Post by Char on Oct 26, 2008 13:54:15 GMT -6
DIVINE WISDOM
JAMES 3:13
I. DIVINE WISDOM—WHO IS A WISE MAN, AND ENDUED WITH KNOWLEDGE.
In the scripture the term WISDOM ordinarily signifies the knowledge and fear of God,. especially that enlightening of the mind which flows from the word and spirit of Christ; and the superior excellence of this wisdom my be well expressed in the words of Soloman.(Prov. 3:13-14)
It leads to a good conversation, or manner of life. You are well that the calling, which you are called in the gospel of Christ, is a HOLY calling, and that the wisdom which cometh down from above is first pure...PURE in its whole character and influence.
For this end it cometh down, namely, to make us FREE from the law of sin, and to PURIFY us unto God a peculiar people. Let every one, therefore, who seems to have this wisdom, or wishes to have it, feel his obligation to cleanse himself from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit.
Let your CONVERSATION always be as becomes the gospel, and your conduct as the CHILDREN of God, blameless, harmless, and without rebuke. Let it never once enter into the imagination of your minds that you truly possess any portion of heavenly wisdom if it is not your full desire and endeavour to be HOLY in all manner of conversation.
It leads to GOOD WORKS.
Let him show out of a good conversation his works. He who is wise ceases not only to be the servant of sin but learns to become an INSTRUMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. He not only rejects what would be disgraceful and debasing in practice, but studies to be FULL OF MERCY AND OF GOOD FRUITS.
It leads to MEEKNESS OR GENTLENESS.
The meekness of wisdom, that unassuming and unoffending, department which always becomes, and ought always to attend, true wisdom and superiour knowledge. Such a spirit is not only a duty in itself, a part of the Christian character, but is in a manner the appropriated dress in which every heavenly grace and good work should be arrayed.
Thus you are exhorted to associate this meekness with every form of well-doing, to hear with meekness...to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness...to hear with meekness the ingrafted word....to give a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness.....in meekness, to instruct those that oppose themselves.
This is the way in which you are to show or exercise your wisdom, and hence it is called the meekness of wisdom, that which belongs to it as a property, which becomes it as an ornament, which proceeds from it as an effect, which proves it to be form above.
II. LIFE—EXPLAINS RELIGION.
One of the party greatly needed some elder–flower water for her face upon which the sun was working great mischief it was in the Itallian town of Varallo, and not a word of Itallian did they know. Entered a chemist’s show and surveyed his drawers and bottles, but the result was nil. Bright thought; he would go down by the river, and walk until he could gather a bunch of elder–flowers, for the tree was then in bloom. Happily the search was successful; the lowers were exhibited to the druggist, the extract was procured.
When you cannot tell in so many words what true religion is, exhibit it by our actions. Show by your life what grace can do. There is no language in the world so eloquent as a holy life. Men may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.
III. PRACTICAL WISDOM—LET HIM SHOW......WITH MEEKNESS OF WISDOM.
The man must show his works.....The apostle takes it for granted that, if he really be "wise and endured with knowledge," he will have works to show...Of course all pride, and vanity, and act of display (pretentiousness) are to be eschewed....But still, the glory of God and the welfare of the world demand that exhibition of the fruits which Divine grace has produced in the character and conduct of the man.
The man must "Show his works out of a good conversation"....A man’s conversation is the course and tenor of his life.....Consistency of conduct and comprehensive moral excellence are here required.
Out of this "Good conversation" the man must "Show his works" in a certain way–"with meekness of wisdom".....Meekness–which is, as it were, kindness and humility blended into one harmonious feeling of the mind–is very frequently enforced in the word of God– sometimes by express command, sometimes by reference to the meekness of Christ Himself, sometimes by an statement of the personal benefits which follow in its train, and sometimes by an exhibition of its fitness to sustain the cause and promote the influence of religious truth.... It is here associated with wisdom.....and assuredly not only so wisdom and meekness dwell together, but the former dictates, originates, fosters, and upholds the latter.
