation
(Eph. 1:5-6, 11; Rom. 9:23; 11:33-36).
·
God’s eternal purpose of grace in election and predestination is
revealed for the glorifying of his grace in saving sinners (Eph. 1:6, 12, 14).
·
In order to accomplish his eternal purpose of grace, God has wisely
ordained the time, season, place, and end of all things under the sun (Eccles.
3:1, 11, 14, 17).
(Ecclesiastes 3:1) “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”
(Ecclesiastes 3:11) “He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:14) “I know that, whatsoever God doeth, it shall be for ever: nothing can be put to it, nor any thing taken from it: and God doeth it, that men should fear before him.”
(Ecclesiastes 3:17) “I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.”
Though there are many devices formed to overthrow
God’s purpose and thwart his decree, they are all vain. God not only
disappoints the devices of the crafty, he uses their devices to accomplish his
own wise designs (Psa. 76:10). His counsel will stand. And he will do all his
pleasure (Isa. 46:10). The thoughts of his heart, his decrees, shall be
performed unto all generations.
He not only overthrows, but wisely and
sovereignly uses the deeds of the wicked to accomplish his holy pleasure.
·
The plot of Satan to overthrow his dominion only served to accomplish
his purpose (Isa. 14:14, 24, 26, 27).
·
Adam’s insurrection and fall was typical of and foreshadowed our
salvation by Christ, the last Adam (Rom. 5:18-19; 1 Cor. 15:21-22).
·
Joseph was sold into Egypt by his brothers who meant it for evil
because God had ordained it for good (Gen. 50:19-20).
·
Pharaoh hardened his heart against Israel and against God because the
Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, that he might glorify himself in Pharaoh’s
destruction and Israel’s salvation (Rom. 9:17). Twelve times, the Bible
specifically states that “the LORD
hardened Pharaoh’s heart” (Ex. 7:13, 14, 22; 8:19, 32; 9:7, 12; 10:1, 20,
27; 11:10; 14:8).
·
The kiss of Judas, the cowardice of Pilate, and even the crucifixion of
our Lord Jesus Christ was in exact accordance with God’s wisdom and purpose of
grace toward his people (Acts 2:23; 4:27-28).
(Acts 2:23) “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”
(Acts 4:27-28) “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, (28) For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”
Even the failings and sins of his people are
overruled by him and used by “the only wise God, our Savior” to accomplish
his purpose. Had it not been for the incest of Tamar, the sin of Elimelech in
going down to Moab which brought Boaz and Ruth together, and the sin of David
in the matter of Uriah, the Lord Jesus Christ would never have been born into
this world. His incarnation was, by the arrangement of providence, the direct
result of these sad events. This fact does not, to any degree, lessen the
offenses mentioned or charge the holy Lord God with complicity in them (James
1:13). But they do display God’s great, infinite wisdom in arranging and
controlling the affairs of the universe to accomplish his own gracious
purposes.
The covenant of grace, from which all things
spring, was a work of infinite wisdom (Heb. 8:10-12). It was
wisdom in God that devised such a covenant and moved him to make it ordered in
all things and sure for the glory of the divine Persons, Father, Son, and Holy
Spirit, and the everlasting salvation of his elect.
·
It is a covenant stored with all the promises and blessings of grace
(Tit. 1:2).
·
It is a covenant that was made with Christ as the Surety of a chosen
people (Heb. 7:22).
·
Every blessing of the covenant, as well as every condition of it, was
placed in Christ, put upon Christ, and fulfilled by Christ (Eph. 1:3; 2 Tim.
1:9).
·
Thus did God in great, infinite wisdom find a ransom suitable and way
honoring to himself to justify his elect (Job 33:24; Rom. 3:24-26).
(Job 33:24) “Then he is gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have found a ransom.”
(Romans 3:24-26) “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
God’s works of creation are spectacular
displays of undeniable wisdom (Psa. 104:24; 136:3-5; Prov. 3:19-20; Jer. 10:12).
