Wisdom’s Origin

March 4, 2012


Background Scripture: Proverbs 8
Lesson Passage: Proverbs 8:22 – 35

Does wisdom come with age? If so, then is it possible for a person to be wise beyond his years? Certainly the statements that lead to those questions would suggest that the answer to both would be an obvious “yes”. This answer however looks at wisdom as something to be accumulated and kept at one’s disposal as though it were an asset to be possessed. As we examine Proverb 8, it is clear that the writer does not have the same view of wisdom. Wisdom here is spoken of as a person. Such a personification causes one to give very different answers to the questions posed earlier. If wisdom is viewed as a person, then when wisdom comes is not dependent on one’s age. According to the writer, wisdom always makes herself available to whoever would be prudent. When wisdom comes is no longer relevant since wisdom declares that she is always available. Wisdom has been in the earth from the very beginning. Wisdom existed before the earth was formed and can recount the creation story itself. Wisdom even declares that it was the Lord who brought her forth. Wisdom was created before the physical world and was there during the creation to rejoice in God’s handiwork. Note that wisdom does not say that she had anything to do with creating anything only that she was there when God created the world. Wisdom offers herself as a guide to the prudent that blessings may be available for them. Her presence is to be desired more than silver or gold. To receive wisdom is to have those things and even more. Possessions and positions are given to those that receive her. She is the one who makes God’s favor appear in people’s lives. She is not distant or hidden but readily available. So she is not to be sought after but received. From the beginning she has delighted in being among mankind. This is still her desire.

In the context of Proverbs 8, wisdom is not an accumulation of knowledge nor is it the ability or insight to use such information. Wisdom is the one who provides both knowledge and insight. Accumulating or using knowledge both depend on the understanding of the one who has it. In other words, this dependency is on one’s understanding and not God. Wisdom is able to make the simple prudent and the worldly wise simple. To wisdom, mankind is a part of God’s creation that she has always rejoiced in. Certainly, mankind is at the top of the physical (visible) creation of God. But wisdom does not start with man because she preceded him. She witnessed mankind’s origin but she has to give an account of her own so that man can properly answer the question concerning wisdom’s origin. Wisdom can only come from God and when she is received, she will only direct one back to God who is her origin.


Robert C. Hudson
February 21, 2012

Bearing the Fruit of Redemption

February 26, 2012


Background Scripture: Galatians 5:2 – 6:18
Lesson Passage: Galatians 5:22 – 26; 6:1 – 10

The only reliable evidence that learning has taken place is when behavior changes. When we have truly learned, our character is changed to reflect the new reality in our mind. Once our character changes, so too will our actions. Our actions are visible representations of invisible qualities of character. We recognize this when we have known someone for a long time and they do something that we were not expecting. In these situations, we say the person was acting out of character, or in other words, their actions were not in accordance with their character as we have known it. Let me hasten to say that anyone who knew us before we were saved should certainly see us as acting out of character today.

In the background scripture of our lesson today, Paul looks at character traits that are common to sinners and character traits that are common to Christians. Individuals who were saved as adults should readily recognize and identify with both sets of traits. The lesson passage only addresses the traits and behavior expected of Christians. I prefer to consider the text of the background scripture because it places in contrast the differences to be expected based on whether the person is a sinner or a saint. The emphasis of this lesson is clear; Christians should live up to the standard of their new reality in Christ knowing that we were not born this way. Although the emphasis is clear, it does not make the challenge of fulfilling this lesson any easier. We are challenged because of our flesh nature.

As I stated in my notes for the first lesson in this series from Paul’s letter to the church at Galatia, this is a letter that addresses practical Christianity. It is fitting that the letter closes out in this manner. How Christians look at others who are going through difficult times is a reflection of our character. Those who are spiritual must demonstrate it at times such as these. Spiritual Christians go beyond the idea that we are justified. Those who are spiritual live out and indeed act out their faith through right actions. These actions are not the result of our individual wills but instead they reflect the will of God being manifest in our lives. How we treat people who are down and out says a lot about our character. Spirituality involves allowing the character of God’s Spirit in us to show up in our actions. This happens whenever we humble ourselves and allow God’s Spirit to direct us. We submit our will to the will of God and what results is a reflection of the fruit of the Spirit in us. When we allow the Spirit of God to lead us we become a reflection of the character of God. By so doing, we demonstrate that we do indeed bear the fruit of our redemption so that the world may know that we are children of the Most High God.