JAMES 3:13
I. DIVINE WISDOM—WHO IS A WISE MAN, AND ENDUED WITH KNOWLEDGE.
In the scripture the term WISDOM ordinarily signifies the knowledge and fear of God,. especially that enlightening of the mind which flows from the word and spirit of Christ; and the superior excellence of this wisdom my be well expressed in the words of Soloman.(Prov. 3:13-14)
It leads to a good conversation, or manner of life. You are well that the calling, which you are called in the gospel of Christ, is a HOLY calling, and that the wisdom which cometh down from above is first pure...PURE in its whole character and influence.
For this end it cometh down, namely, to make us FREE from the law of sin, and to PURIFY us unto God a peculiar people. Let every one, therefore, who seems to have this wisdom, or wishes to have it, feel his obligation to cleanse himself from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit.
Let your CONVERSATION always be as becomes the gospel, and your conduct as the CHILDREN of God, blameless, harmless, and without rebuke. Let it never once enter into the imagination of your minds that you truly possess any portion of heavenly wisdom if it is not your full desire and endeavour to be HOLY in all manner of conversation.
It leads to GOOD WORKS.
Let him show out of a good conversation his works. He who is wise ceases not only to be the servant of sin but learns to become an INSTRUMENT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. He not only rejects what would be disgraceful and debasing in practice, but studies to be FULL OF MERCY AND OF GOOD FRUITS.
It leads to MEEKNESS OR GENTLENESS.
The meekness of wisdom, that unassuming and unoffending, department which always becomes, and ought always to attend, true wisdom and superiour knowledge. Such a spirit is not only a duty in itself, a part of the Christian character, but is in a manner the appropriated dress in which every heavenly grace and good work should be arrayed.
Thus you are exhorted to associate this meekness with every form of well-doing, to hear with meekness...to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called with all lowliness and meekness...to hear with meekness the ingrafted word....to give a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness.....in meekness, to instruct those that oppose themselves.
This is the way in which you are to show or exercise your wisdom, and hence it is called the meekness of wisdom, that which belongs to it as a property, which becomes it as an ornament, which proceeds from it as an effect, which proves it to be form above.
II. LIFE—EXPLAINS RELIGION.
One of the party greatly needed some elder–flower water for her face upon which the sun was working great mischief it was in the Itallian town of Varallo, and not a word of Itallian did they know. Entered a chemist’s show and surveyed his drawers and bottles, but the result was nil. Bright thought; he would go down by the river, and walk until he could gather a bunch of elder–flowers, for the tree was then in bloom. Happily the search was successful; the lowers were exhibited to the druggist, the extract was procured.
When you cannot tell in so many words what true religion is, exhibit it by our actions. Show by your life what grace can do. There is no language in the world so eloquent as a holy life. Men may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.
III. PRACTICAL WISDOM—LET HIM SHOW......WITH MEEKNESS OF WISDOM.
The man must show his works.....The apostle takes it for granted that, if he really be "wise and endured with knowledge," he will have works to show...Of course all pride, and vanity, and act of display (pretentiousness) are to be eschewed....But still, the glory of God and the welfare of the world demand that exhibition of the fruits which Divine grace has produced in the character and conduct of the man.
The man must "Show his works out of a good conversation"....A man’s conversation is the course and tenor of his life.....Consistency of conduct and comprehensive moral excellence are here required.
Out of this "Good conversation" the man must "Show his works" in a certain way–"with meekness of wisdom".....Meekness–which is, as it were, kindness and humility blended into one harmonious feeling of the mind–is very frequently enforced in the word of God– sometimes by express command, sometimes by reference to the meekness of Christ Himself, sometimes by an statement of the personal benefits which follow in its train, and sometimes by an exhibition of its fitness to sustain the cause and promote the influence of religious truth.... It is here associated with wisdom.....and assuredly not only so wisdom and meekness dwell together, but the former dictates, originates, fosters, and upholds the latter.