(Psalms 104:24) “O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.”
(Psalms 136:3-5) “O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever. (4) To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever. (5) To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.”
(Proverbs 3:19-20) “The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens. (20) By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.”
(Jeremiah 10:12) “He hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.”
In the luminous heavens above — the sun, the moon,
and the stars, the atmospheric heavens — the clouds, rain, snow, and seasons,
and the earth with all its climates, vegetation, beasts, bodies of water, the
human body are all wonders of God’s wisdom (Psa. 139:14-17).
(Psalms 139:14-17) “I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (15) My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. (16) Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (17) How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!”
God’s in providence is a constant
manifestation of his wisdom (Rom. 8:28; 11:36).
(Romans 8:28) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
(Romans 11:33-36) “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! (34) For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (35) Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? (36) For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
As we have already seen, God’s providential rule is
universal in its scope, detailed in its exercise, and saving in its end. In
infinite wisdom he rules all things everywhere and at all times for the
salvation of his people and the glory of his own great name.
Above all else the wisdom of God is revealed
in the redemption and salvation of sinners by Christ (Eph. 1:7-8). Wisdom and
prudence are displayed in other works of God. But all wisdom and prudence are
displayed in the great works of grace by which we are saved. Behold the wisdom
of God in...
1. The Person appointed to be
our Redeemer — Christ (Job 33:24).
2. The means by which Christ
came — The incarnation (Heb. 10:5-10).
3. The people God sent his Son
to redeem (Rom. 5:6-10; 1 Cor. 1:26-31).
4. The method by which Christ
accomplished our redemption — Substitution — Blood atonement (2 Cor. 5:21).
5. The method by which
salvation is brought to sinners —
Irresistible, effectual, almighty grace (Rom. 9:16).
The wisdom of God shines forth brilliantly in
the gospel, the good news of salvation by Christ (1 Cor. 2:7; Eph. 3:10).
(1 Corinthians 2:7) “But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:”
(Ephesians 3:10) “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,”
Christ is the gospel. And Christ is the wisdom
of God (Prov. 8:12-31; 1 Cor. 1:24). The doctrine of the gospel —
free justification, peace, pardon, and righteousness by Christ; the
ordinances of the gospel — baptism and the Lord’s Supper; and the
standing ministry of the gospel, all show forth the wisdom of our God
as gifts of his free grace (Eph. 4:11-16).
In wisdom he uses frail men, placing them where he
wills for the salvation of his elect. His wisdom preserves his servants, his
church, and his testimony in the world. And his wisdom makes his word to
accomplish exactly what he pleases (Isa. 55:11).
And what magnificent wisdom “the only wise God, our Savior,”
displays in his acts of love by which he subdues sinners to himself; this taking
sinners in their month, and disposing of unthought of
circumstances and passages of providence for the conversion of his elect (Ps.
107), and in overruling of all events to further their eternal blessedness!
Illustration: Hosea and Gomer
How we ought to admire the wisdom of God! Look into the scriptures, and
consider the stupendous mysteries that are revealed there; of the Trinity in
unity, God manifested in our flesh, a virgin conceiving, Christ the sinless One
made sin and dying in the place of sinners! “Oh! the depth of the riches, both
of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” But let us do more than that. Admire
his wisdom, yes; but trust it too!
·
He knows how to deliver. Wait for him.
·
He knows how to protect. Wait for him.
·
He knows what is best. Wait for him.
(Isaiah 40:28-31) “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. (29) He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. (30) Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: (31) But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Now, I send you home with this. This One, who is “the only wise God”
is our “Savior!”
·
Christ is God.
·
Christ is the only wise God.
·
Christ is Wisdom.
·
Christ is made of God unto us Wisdom.
·
And Christ, the only wise God, is our Savior!
Let us ascribe all praise, honor, and glory to him. He fully deserves
it!
(Jude 1:24-25) “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, (25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.”