Robert C. Hudson
February 9, 2012

Inheriting Abraham’s Promise

February 19, 2012


Background Scripture: Galatians 3:15 – 5:1
Lesson Passage: Galatians 3:15 – 18; 4:1 – 7

In last week’s lesson the scriptures stated that Christians are blessed with Abraham and therefore we have become joint heirs with him through Jesus Christ. In today’s lesson we take a closer look at this Christian reality. According to God’s promise to Abraham, the blessing was for him and his seed. Paul emphasizes that the word seed here is singular and not plural. So the promise of God only applies to Abraham and just one of his offspring. To this point Paul makes a declaration that the one seed who fulfills God’s promise is Christ. Because of this, Paul classified all who claimed to be joint heirs by works of the Law as misguided. For one thing, the promise was made over four hundred years before the Law was given. Therefore, Abraham’s reception of the promise could not have been by the Law which was yet a ways off. If the Law, which came centuries later, could change the terms of the inheritance, then the Law would overrule God’s promise to Abraham. It is not God’s character to speak such contradiction. The Law was given by God with a distinct purpose in mind. The Law makes known our sins to us. Because of the Law, our sins are shown to be exceedingly sinful so that we can be led to repent that we might receive the promise through some other means than by having our sins exposed. The Law does not make a person right. The Law only acts like a spiritual mirror to reflect the inner condition of a person. In other words, no matter how long we stare at a mirror the mirror will never reach out and change the image that it reflects. If our image that is reflected is going to change, the mirror is not going to make the change. The mirror only reflects the image that is before it. Likewise, the Law reflects the spiritual condition of the person who looks into it. The Law, just as the mirror, does not and cannot change the spiritual condition of the person who looks into it. The mirror, however, does have an important role to play and so too does the Law. Although the mirror cannot bring about a change in the person whose image it reflects, certainly the condition of the image can instigate in the person the desire and the will to change. If we look into a physical mirror and decide that our hair is not what we want it to be, we might choose to make an appointment with someone who can bring about the desired changes. If we don’t care for how our clothes are fitting us when we see ourselves in a mirror, then we may need to see an expert in the field of tailoring and/or nutrition. Likewise the Law was given so that we could be warned that we have a need to see a spiritual expert who specializes in sin remediation. We know that expert to be Jesus the Christ. There is no one else qualified to do it. When the Law shows us the need for Jesus and we turn to him in faith, he forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. At that point, we are made members of the body of Christ. Then we become a part of the will of God which means that we inherit the promise of God made to Abraham.


Robert C. Hudson
February 1, 2012

Blessed with Abraham

February 12, 2012


Background Scripture: Galatians 3:1 – 14
Lesson Passage: Galatians 3:1 – 14

Christians are a fulfillment of the promise God made to Abraham. Through our faith in the redemptive work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross, we are made children of Abraham. This is because Abraham is the father of the faithful. God promised Abraham that through him all families (or nationalities) of the earth would be blessed. What an awesome promise to receive. Since Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, all who have received Christ as Lord have been fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham. Because we are made children of Abraham, then we have become joint heirs with him as well. This is not something that we must work to become; rather, it is through our faith that God makes it so. As Abraham through his faith (or belief in God’s promise) was made right with God, so too are we, who likewise place our faith in Jesus Christ, brought into right standing with God. It is only through faith that we have this privilege. Abraham was not justified by what he did and neither are we. Abraham believed God and God counted his faith as righteousness. All who come to God through faith in Him are treated even as Abraham was treated. Anything else that is done to try to curry favor with God or to put one in right standing with God is under a curse. We could never get right with God by hoping that our good qualities will outweigh our bad ones. In fact, we are told through the word of God that just one offense outweighs all of the good we might do. Being a good person does not bring forgiveness for being a sinner. The wages of sin is death. The penalty of sin is not sickness or disease but eternal death. There was nothing Abraham could have done to overcome the death sentence and there is nothing we could have done about it either. The only solution is the one provided by God and it is received through our faith in God’s provision for us. God’s solution to our dilemma is the offering of the life of His only begotten Son Jesus. Jesus is the avenue by which the blessing of Abraham comes upon all Christians. Jesus was God’s answer before the foundation of the world. Abraham became heir of the promise four centuries prior to the giving of the Law. The Law established the righteousness of God but all who try diligently to fulfill it discover that we come short. Therefore the works of the Law can lead to righteousness if it were possible to truly live according to the Law. But there is always an offense to highlight our shortcomings. Just one offense makes void all of the good we might have done. On the surface it would appear that we have been given a roadmap that leads to nowhere. Quite the contrary, the Law is a roadmap but it does lead us somewhere. The purpose of the Law was to lead men to Christ. Once we have placed our trust in Christ, then the Law’s purpose has been fulfilled and we can receive righteousness as the gift of God. Once we submit ourselves to the guidance of Jesus, we no longer need a roadmap. Once we have given ourselves to Christ, then God’s promises are made manifest in us and we can know for sure that we are indeed blessed with Abraham.

Robert C. Hudson
February 1, 2012